(TOLEDO, Ohio - June 27, 2012) - Two weeks ago at Michigan International Speedway, drivers in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards started to pursue the 2012 Bill France Four Crown Award. The chase of one ARCA's most prestigious prizes continues Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park's Thunderbolt Raceway.

The award, depictive of the series' versatility, is a separate point fund that tests drivers on four very different tracks. After taking place on a speedway (top left) and a road course (top right), this year's Bill France Four Crown will also include the August 19 dirt mile race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield (bottom left) and the September 15 short track showdown at Salem Speedway in Indiana (bottom right). 

On the strength of his win at Michigan, Chris Buescher leads the Four Crown standings through one race. A chart displaying points earned through the first race is below. Listed are the top 10 drivers who scored points at Michigan and are entered for Sunday's race in New Jersey.

Top Entered Drivers in Position for the Bill France Four Crown Award

Allocation of points by position (Pos. - Pts.): 1 - 200; 2 - 195; 3 - 190; 4 - 185; 5 - 180; 6 - 175; 7 - 170; 8 - 165; 9 - 160; 10 - 155; 11 - 150; 12 - 145; 13 - 140; 14 - 135; 15 - 130; 16 - 125; 17 - 120; 18 - 115; 19 - 110; 20 - 105; 21 - 100; 22 - 95; 23 - 90; 24 - 85; 25 - 80; 26 - 75; 27 - 70; 28 - 65; 29 - 60; 30 - 55; 31 - 50; 32 - 45; 33 - 40; 34 - 35; 35 - 30; 36 - 25; 37 - 20; 38 - 15; 39 - 10; 40 - 5; 41 - 5.

The award is certainly important for whom it's named after - Bill France Sr. - but also for what it represents: variety. No other touring series requires drivers to compete on as many different styles of tracks as the ARCA Racing Series does. The award truly captures the essence of ARCA competition.

The very first Bill France Four Crown championship was awarded in 1984 to the late Davey Allison, a rookie at that time. Last season, Chad McCumbee won the Bill France Four Crown with finishes of third, eighth, first, and ninth in the four events.

Frank Kimmel is the all-time leading Bill France Four Crown champion with six titles. 12 of the last 28 ARCA Racing Series champions have also won the Bill France Four Crown, but the award certainly gives other drivers a chance to shine outside of the regular championship chase. In fact, the Four Crown winner has been someone other than the series champion in each of the last four seasons.

Past Bill France Four Crown Award Champions:

1984 - Davey Allison
1985 - Lee Raymond
1986 - Lee Raymond
1987 - Grant Adcox
1988 - Grant Adcox
1989 - Tracy Leslie
1990 - Bob Keselowski
1991 - Bobby Bowsher/Bill Venturini (Tie)
1992 - Bobby Bowsher
1993 - Bob Keselowski
1994 - Bob Hill
1995 - Harris DeVane
1996 - Tim Steele
1997 - Tim Steele
1998 - Frank Kimmel
1999 - Bill Baird
2000 - Tim Steele
2001 - Frank Kimmel
2002 - Frank Kimmel
2003 - Jason Jarrett
2004 - Brent Sherman
2005 - Frank Kimmel
2006 - Blake Bjorklund
2007 - Frank Kimmel 
2008 - Frank Kimmel
2009 - Parker Kligerman
2010 - Joey Coulter
2011 - Chad McCumbee

ARCA Racing Series teams will practice twice Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park's Thunderbolt Raceway. Practices are scheduled from 11:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. and 1:40 to 2:40 on Saturday, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 4:30.

The 67-lap, 150-mile race - the fifth for ARCA on the New Jersey course - will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, with live timing and scoring and live audio coverage presented by the ARCA Racing Network available at ARCARacing.com. The ARCA event is one of several races scheduled over New Jersey's All-American Race Weekend presented by Global Barter Corporation.