Category | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1953 |
Constructors | Chevrolet · Ford · Toyota · Dodge · Five Star Race Car Bodies |
Engine suppliers | Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Dodge · Ilmor |
Tire suppliers | General Tire |
Drivers' champion | Austin Theriault |
Teams' champion | Cunningham Motorsports |
Official website | ARCA Racing |
Current season |
The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards is an American series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor but professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR, and hosts events at a variety of track types including superspeedways, road courses, and dirt tracks. The series has a longstanding relationship with NASCAR, including using former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars, hosting events in the same race weekend such as Daytona Speedweeks, and naming an award after NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. The series is not officially affiliated with NASCAR.
The series was known as the ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series from 1986 until 1991, the ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series from 1993 until 1995, and as the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series from 1996 to 2000. The series was sponsored by real estate company RE/MAX as the ARCA RE/MAX Series from 2001 until 2009. Midwest-based home improvement company Menards began sponsoring the series in 2010 jointly with RE/MAX, and became the lone title sponsor in 2011.
The series was founded in Toledo, Ohio in 1953 as the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC), a local touring group in the Midwestern United States. The series was founded by John Marcum, a friend and former competitor of Bill France, Sr. and former NASCAR employee, who created MARC as a northern counterpart to the southern-based NASCAR. Early drivers included Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy.