Automobile Racing Club of America
An American stock-car racing sanctioning body that operates the ARCA Menards Series and related developmental racing series.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Automobile Racing Club of America, commonly known as ARCA, is an American auto-racing sanctioning body established in 1953 by John Marcum. It began as the Midwest Association for Race Cars, a regional stock-car organization created by Marcum after his work as a racing official associated with NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. The organization adopted the ARCA name in 1964 as its competition expanded nationally and began appearing on superspeedways. It is distinct from the earlier Automobile Racing Club of America founded in 1933, an organization that later became associated with the development of the Sports Car Club of America. ARCA's principal competition is the ARCA Menards Series, a stock-car championship whose cars and race formats have historically provided a bridge between grassroots racing and NASCAR's national divisions. The series combines established professional drivers, hobbyists, regional competitors, and young drivers seeking advancement through racing-development programs. Its stock cars have often been technically related to, or previously used in, NASCAR competition, allowing teams to compete with equipment derived from earlier NASCAR generations. This relationship has also made ARCA a practical training environment for drivers and teams moving toward higher levels of American stock-car racing. The organization has maintained a close operational relationship with NASCAR for decades. ARCA events have frequently been scheduled at the same facilities and race weekends as NASCAR events, including support races connected with major national-series programs. ARCA began competing at Daytona International Speedway during the 1964 Daytona Speedweeks at the request of Bill France Sr., who had raced against Marcum earlier in his career. Drivers such as Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, and Ken Schrader are among the NASCAR figures who competed in ARCA before or during successful careers in NASCAR. Kyle Petty won the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200, identified as his first competitive race. NASCAR acquired ARCA on April 27, 2018. In 2019, NASCAR and ARCA announced that the NASCAR K&N Series East and West would be placed under the ARCA banner from 2020, becoming the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West. This created a more integrated ladder of stock-car series spanning regional and national competition while retaining ARCA's role as a developmental platform. The organization also operates or has operated additional series and owns Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway. Former properties included the ARCA Midget Series, sanctioned from 1988 through 2002, and the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series, which ran from 1999 through 2016. ARCA uses a points system designed to reward finishing position, qualifying performance, participation, and laps led. The principal series have been carried by a range of American sports broadcasters, including Fox Sports and MAVTV in the modern era and ESPN, TNN, CBS Sports Network, NBCSN, Speed, and other networks in earlier periods. ARCA's present identity is therefore centered on sanctioning, promoting, and administering stock-car racing rather than selling consumer products. Its strategic value within the NASCAR organization lies in maintaining an accessible competition tier for experienced racers, independent teams, and drivers developing toward NASCAR's national series.
History
John Marcum founded the Midwest Association for Race Cars in 1953, establishing a regional stock-car series after gaining experience as a racing official connected with Bill France Sr. and the early NASCAR community. The organization was renamed the Automobile Racing Club of America in 1964 when it expanded beyond its original regional scope and began competing on major superspeedways. That same year, ARCA joined the Daytona International Speedway program during Daytona Speedweeks at France's request. The Daytona connection helped establish ARCA as part of the wider American stock-car racing calendar. From the 1960s onward, ARCA developed a distinctive place in American motorsport. Its races accommodated a mixture of professional drivers, independent competitors, hobby racers, and emerging talent. The series frequently used older NASCAR stock cars, and the introduction of NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow created another source of competitive equipment for ARCA teams as earlier cars moved down to the series. This technical and scheduling relationship enabled ARCA to operate as both an independent championship and a practical development route toward NASCAR's national divisions. Several drivers who later became prominent in NASCAR competed in ARCA. Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, and Ken Schrader are among the better-known examples. Petty's victory in the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200 was identified as his first race appearance in competition. Across its history, ARCA consequently served as a proving ground where young drivers could gain experience, established drivers could continue racing, and teams could develop personnel and equipment. ARCA expanded its portfolio beyond its principal stock-car series. It sanctioned the ARCA Midget Series from 1988 to 2002 and operated the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series from 1999 to 2016. It has also been associated with additional regional or specialty properties, including the ARCA Late Model Gold Cup Series and other series listed in historical materials. ARCA owns Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway, giving the organization a direct connection to race-track operations as well as event sanctioning. NASCAR acquired ARCA on April 27, 2018. The acquisition formalized a relationship that had existed through shared venues, calendars, equipment, drivers, and broadcasting arrangements. In 2019, NASCAR announced that the K&N Series East and West would move under the ARCA name for the 2020 season, becoming the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West. The change consolidated several levels of stock-car racing within a more recognizable development structure. ARCA's competitive system awards points for finishing position, qualifying, laps led, participation, and completion of designated schedule segments. Its broadcasts have appeared on Fox Sports, MAVTV, ESPN, TNN, CBS Sports Network, NBCSN, Speed, and other networks at different times. Under NASCAR ownership, ARCA continues to function as an American racing-sanctioning and development organization, with competition that connects regional motorsport, independent teams, and the broader NASCAR ladder.
- 2019
K&N Series integration announced
[1]NASCAR announced that the K&N Series East and West would be renamed and operated under the ARCA banner from 2020.
- 2018
NASCAR acquisition
[1]NASCAR acquired ARCA, making it part of the NASCAR-owned racing structure.
- 1999
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series begins
[1]ARCA launched its Lincoln Welders Truck Series, which ran until 2016.
- 1996
Ron Drager becomes president
[1]Ron Drager assumed the ARCA presidency following the death of Bob Loga.
- 1988
ARCA Midget Series begins
[1]ARCA began sanctioning the ARCA Midget Series, which continued through 2002.
- 1964
Organization renamed ARCA
[1]The series adopted the Automobile Racing Club of America name as it expanded nationally and began racing on superspeedways.
- 1964
First ARCA Daytona Speedweeks event
[1]ARCA began racing at Daytona International Speedway during Daytona Speedweeks at the request of Bill France Sr.
- 1953
Midwest Association for Race Cars founded
[1]John Marcum founded the Midwest Association for Race Cars as a regional stock-car racing organization.
Products and positioning
A United States stock-car racing sanctioning body positioned between grassroots motorsport and NASCAR's national competition, combining professional racing, amateur participation, independent teams, and driver development.
National stock-car racing series
ARCA Menards Series
ARCA's principal stock-car championship in the United States. It brings together professional drivers, independent competitors, hobby racers, and developing talent. The series has historically used cars related to earlier NASCAR stock-car generations and functions as an important step for drivers and teams seeking experience before entering NASCAR's national divisions.
Regional stock-car racing series · 2020
ARCA Menards Series East
The eastern regional ARCA series created when NASCAR's K&N Series East was brought under the ARCA banner for the 2020 season. It forms part of the NASCAR-aligned development ladder and provides regional competition for drivers and teams progressing toward higher-level stock-car racing.
Regional stock-car racing series · 2020
ARCA Menards Series West
The western regional counterpart to the ARCA Menards Series East. It was formed through the 2020 transfer of NASCAR's K&N Series West under the ARCA identity and supports regional competition within the broader NASCAR development system.
Late-model racing series
ARCA Late Model Gold Cup Series
A late-model racing property associated with ARCA's series portfolio. It represents the organization's role in sanctioning forms of stock-car competition below or alongside its principal national championship.
Midget racing series · 1988
ARCA Midget Series
A former open-wheel-style midget racing series sanctioned by ARCA from 1988 through 2002. It was one of the organization's historical expansions beyond its core stock-car championship.
Truck racing series · 1999
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
A former truck-racing championship sanctioned by ARCA from 1999 through 2016.
Brand decisions
2019
Integration of the K&N regional seriesStrategyBackground
NASCAR sought to organize its stock-car development levels under a more unified series structure following the ARCA acquisition.
Action taken
NASCAR announced that the K&N Series East and West would become the ARCA Menards Series East and West beginning in 2020.
Aftermath
The change expanded the ARCA-branded ladder to include eastern and western regional championships.
2018
NASCAR acquisition of ARCAM&ABackground
ARCA had maintained a long relationship with NASCAR through shared tracks, calendars, equipment, drivers, and development pathways.
Action taken
NASCAR acquired the Automobile Racing Club of America on April 27, 2018.
Aftermath
ARCA became part of the NASCAR organization while retaining its role as a stock-car racing and driver-development platform.
1964
National expansion and adoption of the ARCA nameStrategyBackground
The organization had begun as a regional series known as the Midwest Association for Race Cars and was expanding to superspeedways and a national schedule.
Action taken
It adopted the Automobile Racing Club of America name and broadened its competitive footprint.
Aftermath
The change established the identity under which the organization became a long-running national stock-car sanctioning body.
Sources2 sources
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