Tom Hessert Grabs Pole Position for Today’s ARCA Season Opener at Daytona

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards veteran Tom Hessert, in the No. 25 Andrews-Renton Coil Spring/Venturini Motorsports Toyota, won the General Tire Pole Award Friday afternoon at Daytona Int’l Speedway for today’s Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 Driven by General Tire.

Hessert, in the sixth qualifying group, was the last car off pit road among his six-car pack. His strategy was to lay way back in order to get a run. It worked.

“Being in the back of group was obviously advantageous, so we could sit way back and get a run,” said Hessert. Hessert was so far back he seemed in danger of losing the draft altogether.

“I was worried about that….we were at least a couple hundred yards back. I was worried we weren’t going to get there, but the car did what it was supposed to do and we got it done.

“This is obviously a great start to the weekend for us. I want to thank Venturini Motorsports and all my guys on the crew…our sponsors Andrews, Renton Coil Spring, Musselman’s Apple Sauce.”

Hessert circled the 2.5-mile track in 48.143 seconds, an average speed of 186.943 mph. Friday’s pole award was Hessert’s fifth of his career and third since joining Venturini Motorsports in 2016.

Set to make his 180th career ARCA start, Hessert has notched 6 career victories to go along with 53 top-five and 106 top-ten finishes throughout his career. Already a restrictor-plate winner at Talladega in 2013, the 30-year old driver hopes to complete the sweep and park his Andrews Toyota in Daytona’s famous Victory Lane this afternoon.

Venturini Motorsports entering its 35th year of ARCA Series competition, looks to return to Daytona’s Gatorade Victory Lane for the second time in the past four years. In 2013, driver John Wes Townley delivered the team’s sole Daytona victory. VMS, the well-known ARCA fixture has compiled 43 series victories overall – 30 wins coming since 2007.

Today’s Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 Driven by General Tire is live on FS1, with live coverage beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern. In addition, arcaracing.com will feature live timing and scoring and live chat. Local radio affiliate WNDB will also provide live audio coverage of the race, which will be streamed live over arcaracing.com.

Venturini Motorsports

Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson and Raphaël Lessard Added to Venturini Motorsports’ ARCA Driver Roster

Photo – Courtesy VMS

Announced Monday, Venturini Motorsports (VMS) unveiled the addition of Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson and Raphaël Lessard to the team’s 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver roster.

The trio of drivers will combine for seven races driving for Venturini Motorsports.

While drivers Christopher Bell and Tanner Thorson return to the team, 15-year old Raphaël Lessard is set to make his ARCA Series debut with VMS in Nashville. Continue reading

NASCAR Next Driver Spencer Davis Racing with Venturini Motorsports for Limited 2017 ARCA Schedule

Photo – Courtesy VMS

Driver Spencer Davis made it official today signing with Venturini Motorsports for seven events in the upcoming 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season.

Eighteen year-old Davis, a member of the 2016-17 NASCAR Next Class, will make his ARCA Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5th driving VMS’ No.15 Toyota entry. The Dawsonville, Georgia native will also appear in the No.25 Toyota Camry at Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway, Kentucky Speedway and in the series’ finale at Kansas Speedway on October 20. Continue reading

Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk with Hot Topic Sound Off – Monday, December 12, 2016

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Guest include late-model racer, Christian Eckes, the recent winner of the prestigious 49th Annual Snowball Derby talking about his victory and recent signing with Venturini Motorsports for the 2017 ARCA Racing season.

Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Sal Sigala every Monday night 8:30 to 10 pm ET as we bring fans the smartest racing talk around on Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk!

We’re reviewing the 2016 Season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, then the ARCA Racing Series season with Brian Eberly

NASCAR Hot Topic Sound Off starts at 10 pm for the fastest half-hour in motorsports, then our overtime conversation as we review the hottest topics in racing with co-host Aaron Bearden.

Call 929-477-1790 OR tweet @Fan4RacingSite @Sal_Sigala @beberly18 or @AaronBearden93 with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.

Our show begins at 8:30 pm ET on Monday, December 12, 2016

As always…Thanks for listening!

Snowball Derby Winner Christian Eckes Signs with Venturini Motorsports for 2017

Christian Eckes at 9:30 pm ET on Monday, December 12, 2016 Photo - Courtesy of VMS

Christian Eckes at 9:30 pm ET on Monday, December 12, 2016 Photo – Courtesy of VMS

Christian Eckes is our guest on Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk Monday, December 12, 2016 at 9:30 pm ET. Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite or @Sal_Sigala with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast. 

From the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show in Indianapolis on Friday, came the announcement that sixteen-year old Christian Eckes will return to Venturini Motorsports (VMS) for nine short track races in the upcoming 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season.

The announcement came on the heels of Christian Eckes’ dramatic super late-model victory earlier in the week at the prestigious 49th annual Snowball Derby.

Eckes, a native of Middletown, New York, made four starts with VMS in 2016. Continue reading