Concord, NC (May 04, 2021) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) announced today the signing of 20-year American sports car driver, Parker Chase, to a five-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series. Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Champion will take the next step in his career by further developing his craft on a mix of diverse speedway and short track ovals beginning with the ARCA General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29.

Set to drive the No. 25 NXTLVL Marine Toyota Camry, the New Braunfels, Texas native will also compete in ARCA’s top division at Winchester Speedway (7/31), Bristol Motor Speedway (9/16), and Kansas Speedway (10/23) before finishing his schedule driving in the ARCA Menards Series West finale at Phoenix Raceway (11/6).

“I’m excited for the challenge and ready to take this next step with Toyota Racing and Venturini Motorsports,” says Chase. “Although I’ve been racing since the age of 13, everything I know revolves around road course racing. Joining VMS gives me a great opportunity to gain experience and learn the differences of driving a stock car. As a driver, your mindset is always about winning, but this year it’s all about adapting to a new car and leaning on my team to get to the point where I can compete for trophies in the future. Right now it’s all about keeping the car clean and finding a baseline – taking what I learn each week and building confidence and getting better.”

Focused on his preparation, Chase will turn his first laps of the season in an ARCA car during the upcoming May 10th Charlotte test.

“I ran a few late model races last year at Hickory, but this will be a lot different with the heavier car and the competition level in the ARCA Series. Right now my daily routine includes working out and doing everything I can to prepare myself by watching and studying film and spending as much time as I can in the simulator. I’ll be ready and definitely looking forward to getting in the seat.”

Chase, who earlier in the year signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports for two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ road course events, has one career ARCA start on his resume competing on Daytona’s Road Course in 2020. After clinching the Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX Pro/Am Championship with co-driver Ryan Dalziel, Chase stepped up to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class in the North American Endurance Cup. Parker, competing with Toyota teammate Kyle Busch, began 2020 by capturing a top ten finish in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona before taking on the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge championship with Bryan Herta Autosport.

Chase’s first ARCA event of the 2021 season at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be aired on FS1 and carried live on MRN / SiriusXM starting at 7:00 PM EST. Parker’s effort in ARCA will be supported by NXTLVL Marine, VerticalBridge, Tige Boats, and ATX Boats. For more information on Parker Chase visit www.ParkerChase.com.

About NXTLVL Marine
NXTLVL Marine is the world’s largest Tige Boats dealer with locations in Fort Worth, Dallas, and New Braunfels with a new location coming soon to Cottonwood Shores (non Tige Location). Locations also carry ATX Boats, Montara Surf Boats, Xcursion Pontoon Boats, Crest Pontoons, and Trifecta Pontoon Boats. Our pro shop is stocked with everything you could need for a day on the lake and we look forward to having you join the NXTLVL family!

April 29, 2021 (Concord, NC) – Off to a fast start, Venturini Motorsports (VMS) looks to continue the team’s early season success when the ARCA Menards Series visits the Jayhawk State for Saturday’s Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway. Featuring a familiar three car effort, VMS will unload a trio of intimidating Toyota drivers lead by Corey Heim, Drew Dollar and Derek Griffith.

Current series’ points leader Corey Heim and his No.20 JBL Audio Toyota team hope to extend their hot streak as they chase their third victory of the young season. Picking up the hardware last week at Talladega to compliment his Daytona victory in the season opener, last season’s Kansas winner carries confidence returning to the site of his first career ARCA series win.

“I’m really excited to get back to Kansas this weekend,” says Heim. “My crew chief Shannon Rursch and all the guys in the shop bring a fast JBL Audio Camry each and every week. This Venturini Motorsports team and I have been a serious hot streak recently – I’m excited to carry that momentum back to Kansas, one of my favorite tracks.”

Over his last four series starts Heim has dominated the competition earning three wins and posting an impressive 1.25 finishing average. Heim’s Kansas start will be his 20th overall ARCA start since making his first appearance in 2019. Coming of age, the Georgia driver has posted impressive numbers – accumulating 3-wins (Kansas ’20, Daytona ’21, Talladega ’21), 13-top 5’s and 18 top-10’s.

Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelt Rentals Toyota), currently 2nd in the overall driver championship point standing, returns to the track ready to break into the win column for the first time this season. The runner-up finisher at Daytona, Dollar finished fourth last weekend behind another strong performance at Talladega to notch his second top-5 of the season.

“Our team is ready for Kansas!” says Dollar. “I’ve been feeling extremely confident in the race car and I’m looking forward to showing what this team and I can do. Kansas would definitely be a good track to put our Sunbelt Rental Camry into victory lane.”

Competing for wins on the last lap at Daytona and Talladega, Dollar played pivotal roles in each race pushing teammate Corey Heim across the stripe for victory. Asked about helping his teammate, Dollar said, “I know Corey would’ve helped me win Talladega if roles were reversed, he was ready to repay the favor from Daytona.”

Dollar enters Saturday’s race with 25-career ARCA starts. During this time he’s posted 1 win (Talladega ’20), 1 pole, 6-top 5’s and 19 top-10’s.

Driving the No.25 SpotOn Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports, Derek Griffith is ready to slide back into the seat after a heartbreaking finish in the season opener at Daytona.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment since I got out of the car at Daytona,” says the 2021 World Series Championship winner at New Smyrna. “I’m ready to go out and get a good finish. Daytona was a heartbreaker for me and all my supporters back home. I have a lot of faith in my Venturini Motorsports crew. They gave me a rocket at Daytona and I’m pumped to go to a track I have laps at already.”

The standout late model star will make third career start at Kansas (finishing 8th & 3rd) and his tenth overall since making his ARCA Menards Series debut last season. The New Hampshire born driver has 2-top 5’s and 7-top 10’s to his credit.

Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150 from Kansas Speedway is scheduled to broadcast live on FS1 starting at 1:30PM EST.

April 25, 2021 (Talladega, Alabama) – With an assist from Venturini Motorsports’ teammate Drew Dollar, 18-year old Corey Heim and his No.20 JBL Audio Toyota team completed a superspeedway sweep finding victory lane in dramatic fashion during Saturday’s ARCA Racing Series General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway.

After the tandem of Corey Heim and Drew Dollar flexed their Toyota muscle throughout much of the afternoon, Saturday’s Talladega classic came down to a one lap shootout following a late caution. Lining up third behind Bret Holmes and Nick Sanchez, Heim relied on strong restart and huge push from Dollar to split the leaders and race his way around the 2.66-mile track to find the checkered flag.

Winning the season opener at Daytona, Heim claimed his second victory of the season and his third over his last four series’ starts extending his early season points lead over the competition.  Heim who was raised only 110 miles away in Marietta, Georgia became just the second ARCA driver to sweep both races in a single season since 1992. Heim’s Talladega victory gave his team – Venturini Motorsports their second consecutive win at the famed track and the organization’s 74^th overall in series competition.

With the post-race focus on Heim, VMS teammate, Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelt Rental Toyota) could’ve easily been the driver parked in Victory Lane.  Finishing fourth, last season’s Talladega race winner led 28-laps on the day, moving himself up to second-place (14 points behind Heim) in the series’ driver point standings.

Seeking redemption after a slow start to the season, Gracie Trotter’s (No.25 Mobil1 Toyota) bad luck continued.  After starting third, Trotter, in the wrong place at the wrong time, found early trouble when the No.11 car driven by Richard Garvie was moved up into her high line delivering a blow to the side of her Toyota, cutting the front left tire. Still able to drive, Trotter pitted for tires but went a lap down and was never able to recover –finishing 22nd.

The ARCA Menards Series will return to action Saturday, May 1 for the Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway. The race is scheduled to broadcast live on FS1 starting at 1:30PM EST.

April 23, 2021 (Talladega, Alabama) – Six weeks removed from the last ARCA Menards Series season event, drivers and fans alike are prepared to test their nerves when ARCA’s top touring series returns to action for the third event of the 2021 season at Talladega Superspeedway in Saturday’s General Tire 150.

Featuring a mammoth 2.66-mile racing surface, Talladega delivers ultra-fast speeds and a level of anxiety to match. Known as the equalizer, the characteristics of restrictor plate racing is like no other. Testing a driver’s courage, cars run in a tight draft leaving no room for error, and rely on a little bit of luck to survive the 200-mile event.

Topping this weekend’s entry list at Talladega is defending race champion and Venturini Motorsports’ Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelts Rental Toyota) who scorched the field during last season’s spring race leading 40 of 76 laps to earn his first career series victory.

Dollar’s superspeedway win proving no fluke, the 20-year old driver has shown a knack for restrictor plate racing, boasting a second-place finishing average in three career starts at Daytona and Talladega.

Poised to challenge his ‘Dega winning teammate is Corey Heim (No.20 JBL Audio Toyota), this season’s Daytona winner and current ARCA Menard Series’ championship points leader.

The 18-year old Georgia native currently holds a slim 2-point advantage over fellow Toyota driver Ty Gibbs during the early season points battle. Off to a fast start, Heim carries a near perfect 1.5 average finish leading into the weekend.

Gracie Trotter (No.25 Mobil 1 Toyota) rounds out VMS’ driver lineup at Talladega. Set to make her first career start at the famed Alabama track, Trotter is focused on rebounding after disappointing finishes to start the season.

Trotter, who signed a 10-race deal with VMS during the off-season, became the first female driver in history to win an ARCA sanctioned event after capturing the checkered flag in 2020 during the ARCA West race at the Bullring in Las Vegas.

Saturday’s General Tire 200 will be carried live on FS1 and streamed on FOX SPORTS GO starting at 1PM EST.

TEAM NOTES:
Venturini Motorsports enters the weekend with 73 all-time ARCA Menards Series Victories, including one win (Drew Dollar ’20) at Talladega. Team patriarch and co-owner, “Big” Bill Venturini, a two-time ARCA driver champion, holds the all-time track and series’ qualifying record set in 1987 with a nearly impossible fast lap of 205.432.

March 10, 2021 (Concord, NC) – It’s been nearly a month since the series’ season opening event at Daytona, but now the roar of the engines will come back to life when the ARCA Menards Series resumes its 20-race schedule on Friday for the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway.

After slaying the field on the beach back in February, Corey Heim – ARCA’s hottest driver, will try his hand in the desert looking for his third consecutive series victory dating back to last season’s finale at Kansas Speedway. Heim (No.20 JBL Toyota), gunning for the series’ Driver Championship in 2021, is one of three Venturini Motorsports’ (VMS) Toyota drivers competing for the trophy in Phoenix.

Sitting atop the driver standings early, Heim along with teammates Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelt Rentals Toyota) and Gracie Trotter (No.25 Mobil 1 Toyota) are ready to head West and strap back into the seat to take on the 1-mile, multi-groove Phoenix track.

“It’s been a long wait, but I’m excited to get back to the track this weekend in Phoenix,” said Heim. “As a driver it’s difficult to sit on sidelines and wait for your next race. Staying focused and keeping a routine is important. I’ve spent a lot of time conditioning myself for the long season ahead and countless hours in the simulator preparing for this weekend.

“Our guys have really been focused at the shop. We’ve been tweaking our baseline and feel we’ve got a good setup going into Phoenix. It’s all about bring the best car we have and these guys don’t ever stop working. It will be fun to get back out there Friday night. The track is super fun to drive with so many grooves to run. It’s definitely an exciting race for fans to watch as the action on the track doesn’t let up. Our JBL team is ready. I’m hoping all our hard work pays off and we keep the momentum going.”

In his only previous attempt at Phoenix, Heim finished eighth in last year’s ARCA West event driving for VMS.

Ready for redemption, Drew Dollar and his Sunbelt Rentals Toyota team return to action after finishing second behind Heim in the season opener at Daytona. Dollar, who captured the first General Tire Pole Award in his season debut, controlled the field for 18-laps at Daytona before getting shuffled back and finding himself forced to fight his way back to finish runner-up.

Despite the long layoff, Dollar’s last ARCA race is still fresh on his mind.

“We definitely had the car and wanted to win Daytona,” said Dollar. “Coming up short was disappointing, but it won’t define this team. We showed our strength and will compete for wins every time out this year. We all share the same mentality and will keep pushing ahead. Billy (Venturini) and I continue to work hard off the track going over notes and doing what it takes to keep getting better.

“Phoenix is a great track. I’ve been out here three times and have had some decent success. Relying on my experience and spending a good amount of time in the simulator really boosts my confidence. We’ve all put a lot of hard work in preparing for this race. I feel this team is really dialed in and capable of winning at any track – our goal this week is to finish one spot better than last time out.”

In three career attempts at Phoenix, Dollars best finish of 5th came last year racing in the ARCA West Series with VMS.

Gracie Trotter will make her second start of season in her Mobile 1 Toyota when she returns to the familiar Phoenix track this weekend. Trotter, who drove her red, white and blue Camry up front at Daytona showed speed early on before finding trouble in the season opener and ending with a disappointing 23rd place finish.

Relying on previous Phoenix race action, the 19-year old driver is focused on a successful return to the track.

“Having raced at Phoenix twice last year I’ve learned a lot about the characteristics of the track and know it’s all about running a clean race and building momentum,” said Trotter.

“You can move around a lot and find different groves all the way around, especially in turns three and four. I’ll use the experienced I gained last year with passing cars and learning how the car changes throughout the race to better execute passes and where to move around if the car gets to loose or tight.”

During two previous starts at Phoenix with a different team, Trotter posted a ninth place finish last season racing during the ARCA West Series Event and was credited with a 22nd place finish in the ARCA Menards Series event after engine problems cut her day short.

The General Tire 150 is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. ET and broadcast live on MAVTV while streaming on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

February 14, 2021 (Concord, NC) – 18-year-old rookie driver Corey Heim held off teammate and pole sitter Drew Dollar on Saturday afternoon to capture glory, winning the 2021 ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Heim led a race high 38-laps behind the wheel of his bright No. 20 orange and white JBL Audio Toyota, crossing the stripe at the end capturing the biggest win thus far in his young career and his second overall series’ victory in as many races. Heim took the checkered flag in last season’s finale at Kansas Speedway.

“I gotta give it all to (crew chief) Shannon Rursch,” said Heim, of the final restart with one lap to go. “He made the perfect call, executed this race perfect. He dialed this JBL Camry in perfect. I can’t give enough thanks to Toyota, Venturini Motorsports, JBL, and all the guys who make it happen.”

Winning on racing’s biggest stage, the Georgia native secured his name in history by giving the longtime ARCA team, Venturini Motorsports (VMS), their fourth consecutive season opening victory at the famed track and their sixth overall team win at Daytona.

Heim, the 2021 Daytona champion, now joins an exclusive list of former VMS drivers winning this marquee event – John Wes Townley (2013), Michael Self (2018 & 2020) and Harrison Burton (2019). In addition to winning twice on Daytona’s legendary 2.5 mile tri-oval track, Michael Self was last year’s mid-season winner on the road course.

A caution with four laps to go set up Saturday’s overtime finish. With Heim, the leader, taking the top lane and Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelt Rentals Toyota) on the bottom, the latter let the former move to the inside so the duo could work together in the draft.

Even with Dollar’s car damaged and lacking power steering, the plan worked to perfection, and VMS ended the race with a 1-2 finish. Dollar, who started the day winning his first career General Tire Pole Award, dominated early leading the first 18-laps of the race.

“I felt like that was really all we could do there,” Dollar said of the last lap. “We had a superfast Camry today; just didn’t really have what it took to win once we had damage.” “I gotta give a lot of props to Drew Dollar,” Heim added. “He really helped me there at the end, just him being right behind me. I know he’s got a little bit of experience and just raced Friday night’s Truck race, too. Really trusted him, and it paid off.”

VMS’ other pair of drivers, Gracie Trotter (No. 25 Mobil 1 Toyota) and Derek Griffith (No.55 SpotOn Toyota) also had strong cars and both led laps during the 80-lap event. Trotter, who took the race lead towards the midway point, led 8 circuits before Griffith briefly took it away. Attempting to reclaim her top spot the following lap, Trotter made contact with Griffith’s bumper sending his car sideways as it sustained heavy damage collecting oncoming traffic on the track.

Griffith, forced to retire, was credited with a 30th place finish. Trotter would not fully recover, but finished under green in the 23rd place position.

The ARCA Menards Series will return to action on Friday, March 12 at Phoenix Raceway. That race will be a combination event with the ARCA Menards West and will mark the West Series’ season-opener.

The Phoenix 150 is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. MT / 7:30 p.m. ET and broadcast live on MAVTV while streaming on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

January 29, 2021 (Concord, NC) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) shored up an already stout 2021 driver roster by announcing today the signing of 2020 ARCA West Champion, 16-year old, Jesse Love, who makes the trek East from Menlo Park, California.

The latest driver to emerge out of the respected Toyota Racing Development (TRD) program, Love is scheduled to pilot the No.25 Mobil 1 Camry for nine races in the ARCA Menards Series along with a single ARCA East event at Dover.

Paired with one of the ARCA Menards Series’ all-time leading crew chiefs, Kevin Reed, Love will showcase his ability short track style beginning with Toledo (5/22), Elko (7/10), Berlin (7/17), Iowa (7/24), Springfield (8/22), Milwaukee (8/29), DuQuoin (9/5), Bristol (9/16) and Salem (10/2).

“Stepping up a level and running more races in the ARCA Menards Series gives me a great chance to gain more experience and continue improving my skills,” says Love. “I’ve been very fortunate at a young age to race with some great teams. Running the full west schedule and coming back over to Venturini Motorsports means a lot. I feel when you have great people behind you it shortens the learning curve and helps the progression of my development. I’m thankful to TRD and Mobil 1 for giving me this opportunity.”

Putting his name on the map in 2020, Love balanced a busy racing schedule earning four poles, nine top-5’s, 10 top-10’s, while leading 369 laps and winning three races with Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) out West on his way to capturing his first ARCA Championship. He also made two ARCA East starts and four ARCA Menards Series starts highlighted by a late season fourth place finish driving for VMS on the high banks of Winchester Speedway.

Grasping the wheel again in 2021, Love will split his time between time zones as he’ll return full time in the ARCA West Series to defend his title with BMR while running the partial ARCA Menards Season with Venturini Motorsports.

January 14, 2021 (Concord, NC) – Handwork, persistence and some spot-on timing helped New Hampshire born driver Derek Griffith fulfill his desire of returning to the racetrack after making eight starts during the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season.

Teaming with Venturini Motorsports (VMS), 23-year-old, Derek Griffith, with support from San Francisco based, SpotOn, small business software and payments company, will be back behind the wheel this season in ARCA’s premier touring series for two races under the VMS banner.

Griffith, a top-10 finisher at the Snowball Derby back in December, will showcase his No.55 SpotOn Toyota Camry during the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13 and again at Kansas Speedway during the May event. Both races will be televised on FS1.

“Never give up,” responded Griffith when asked about his off-season deal allowing his return to the track. “This is awesome. I’ve worked really hard during the offseason to make this moment happen. I can’t thank everyone at SpotOn enough for giving me this incredible opportunity. I’m excited to represent their brand and continue to build our relationship.”

Griffith notched two top-5 and seven top-10 finishes during his eight starts in 2020 driving the No.22 for Chad Bryant Racing in the ARCA Menards Series.

“It’s an honor to now have the opportunity to represent my sponsor racing for such a successful organization like Venturini Motorsports. They’re a great team. I’ve been talking with Billy (Venturini) for a while – I’m excited everything fell into place the way it did. I’m ready to go!”

January 13, 2021 (Concord, NC) – Poised for the next chapter in her racing career, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) driver Gracie Trotter has signed with Venturini Motorsports (VMS) to a 10 race ARCA schedule for the upcoming 2021 season. Trotter, 19, became the first female driver in history to win an ARCA sanctioned event after capturing the checkered flag in 2020 during the ARCA West race at The Bullring at Las Vegas.

With her sights set on the future, Trotter is scheduled to make ten starts splitting time behind the wheel of VMS’ No.15 Toyota Camry and iconic No. 25 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry in the ARCA Menards Series, starting with the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13. After making her superspeedway debut at the beach, the Denver, NC driver will compete at Phoenix (3/12), Talladega (4/24), Toledo (5/22), Elko (7/10), Berlin (7/17), Michigan (8/20), Milwaukee (8/29) and Salem (10/2). Trotter and VMS will close out the season running the ARCA West event at Phoenix on November 6.

“I couldn’t be more excited. I’m so thankful to everyone at Toyota Racing Development, Mobil 1 and VMS for giving me this surreal opportunity to continue living out my dreams,” says the former NASCAR diversity driver. “Toyota has been incredibly important to my development over the last four years. They’ve guided me so much, helping me move up at the right pace with the right people.”

Trotter, who cut her teeth in the sport racing late models throughout the Carolinas, made the move to heavier stock car racing in 2020 pairing with TRD’s Bill McAnally Racing for a full season effort in ARCA West, finishing third overall in the series’ championship point standings. The two also combined for three starts in ARCA’s premier series, with Trotter posting a best ninth-place finish at Iowa.

“I tell myself I can win every time I strap myself into a race car. This year will be no different but with a learning curve,” added Trotter. “My time in the car now is about the future. It’s about learning as much as I can about the car, communication with my team and all the new tracks. Coming to a place like Venturini Motorsports to race and learn from some of the best makes me feel like there’s no better place to be right now.”

Trotter will make her official 2021 ARCA Menards Series debut this weekend behind the wheel of the No.25 during the series 2-day test at Daytona International Speedway.