ARCA Menards Series
General Tire 150

Phoenix Raceway

March 6, 2020

Race Highlights:

· The General Tire 150 marked the inaugural race for the ARCA Menards Series at Phoenix Raceway. The race marked the second event of the 20-race season and the first of the Sioux Chief Showdown.

· Venturini Motorsports (VMS) fielded three Toyota Camry’s: No. 15 Drew Dollar, No. 20 Chandler Smith and No. 25 Michael Self.

· Friday saw a lone two-hour practice session, in which all three VMS cars participated. At practice end Michael Self was second fastest, followed by Chandler Smith in third and Drew Dollar fifth.

· Qualifying played out much the same way as practice, with Self and Smith starting second and third and Dollar coming home sixth.

· During the beginning part of the race Self experienced electrical issues forcing him to make several pit stops under caution. His No. 25 Sinclair Oil Toyota Camry team was able to rectify the issue, allowing Self to battle back to a second-place finish.

· Dollar ran well inside the top-10 for most of the nights outing, while fighting handling issues inside his No. 20 Lynx Capital, Dollar Concrete Toyota Camry. A late race on-track scuffle resulted in moderate body damage, forcing multiple pit stops for repairs. Dollar was able to bring home his car 14th.

· Smith battled up-front for most of the 150-lap event, but a late-race pit call by crew chief Billy Venturini gave the 17-year old the track position he needed to bring home his first victory of the 2020 season in the No. 20 JBL Toyota Camry.

· On deck next for VMS is the ARCA Menards Series East race at Five Flags Speedway on Saturday, March 14th. The team will field two Toyota entries: No. 20 Corey Heim and No. 25 Mason Diaz.

Drew Dollar No. 15 Lynx Capital, Dollar Concrete Construction Company Toyota Camry

“Disappointing night for us at Phoenix. We got stuck in some bad positions and took on body damage that really effected the handling of our car. I am going to learn from this race and start focusing on Salem Speedway. I’m proud of how the team fought all night and know this is just a minor setback in our season.

Start – 6 Finish – 14 Points – 3rd

Chandler Smith No. 20 JBL Toyota Camry

“What a great night tonight at Phoenix Raceway for the ARCA Menards Series and Venturini Motorsports. We had a really fast JBL Toyota Camry right off the truck and spent most of our time learning the PJ1 and how the car would react during race time with the GoodYear rubber being on the track. My crew chief Billy Venturini made great calls all night and on the last pit stop choose track position over four General Tires and that was the race winning call. I am so happy for everyone on Venturini Motorsports and earning the first Sioux Chief Showdown win of 2020 is really neat. Focus forward and set our sights on Salem Speedway next.”

Start – 3 Finish – 1 Sioux Chief Points – 1st

Michael Self No. 25 Sinclair Oil, Champion Power Equipment Toyota Camry

“Friday nights race was definitely a more hectic day than we wanted, but everyone on the No. 25 Sinclair Oil Toyota team did a great job overcoming adversity and giving me a fast car. Starting the year out with a win and a second place has a ton of confidence and momentum swirling around the whole team, so I am hoping we can keep it going when we head to Salem Speedway in a few weeks.”

Start – 2 Finish – 2 Points – 1st

Series: ARCA Menards Series
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Race: Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire
Duration: 80 laps / 200 miles
Date / TV: 2/8/2020 – 4:45PM ET FS1

STATS: To date, Venturini Motorsports (VMS) has three (3) ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) victories at Daytona:

• 02/16/2013 – No. 15 John Wes Townley
• 02/10/2018 – No. 15 Michael Self
• 02/09/2019 – No. 20 Harrison Burton

MEET THE DRIVERS: ARCA Menards Series officials will hold an “all-access” fan walk through the garage area Saturday from 1:30-2:30 PM ET, where fans can meet all three VMS Drivers.

CREW CHIEFS: VMS will once again utilize Shannon Rursch (No. 15), Billy Venturini (No. 20) and Kevin Reed (No. 25) as their crew chiefs for the 2020 ARCA season.

DINO’S BACK: Sinclair Oil Corporation enters their fourth year of sponsoring Self and looks to bring more exposure to their iconic mascot, DINO, as they will return as the primary sponsor in 18 races of the 2020 season.

FIRST DAYTONA TRIP: While both Drew Dollar (No. 15) and Ryan Repko (No. 20) competed at the ARCA open-test session, Saturday’s race will mark their first start at the World Center of Speed. Dollar will be piloting the No. 15 Toyota Camry in a full-time ARCA effort while Repko will be helping the No. 20 team to earn a second consecutive Owners Championship with a five-race schedule.

POWERING CHAMPIONS: After winning the 2019 ARCA championship, Champion Power Equipment announced that keeping with their slogan #PoweringChampions they would become a major associate partner for the VMS team, starting at Daytona.

SOCIAL: Fans can interact with VMS and their drivers on social media utilizing the different outlets:

• Facebook:VenturiniMotorsports
• Twitter:@VenturiniMotor
• Instagram:VenturiniMotorsports
• Hashtags:#FlyTheV #TeamToyota #DINOracing #PoweringChampions

QUOTES:

Drew Dollar – No. 15 Lynx Capital, Dollar Concrete Construction Company Toyota Camry

Regarding the Daytona Test:  “I was really happy with how our test went in Daytona. I felt like our Toyota Camry was definitely one of the best on single-car speed. I really enjoyed working with Shannon (Rursch) and the entire No. 15 team.”

Regarding the Daytona Race: “It’s really exciting to be heading back down to Daytona this weekend to compete in my first ARCA race there. I have a lot of confidence built up that our No. 15 Lynx Capital Toyota Camry team will have a solid car and I am looking forward to working with my teammates throughout the race.”

Ryan Repko – No. 20 Craftsman Toyota Camry

Regarding the Daytona Test: “I feel like overall the Daytona test went very well. I feel like as a team all of our cars have great speed. Venturini Motorsports and I seem to be a great fit and I really enjoyed working with Billy (Venturini) and the entire No. 20 Toyota Camry team.”

Regarding the Daytona Race: “All of the Venturini (Motorsports) guys have put a lot of effort into bringing out every ounce of speed these Toyota Camry’s have to offer. I am pleased with where we ended the test and know the crew hasn’t stopped working on our cars since. It’s really exciting to be heading back to Daytona to compete in my first race there and I am looking forward to working with Billy (Venturini) and my teammates to bring home a solid finish for the VMS team.”

Michael Self – No. 25 Sinclair Oil Toyota Camry

Regarding the Daytona Test: “I was really pleased with our test overall. We were able to find some speed and make gains over the two days, and the biggest things from my standpoint was that our car was very stable in the draft. That’s really important at the Superspeedway races.”

Regarding the Daytona Race: “Last time Kevin (Reed) and I worked together at Daytona, we brought home the trophy, using the same car we’re bringing this year. While it’d be amazing to do that again, we need to stay clean until the end to have another shot at victory lane. We’ll be paying a lot of attention to who we’re racing around and come up with a strategy as we go and hopefully, we will have a solid day for the No. 25 Sinclair Oil Toyota Camry.”

CONCORD, N.C. (January 31, 2020) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Champion Power Equipment as the teams official and exclusive power generation equipment supplier for the 2020 ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) season. Champion will be a full-season, associate partner on every VMS car competing across all three ARCA Series (ARCA, East, West) during the year.

“Champion is very excited to return to the ARCA Menards Series in partnering with another champion,” commented Champion Power Equipment VP Business Development, Todd Welzbacher. “After a successful 2019 season, winning the drivers and owners championship, we look forward to a great 2020 race season with Venturini Motorsports and continuing to support and power our great fans.”

Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment, having years of experience providing dependable and durable power products designed and engineered in the USA for the North American and world markets. For home, work or play, Champion products are the standard of performance excellence. Champion makes the power that makes your life easier.

“I am proud to welcome Champion (Power Equipment) into the Venturini Motorsports family of partners,” said Venturini Motorsports team owner, Billy Venturini. “We look forward to Champion powering all of our teams, on and off the track during the 2020 ARCA season and forging a longstanding relationship together.”

Keeping with their slogan “Powering Champions” the Santa Fe Springs, California based Champion Power Equipment, will be kicking off the new partnership at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA season opener. Champion has outfitted the 2019 championship team with generators and inverters to keep the team powered on pit-road and in the garage area at racetracks across the country. While back at the shop, the team will utilize Champion’s extensive line of winches, water pumps, pressure washers and more as they work tirelessly to prepare for each week’s race.

From their original headquarters in California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Toronto, Canada and a research and development team in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Today’s product line has expanded to include portable generators and invertors, home standby generators, engines, winches, log splitters, pressure washers and more. With over 2.5-million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field.

Fans can tune into the ARCA season opener at Daytona International Speedway, live on FoxSports1 on Saturday, February 8that 4:45 PM ET.

Self will be back behind the wheel of the iconic No. 25 as he chases the ARCA Menards Series Championship

CONCORD, N.C. (January 23, 2020) – Officials from Venturini Motorsports (VMS) and Sinclair Oil Corporation have announced that Michael Self will once again pilot the No. 25 Toyota Camry full-time during the 2020 ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) season. Veteran crew chief Kevin Reed will be moving over to the DINO crew to call the shots throughout the year.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to return to Venturini Motorsports with Sinclair backing for another season, and a shot at championship redemption,” says Self. “Despite last season ending in heartbreak for me, I had an absolute blast competing full time in the ARCA Menards Series, building a relationship with the Venturini family and the entire VMS crew, and proving that I can win and compete on any different style track. With some changes in the schedule including the addition of Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen and Phoenix, all tracks I’m extremely familiar with, I couldn’t be more excited to know that I’ll be back behind the wheel of the No. 25 Toyota for the entire 20-race slate.”

Coming off an impressive 2019 campaign, Self earned four wins, four pole’s and tallied 14-top five and 15-top 10 finishes in route to his runner-up finish in the championship standings. While 2019 marked Self’s first full-time ARCA season, the Salt Lake City, Utah native was no stranger to reaching victory lane with his VMS crew, including iconic wins at Daytona International Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway during a partial 2018 schedule.

“Michael (Self) embodies what we work so hard to accomplish with our driver development program each year and I am proud to welcome him back to the team,” commented Venturini Motorsports team owner Billy Venturini. “He has become one of our veteran drivers who is a proven threat each week at the track and I am looking forward to seeing him and Kevin (Reed) back in victory lane throughout the season.”

With the addition of veteran crew chief Kevin Reed atop his pit-box, Self is poised to pick up right where he left off last season. Reed, an ARCA mainstay, has earned 22 victories in the series with an impressive 12-different drivers, including winning the 2019 championship. While the dynamic duo of Reed and Self may seem new to some, the pair previously worked together during the 2018 season at VMS, where they racked up two wins.

“I am really excited to get another chance to work with Michael (Self) this season. He has proven himself an excellent competitor both on and off the track each and every week,” commented Kevin Reed. “We worked together for several races in 2018, winning a few and our main goal this season is to win as many races as possible and to win the championship.”

Sinclair Oil Corporation enters their fourth year of sponsoring Self and looks to bring more exposure to their iconic mascot, DINO as they will return as the primary sponsor in 18 races of the 2020 season. They will retain associate branding on the other two events to round out the year. Fans can follow Self’s race results and Sinclair’s involvement at SinclairOil.com/DINOracing

“We’re excited to support Michael again this year, he is a fellow Utahan and we love supporting a home-town guy. We’re looking forward too many wins this season,” says Jack Barger, Vice President of Marketing for Sinclair Oil.

“The feedback we’ve received since the first time Sinclair was on a racecar back in 2016 has continued to be overwhelmingly positive,” Self says. “Every time we go to a track, I personally get multiple comments about how much people love the brand, and love seeing it associated with racing, and that makes it fun to be an ambassador for them. We’ve been able to grow the off-track activity as much as the on-track activity, and I expect plenty more of that throughout the 2020 season.”

Self and the No. 25 Sinclair Toyota Camry Venturini Motorsports team will kickoff the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 8 with all of the action live on FS1 beginning at 4:30 PM ET.

Heim is set to make seven starts encompassing all three ARCA Menards Series’

CONCORD, N.C. (January 15, 2020) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) officials announced today that ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) standout, Corey Heim, has joined the storied team for a partial schedule throughout the 2020 season. Heim, will pilot the teams Toyota Camry’s in seven starts, covering all three of the ARCA Menards Series; National, East and West.

“I am really looking forward to getting into one of Venturini Motorsports Toyotas and hitting the track this season,” commented Heim. “Last year was a step in the right direction for me and I think with everything I learned and Venturini’s amazing track record in ARCA, we will be a threat each and every week we show up. It’s going to be a lot of fun running in all three ARCA Series and I’m looking forward to racing on short tracks, dirt tracks and road-courses.”

Hailing from Marietta, GA, Heim surprised most after making his first ever ARCA start in 2019, where he started fourth and finished fifth at Five Flags Speedway. Continuing to run a partial campaign throughout the season, Heim tallied up 11 more top-10 finishes and seven top-five finishes, leading 15-laps in only 12 additional races. All of this was coupled with Heim running Late Model Stock and Super Late Models throughout the Southeast, where he continued to rack up top-five finishes.

“In continuing with our goal to make our driver development program as strong as possible, I am excited to welcome Corey Heim as the newest addition. He was a tough competitor on-track last season and I am glad to have him as part of our program so we don’t have to race against him this year,” commented Billy Venturini. “Heim has proven himself to be a threat each week and will only help us continue to expand our ARCA East and West Series programs.”

The now 17-year old, Heim will comprise his 2020 racing schedule of the short tracks, dirt tracks and road-courses that make up one of the most diverse stockcar tours in North America. Kicking off the year, Heim will see ARCA East action at the famed New Smyrna Speedway, before heading to Five Flags Speedway as the Series second stop. He will make one more East start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, along with two West Series starts at Sonoma Raceway and Phoenix International Raceway. Rounding out his busy schedule will be two ARCA starts at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Kansas Speedway.

Venturini Motorsports will make a formal announcement regarding sponsor, car number and crew chief for Heim at a later date.