2013-06-26

ARCA's Youth Movement Pulling Double Duty at Winchester; All ARCA Weekend June 29-30

11-ARS-BULLETINS-MASSHEAD
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 26 2013 

(TOLEDO, Ohio) - Three drivers during this weekend's all ARCA-branded triple header at Winchester Speedway are going to be busier than most, at least behind the wheel. And, fortunately, depending on fitness levels, it should be no problem, because they're all teenagers.

 

Current championship runner-up driver Mason Mingus, the oldest at 18, 17-year-old Austin Self, and 15-year-old Kyle Benjamin are all entered in both the ARCA CRA Super Series Winchester 100 Saturday, and the Herr's Chase The Taste 200 grand finale Sunday.

 

As exciting as it seems, the transitions between tours will be, on some level, intense with alternating practice sessions on Saturday leading up to ARCA CRA Super Series qualifying at 4:30, just in time for the quick turnaround for Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 5. The ARCA CRA Super Series Winchester 100 follows qualifying at 7.

 

According to Mingus, the double duty effect - adding the ARCA CRA show on Saturday - will only help him for Sunday.

 

"I'm really excited about pulling double-duty this weekend," Mingus said. "It's also a blast to drive our late model; but without a doubt, the extra seat time at Winchester this weekend should help me for the ARCA race on Sunday. It's a win-win."

 

At least Mingus hopes it's a 'win-win', because if he were to win both, he would accomplish something that no other has. In addition, if he wins on Sunday, it would also mark his career-first ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards victory.

 

He's already been as close as one can get, finishing second at Talladega to race winner Frank Kimmel, and second at Toledo to winner Ken Schrader. Not bad company to keep.

 

Additionally, Mingus, in nine starts in 2013, has not finished outside the top-10 anywhere. That said, Mingus and the No. 32 Win-Tron Racing team continue to impress.

 

The recent high school graduate likes his chances at Winchester. The team, led by championship crew chief Mark Rette, has circled Sunday's Herr's Chase The Taste 200 at Winchester as an event where everything could fall right into place.

 

"Winchester is a great opportunity for me," added Mingus.

 

"It's a place where the whole team can show what we're capable of. We had a great run going at Salem earlier this season until we were wrecked. With these (Salem and Winchester) tracks being so similar and us bringing back the same car to the track this weekend, I think we should have a strong run."

 

Mingus knows what it will take to bring home the trophy this weekend at Winchester; he just hopes the circumstances cooperate.

 

"The key to Winchester is tire conservation. The place is so hard on right front tires. If I can be smart and save our tires until the end, we should have a shot at it."

 

Mingus, who did double-duty at Winchester in 2012, finished sixth in last year's Herr's Chase The Taste 200, on the lead lap.

 

Currently, Mingus is 115 points behind nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel.

 

"There are still plenty of races and chances to make up our deficit, so I'm not getting worried, yet. All we can do right now is run our race and hope we've made up a little ground by the end of the race. And when the season wraps up at Kansas Speedway in October, we'd obviously like to be in position to be in the hunt."

 

Benjamin, who drives the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, became the youngest Menards Pole presented by Ansell winner in history in mid-May at Toledo. Benjamin also finished second in his series debut at Mobile in early March, and seventh at Elko in early June. If Benjamin wins Sunday at Winchester, he would become the youngest ARCA winner in history. Currently, James Buescher is the youngest winner at 16 years and 363 days.

 

Self, who drives the No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, finished sixth in his series debut at Toledo.

 

The Herr's Chase the Taste 200 will also be the first ARCA Racing Series race that will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network. NBC Sports Network's ARCA racing coverage premieres Thursday, August 1, at 11 p.m. ET with the Winchester race. 

  

All three divisions will divide track time Saturday with back-to-back practice sessions beginning at 11:30 a.m. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell for the ARCA Racing Series is scheduled for 5 p.m., followed by the ARCA Truck Series race at 6, and the ARCA CRA Super Series race at 7.

 

The Herr's Chase the Taste 200 is scheduled to begin Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., preceded by pre-race ceremonies at 1:30.


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 26.6.13

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