Let’s Call It for What It Is

When discussion about the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is on the table, time after time, the talk surrounding the discussion focuses on the series being development ones with drivers who don’t hang around. It also focuses on the fact that drivers only compete for a season or two.
 
Well…it’s the truth.
 
Let’s call a spade a spade and not argue these points. Each series have a valuable place to young aspiring drivers who want to elevate to the NASCAR Sprint Car Series someday.
 
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series has its East and West divisions which give drivers a great opportunity to race in full-size cars that give something similar to the feel in the upper levels. But they race mostly on one-mile or less ovals and some good road course experience. 
 
The ARCA Racing Series could be looked as being a step between K&N and Trucks to give drivers experience competing on bigger ovals including Daytona and Talladega. In fact, racers looking at running a Truck or XFINITY car at Daytona in February need to prove themselves in the ARCA 200-mile event first.
 
There are typical complaints that rich kids are buying these rides for the opportunity.  But, when you walk any garages, you will see a variety of teams with different incomes competing at each event.
 
Yes, there are also a few veterans that come back year after year, and compete all season long to make K&N and ARCA strong series.
 
Sadly, the K&N Pro West Series recently lost one of those stable veterans, Jack Sellers who left us at the age of 72. 
 
ARCA has famous names like Frank Kimmel, Tom Hessert, Josh Williams and others who compete throughout the year.
 
If there is one thing that is consistent in each of the series, it’s car owners who provide rides. On the K&N side, there is H Scott Motorsports with Justin Marks, Jefferson Pitts Racing, Bill McNally Racing and more. ARCA has Venturini Motorsports, Cunningham Motorsports, Mason Mitchell Motorsports, etc.
 
Another complaint about the revolving door of drivers is that it’s tough for a promoter to advertise with drivers who relate with drivers they recognize within a series. 
 
They also could say it’s tough for fans to follow a driver year after year. Many would compare this with what they see today in various Super Late Model series across the country, with veteran drivers who compete on a weekly basis. For example, in the Midwest, many grew up with Trickle, Shear, Detjens, Ziegler, and more. 
 
Today’s SLM scene will have a Sauter, Fredrickson, Pollard, Grill, Wilson, and more.
 
As much as we would like a series identity to be about drivers who compete in it, maybe it’s time we simply acknowledge the honest truth that these series are what they are, a development series.
 
The marketing needs to focus on that fact.  The advance promotion should be about stars of tomorrow racing at a facility close to fans’ homes. These are drivers who someday, you may see race on television every Sunday.  This is an opportunity to watch these drivers develop before your eyes and provide memories that you saw them race before they made it big.
 
The good thing about these two series is that you have drivers who are hungry for a victory and championship as they try to enhance their resume for future plans. 
 
At the same time, no matter if it’s a pay for play ride or someone who is coming with their own team, they are on an even playing field with the rules in place by each series.  If they can’t prove themselves in either of them, their stock could go way down and may be stuck racing Super Late Models for the rest of their career.
 
Both the K&N Pro Series and ARCA Racing Series have a dual purpose, be a place for drivers to develop and provide great racing for the fans. 
 
Each series has a great resume of drivers who have competed in their series.  Appreciate their purpose and continue to support them when they come to a track near you. 
 
Who knows…the driver you see and meet at events might be the next superstar in auto racing.  That is something a promoter can use for future promotions and fans can relish looking at a hero card from a development race series.