Home » Sports » ASA/ARCA Racing » It Ain't NASCAR but It Sure Is Fun!!

It Ain't NASCAR but It Sure Is Fun!!

© Carl Vancil

When John Marcum started the Automobile Racing Clubs of America (ARCA) in 1953, he didn't have any idea that it would give a start to many of the greatest stars of his friend Bill France's "new" series, NASCAR, which was founded in 1949. Even though John worked for France and raced against him, I'm almost certain that neither of them had any idea of the explosive growth of stock car racing that was soon to come.

We all know what happened with NASCAR, how it grew into the most famous stock car series in the world, but the growth of ARCA took a different turn. It didn't develop into big time, big money racing, but it sure became a lot of fun. Today ARCA sanctions over 100 events at tracks ranging from quarter mile dirt tracks to superspeedways, and features four racing series. Many of these races are shown on various networks, and feature the best in ARCA racing. These include everything from the Bondo/Mar-Hide Racing series, the most widely known ARCA series, to trucks, figure-eight, and even midgets. They also sanction weekly racing series at tracks in the Mid-West

Many of the drivers that fans cheer for on Sundays got their start on with ARCA, and won their first superspeedway races there. These include such drivers as, Benny Parsons, Adam Petty, Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, Tim Richmond, Michael Waltrip, Tracy Leslie, Joe Ruttman, Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Rick Wilson, Jeff Purvis and Mike Wallace. Even today, some of these drivers occasionally return to ARCA and compete with the series regulars, which of course draws more fans.

The American Speed Association (ASA), on the other hand, is a newer series, with its first national race being held in 1972. That race, held at Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana, was won my one of my favorite drivers, now in his farewell season with NASCAR, Darrell Waltrip. Today, the ASA has grown into one of the major racing series and enjoys extensive television coverage, with the entire 20 race schedule being broadcast on The Nashville Network (TNN).

Concentrating on short, tight turned tracks, the ASA offers one of the most exciting racing series in the country. With longer races, usually running between 300 and 500 laps, an ASA gives the fans lots of real fender banging action, which they love to see. Just as with ARCA, the ASA has had several drivers move up to the Winston Cup series. Such fan favorites as Bobby Allison, Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Dick Trickle and Alan Kulwicki all raced in the ASA early in their careers.

The copyright of the article It Ain't NASCAR but It Sure Is Fun!! in ASA/ARCA Racing is owned by . Permission to republish It Ain't NASCAR but It Sure Is Fun!! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.