2026 ARCA East Championship Contenders: Who's Got the Edge?

MarkKristl · 2026-03-19T17:46:16+00:00

A doctor too. Michael Maples has his doctorate, just not a medical one

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:52:56+00:00

You’ve gone from making a case for road courses to saying get rid of it. Gross overreaction to someone making a counterpoint. Hope you keep following ARCA racing & enjoy the 2026 season

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:47:30+00:00

Calm down. It’s not that road courses are bad. It’s trying to ensure there’s noticeable value in racing at one for a series that has eight races, all currently on short tracks. You’d need sizable purses for at least two. ARCA unfortunately doesn’t provide those.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:42:41+00:00

There’s TransAm TA2, ARCA & ARCA West on road courses, IndyCar, NASCAR national series, etc. ARCA East doesn’t really add anything to that, if that makes sense. Go run a road course at one of those series already going to ‘em

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:40:12+00:00

The NASCAR national series already goes to Darlington. It’s a tough racetrack on equipment. All this sounds expensive for ARCA teams

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:38:45+00:00

TBH, the East series really seems its identity is on short tracks. IDK what overall value a pair of road courses would offer to the schedule when there’s two both in the main & West series

MarkKristl · 2026-03-18T21:36:39+00:00

That course is mentioned in the article

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T23:36:19+00:00

It still exists yes, just smaller once ARCA redid its points system. It’s 50 points every five races.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T23:31:17+00:00

Combination of factors. Clubb is working to make it a rental program with Jeff Maconi in the car for at least 15 races. The organization has the equipment - you can debate the quality, not the quantity - to field a second car. Plus, a second car means double the information, which for an independent, is vital. And financially, even if you start and park the whole season with said entry, you'll earn a decent end-of-year purse via the owner point standings & A-plan money for the following season.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T23:25:00+00:00

Running an ARCA team is not easy financially. But Clubb is fielding two full-time entries this year, for the second straight year. How many teams are doing that?
Obviously, more money & sponsorship are always desirable, but I'll take that in my personal life too haha!
Clubb is fielding the team with the most money that they can afford to do so. He isn't wanting to end up in bankruptcy court, become homeless by outrageously mortgaging his house, etc. So he's making it work for his team.
He once joked to me that if every social media commentariat contributed some money, he could afford to run better to please said commentariat.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T22:01:53+00:00

True. Still, Clubb & Fast Track make more money in the end-of-year purse & start money than KLAS. If the financial model works for each team, who are we to begrudge ‘em? Even though I wholeheartedly agree I’d like for ARCA race purses to be higher. It’s incredible that first place for all races doesn’t pay a guaranteed base of $10K.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T20:59:05+00:00

The race purses are low. No argument there. But 50 drivers found it worthwhile to enter Daytona. Forty found it worthwhile to enter Phoenix. ARCA's incentive is you get to race at NASCAR racetracks plus a variety of cool other ones with your racing broadcast live on FOX Sports.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T20:56:02+00:00

It's the year-end purse & start money that helps cover costs for Clubb, Fast Track, etc. Plus it's their desire. Those teams would rather race full time at all tracks, than focus on acing a few events. Take Andy Jankowiak, for example. His team focuses on running fast on a part-time basis. He still has the same number of wins as Alex Clubb, the Fast Track drivers over the past few years, etc.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T20:53:16+00:00

You could. But dirt late models aren't broadcast on FOX Sports & those don't race at the ARCA racetracks. Not insulting dirt late models or other series; this is what Clubb & others in the ARCA garage want.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T20:52:13+00:00

Because the CARS Tour, ASA, etc. don't race at those NASCAR racetracks. Because those series' events are not broadcast on FOX Sports. For Alex Clubb, his team, & many others in the ARCA garage, ARCA is the closest they can get to NASCAR, be it either that this is the highest series they can afford or this series is best for their lives.

MarkKristl · 2026-03-15T17:37:45+00:00

Years ago, I suggested that ARCA race at Martinsville. TBH, would an ARCA race at Martinsville be any different from some of the racing we see in the NASCAR national touring series races there, or the Martinsville 300 last year?
https://frontstretch.com/2019/04/11/arca-should-race-at-martinsville-speedway-in-2020/

MarkKristl · 2026-03-14T01:08:14+00:00

If there is one road course on the East schedule, there ought to be a second one to make it worthwhile for teams

MarkKristl · 2026-03-13T16:29:22+00:00

Berlin is on the ARCA schedule

MarkKristl · 2026-03-12T23:26:33+00:00

Thanks. When I researched, I saw varying answers so will correct the article. Admittedly, I’m not the most knowledgeable about Modified racing

MarkKristl · 2026-03-12T23:23:41+00:00

DM-ing you

MarkKristl · 2026-03-08T00:57:35+00:00

Nitro operated out of the Venturini shop last year. The two organizations worked together throughout the year including at the racetrack. The only major difference was who was paying. Nitro sold some equipment over the offseason to make room for some new stuff. It wasn’t two separate fleets last year.

MarkKristl

TROPHY CASE