ARCA Founder John Marcum, NASCAR Founder Bill France, Sr., and Bill France, Jr. pictured left to right in Daytona Beach, Florida. 1964.
Statement from ARCA President Ron Drager Regarding the Passing of NASCAR’s Bill France, Jr.
It’s very difficult
to properly put into perspective Bill France Jr.’s contribution to the
stock car racing industry. Bill France Sr. developed and organized the
sport, and Bill Jr. actively participated in laying that foundation. As
his role evolved over time, he came to be recognized as a leader our
sport needed, and he was well suited to the task. He didn’t seek a
great deal of personal attention, but was full well prepared to take a
position on an issue as necessary, always with the betterment of the
sport in mind.
The members of the
ARCA/NASCAR Connection 50+ Years Strong
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) was founded in 1953 as
a Midwest-based stock car auto racing sanctioning body. ARCA’s founder, John Marcum, had raced against (and worked as an official for) Bill France, Sr., who founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) in 1949.
For five and one-half decades, ARCA has presented championship stock car racing to fans, competitors and sponsors at the highest levels of the sport. From the superspeedways of Daytona, Pocono, Michigan and Talladega, to the ultra-modern, state-of-the-art facilities in Chicago, Kansas City, Kentucky, Nashville and St. Louis, to the half mile bullrings and the mile dirt tracks, ARCA represents the most diverse nationally touring stock car series, and the second longest running championship racing series in the country.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series has crowned a national champion each year since the inaugural 1953 season, and has toured more than 200 racetracks in 26 states since its inception.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series features 3400 pound, steel-bodied stock cars with corresponding auto manufacturer engine and body configurations. Drivers and teams compete for the national championship in a 23 race
tour featuring a diverse mix of racetracks ranging in size from .4375 to 2.66-miles in length on paved, concrete and dirt surfaces.
Notable drivers who have won in the RE/MAX Series include Benny Parsons, Kenny Irwin, Adam Petty, Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip, Ryan Newman, Davey Allison, Kyle Busch, Ernie Irvan, Tony Stewart, Jeremy Mayfield and Ken Schrader.
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published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.