The State of ARCA After 1,501 Races in 68 Years
Now a full-fledged NASCAR division, ARCA looks to carve its own Next-Gen foundation. Icon SportswireGetty Images
From Dayton to Daytona, the ARCA Racing Series has continually evolved to fit within a racing ecosystem always much larger than itself over the past seven decades but reaching 1,500 races is effectively an inflection point.
This is not the ARCA that series president Ron Drager inherited in 1996, but that sanctioning body wouldn’t have been recognizable to his grandparents, ARCA founders John and Mildred Marcum either.
ARCA has always existed as a driver development platform while also serving as a de facto track day club and that spirit remains true today three years after its official acquisition by NASCAR.
Edgerton Native Rich Bickle Jr. wins Joe Shear Classic as racing returns to Madison International Speedway
May 2, 2021 8:59 PM Adam Duxter
OREGON, Wis. – After more than a year of missed or modified events, fan-attended racing was back at Madison International Speedway Sunday.
MIS opened its 2021 season with the Joe Shear Classic, a 200-lap race with a $10,000 prize in honor of the late Clinton, WI native Joe Shear.
For MIS owner and operator Gregg McKarns, Sunday’s event was a long time coming.
“It feels great,” McKarns said prior to the race. “Having the pit area full with race cars and pit crews, having the fans smiling as they pull into the parking lot, they’re glad to be here, the drivers are glad to be here, our staff is glad, our sponsors, there’s no one that’s not enjoying this moment. So you just kind of sit back, take it all in.”
By Josh Spreiter
Apr 29, 2021 5:00 AM
OREGON, Wis. â Racing is back at the Madison International Speedway as the Joe Shear Classic 200 is on for Sunday, May 2.
The annual event will feature the âStars and Carsâ of the ARCA Midwest Tour, Midwest Truck Series and 602 Late Models on âWisconsinâs Fastest Half Mileâ. The $10,000 to Win, 200 lap feature event will headline a full racing slate.
Race fans will once again be able to sit in the grandstands at MIS. The newest health order has lifted the outdoor gathering limit at MIS. While still needing to socially distance, masks are not required when outdoors but those wishing to wear one are encouraged to do so. The previous ticket limit is no longer in place.
OREGON, Wis. – Racing is back at the Madison International Speedway as the Joe Shear Classic 200 is on for Sunday, May 2.
The annual event will feature the ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ARCA Midwest Tour, Midwest Truck Series and 602 Late Models on ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’. The $10,000 to Win, 200 lap feature event will headline a full racing slate.
Race fans will once again be able to sit in the grandstands at MIS. The newest health order has lifted the outdoor gathering limit at MIS. While still needing to socially distance, masks are not required when outdoors but those wishing to wear one are encouraged to do so. The previous ticket limit is no longer in place.
Young Columbus driver thinks big
12/11/20 11:26 PM
Evan Shatto just completed the most successful season of his young racing career, as the 14-year-old Columbus East High School freshman collected 17 feature wins this season.
Shatto split time this year driving for his parents, Eric and Nikki Shatto, and Greg and James “Porkchop” Jones. He captured the Jennings County Outlaw Karting junior 3 track championship, where he was undefeated this season.
Shatto, who started his racing obsession six years ago racing radio-controlled car, has been racing go-karts for the last year and a half mainly in Columbus and North Vernon as he followed in his father and brother’s footsteps.