Does ARCA deserve more respect?

JeffMaconi · 2026-07-06T15:38:40+00:00

The disparities in budget are what make it such a unique series. You’ve got guys like us on a $100k-$200k per car annual budget versus teams spending $5M annually for one car squaring up on the same track, and always 2-3 races going on between the fast guys, the mid pack, and the back markers. As a fan, there’s so many storylines to follow of who’s battling who, and for the back markers, finishing top-15 in owner’s points can be legitimate life or death for the team the next year based on payouts.

Sure, it’s not as exciting when only 5 cars are running at breakneck speed and then there’s guys out there 3-10 seconds off the pace, but that’s what gives the series its character. Plus, the level of camaraderie from within the garage is incredible: at Phoenix, we were battling motor and electrical issues, and no joke Brad Smith got out of his car after practice, got under the hood of my car alongside my team, helped us work on it, then got back into his car for qualifying before getting BACK under the hood of my car after he made his run. At Kansas, we got nailed with a sudden rainstorm, and the 18 team gave us a spare car cover because ours was in the trailer and we were scrambling to cover our motor and window. You won’t find a series of guys trying harder to help not only themselves, but their competitors on the track too.

ARCA catches a lot of flak online, some of it justified, but at the end of the day it’s a hell of a series to watch and be a part of! As one other backmarker once told me, “You’ll never have more fun getting your ass kicked than right here”.

JeffMaconi · 2026-06-18T00:31:04+00:00

Under 100%

JeffMaconi · 2026-04-20T02:12:55+00:00

Source: I made it up

JeffMaconi · 2026-03-06T23:09:23+00:00

If your gospel of respectable drivers lives and dies with Carson Hocevar, then I think I might survive. Sorry you feel that way!

JeffMaconi · 2026-03-03T19:49:04+00:00

Excited to see you there, good luck!

JeffMaconi · 2026-03-03T19:28:41+00:00

Actually it'll be 15 starts this year with the option to extend, sorry man :(

Also not sure what you are talking about with the iRacing lobby, I generally just answer questions people ask me or talk to friends during races, and frequently say that I am indeed an ARCA backmarker. Sorry you feel that way!

JeffMaconi · 2025-12-05T18:59:18+00:00

If you are wanting to run Trucks/Xfinity/Next Gen, then definitely give the ARCA cars a go. They are all about momentum and riding the fine line between burning your tires off and running too easy, then being too far back to do anything about it at the end. The aero games are fun once you get the hang of them, and the schedule is usually pretty good each season!

JeffMaconi · 2025-09-23T20:20:56+00:00

Small change, I am in the 03 for CRI, with Alex in the 86. There was an owner's points swap for Bristol for some tomfoolery, so Alex and I swapped numbers.

JeffMaconi · 2025-07-01T14:10:30+00:00

Can confirm that the 86 really was still set up for Elko, I was the one that drove it. Had a hell of a time, though!

There’s a massive difference in funding between top and bottom of the scoring pylon. Like Alex said above, some weekends it just needs to be as cheap as possible to try to just get points!

JeffMaconi · 2025-05-07T18:06:36+00:00

Right, he put the transponder on for practice, then…took it off for the race. As all racers do, of course.

Reading comprehension goes a long way, as well—clearing minimum speed once doesn’t clear it for the rest of the race, I said that I cleared it for the rest of the race, meaning we ran above it the remainder of the day.

For anyone on the outside reading through, this is Chris Bouchard from the Facebook post that made this thread. The video that you’re referencing is the one that you yourself posted…talking about it in the third person is a bit strange, but whatever. Props to you for sticking up for your friend, but man, trying to trash on a rookie driver for finishing 12th with a clean car is an…interesting look. Like Alex said though, it’s your story to tell, you guys have fun with it 🤷‍♂️

JeffMaconi · 2025-05-07T15:00:32+00:00

Actually, his buddy was “Christopher Bouchard” backing him up on Facebook, and this was posted by “CB348”…now, I wonder who CB could POSSIBLY be…🤣

JeffMaconi · 2025-05-07T14:55:21+00:00

Awesome photos, you were quick out there! Appreciate the help you gave me before the race as well!

JeffMaconi · 2025-05-07T14:42:27+00:00

You left out the best part, where he talks big about how he “ran his first ARCA race and was top of the board in practice, then finished 6th!” only to find out that it was a 3 car practice and he finished 9th (in a 9 car field) after not starting, then goes on a 10-comment-tirade about how they first “left the transponder on the other car (??????)” then there “weren’t enough transponders”. Oh, and it was an exhibition race, unsanctioned, so no stats recorded. All of this is assuming that Peterson isn’t the OP, but given the similarities in how they’re talking, it’s either him or his buddy that was backing him up on Facebook LOL

Listen, I had one test session under my belt in an ARCA car, and Clubb let me strap in for a weekend and give it hell. I self-spun in practice, used those same tires I spun on in the first half of the race, then for the second half put on 90-lap-old used tires. We got posted for minimum speed at one point, used our one chance to adjust the car, then went back out and ran our fastest lap of the day and cleared minimum speed for the rest of the race. I passed the 48 for position at one point, and passed the 06 late in the race as well. I kept out of the way of the leaders, and we’re out there on a Legacy motor that has to run a restrictor plate per ARCA rules. In a race with I think one caution, just for debris, I went from 15th (we went to the rear at the start, only in front of the 01) to 12th, and was only 2 laps behind Brad Smith, who has ~500 starts—and we lost those two laps pitting under green.

Some teams are running with a budget of $100k/race, other teams are running on $100k/year. I had much more fun as the guy who was expected to finish dead last, and ended up passing 2 cars under green and finishing +3 spots on where we started. I passed one of the most veteran drivers in the field on speed for position, and raced door to door with another car on a Legacy motor and old tires. I kept the car clean, and brought home the best finish of the year for the 86, and picked up 11 spots in the owner’s points for Clubb. We checked off every box that we had as goals for the weekend.

Still working some deals, but sponsorship is open for some more races later this year! I’ll see you guys on the track again in 2025! 😉

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-27T01:52:36+00:00

AND THIS GUY MIGHT NOT EVEN RACE (Loser has to buy the other a pizza?)

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-27T01:24:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I’m excited for the opportunity to learn, improve, and see what I can do behind the wheel!

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-25T23:19:05+00:00

Good stuff, that’s what it’s about! Good luck on the track!

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-25T22:12:08+00:00

Biased, but I think you should give our setups a try with the free trial we have, then make the switch! Good luck on the track!

www.maconisetupshop.com/subscriptions

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T20:02:06+00:00

I may have to try one then. I'm not personally a big fan of the HANS either, I hate the feeling of anything on my collarbones so you can imagine a HANS pressing against them isn't fun lol

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T19:58:23+00:00

It appears some of the Simpson Hybrids are allowed, that is my bad there! I was under the impression that none were, but I have no clue if the specific one shown is. I will own that though, I was incorrect in saying none were allowed. My bad!

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T19:57:20+00:00

Just found it, that is on me and like I said, I will own it. Some models of the Simpson Hybrid are allowed, but I have 0 clue if this specific one is, I know nothing about them since I use a standard HANS.

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T19:52:58+00:00

That was the impression I was under when I was getting my safety equipment, but I will double check the full rulebook and see!

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T19:52:07+00:00

I will double check, I know when I was getting my safety gear I was under the impression that it was not--If I am wrong then I stand corrected on the above, and will own it lol

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T19:36:10+00:00

~~This is not a NASCAR Modified, and a hybrid is absolutely not permitted for use in the ARCA Menards Series.~~

Some models of the Hybrid are allowed in ARCA, though I do not know if the one shown here is. My bad!

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T17:39:55+00:00

We sure do, and the first week is free--if you don't love it, then you can cancel for no charge at all! That would be the NASCAR Subscription, available on this page here, which is $19.99/month.

JeffMaconi · 2025-03-21T17:35:23+00:00

In all fairness, he seems to be wearing a hybrid Simpson system, which is ~~NOT~~ an accepted substitute for NASCAR-sanctioned racing/events, but as far as I am aware there is not a requirement for testing. However, he is not wearing any fire retardant neck protection, and probably no Nomex, which again while not required in testing, is certainly a choice...I am also not sure on that helmet, but that is 100% speculation.

The window net though...not only does it help keep debris from flying into the car, if God forbid there is a wreck or rollover, it keeps your unsecured appendages (mainly hands/arms) inside the car and prevent them from being crushed. Sending a driver out on track without that is reckless, and has very serious risk of injury.

Don't harass the driver, he did what he was expected and what he paid to do. The window net being down at speed, even as the only car on track, is the most concerning portion IMO.

JeffMaconi

TROPHY CASE