(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 24, 2012) - With just two races remaining in the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season, Chevrolet is close to its fourth manufacturer championship in five years and its 13th in the last 25.
In fact, the manufacturer will clinch the title by merely having one of its cars start each of the last two races on the 2012 schedule, at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 14 and at Kansas Speedway on Friday, October 19.
Points are allocated to manufacturers on a 9-6-4-3 basis at the completion of each race. The winning car in any given race automatically earns nine points for its manufacturer. The highest-finishing cars of the remaining three manufacturers are then awarded points based on position relative to one another.
Chevrolet currently has 111 points to lead Toyota (97), Ford (96), and Dodge (92). Because of the scoring system, the greatest total any other maker can gain on Chevrolet is 12 points, just short of the leader's current 14-point margin over second place.
Chad Hackenbracht has been the year's highest scorer for Chevrolet, with 26 points in five races. Other Chevrolet drivers to score in multiple races include Brennan Poole (19 in three) and Tom Hessert (15 in two), and single-race scorers include Cale Gale (nine), Bobby Gerhart (nine), Brandon McReynolds (nine), Chad Boat (six), Chase Elliott (six), Erik Jones (four), Clint King (four), and Matt Lofton (four).
Frank Kimmel, currently the runner-up in points, is the highest scorer for Toyota, with 51 points in nine races. He has scored in each of the last four races.
Points leader Chris Buescher has earned more points for his manufacturer than any other driver in the series; of Ford's 96, Buescher is responsible for 78, earned over 14 of the 18 races contested so far. Buescher has been Ford's scorer in 13 of the last 14 races, a stretch which includes each of his series-high four victories.
Alex Bowman has been almost as productive for Dodge, scoring 71 points in 13 races, including points in each of the series' last five races.
The second dirt race of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season is up next, on Sunday, October 14 in DuQuoin, Ill.
Practice for the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care will begin at 9 a.m. and last for one hour, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell starting at 11:15. The 100-lap, 100-mile race will take place at 1:30 p.m. All times are Central. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage throughout the day, and ARCA Racing Network hosts Charlie Krall and Tim Clagg will deliver a live audio call for the race on the site. The race had been scheduled for Labor Day, but was postponed because of severe weather in southern Illinois.
