(KANSAS CITY, Kan. - October 18, 2012) - It has been a month since the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has been on track and anticipations are growing. But those anticipations will be laid to rest this Friday as the season finale of the 2012 season falls upon Kansas Speedway.
Venturini Motorsports will field five entries in the Kansas Lottery 98.9, all of which are seeking a strong finish to add to an already successful year. With three wins, four Menards Pole Awards presented by Ansell, and 35 top-10 finishes so far this season, in conjunction with a promising test session in Kansas two weeks ago, Venturini Motorsports is confident that all of their drivers will end this season on a high note.
Leading the way for the Venturini team is 21-year-old Brennan Poole. The Texas native, who has been a consistent contender for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series championship and the Team Messina Rookie Challenge, topped the leaderboard during both practices at Kansas Speedway on October 2. In fact, Poole was the only driver participating in the test to break the 30-second mark, running a 29.954 second lap. He was one of many drivers who broke the track record, Ken Butler III's 30.799-second qualifying lap in 2008.
Adding to that, Poole has captured two poles this season, both at Pocono, as well as two wins: one at Elko Speedway in June and the other the following week at Pocono. He has also accumulated fifteen top-10 finishes in his 18 starts with the team.
Poole currently sits third in the series standings, 175 points behind leader Chris Buescher. He is relying on the strength of his No. 25 Colt Ford/Average Joe Entertainment Toyota to win the final race in the 2012 season, secure his title of Rookie of the Year, and close the gap in the championship point standings.
Kevin Swindell, three-time Chili Bowl Champion, will take the green at Kansas in hopes of capturing his second win for Venturini this season. The No. 55 Curb Records Toyota of Swindell qualified on the pole, dominated the 150-mile race, and took the checkered flag at Chicagoland Speedway back on July 21. Having only run a limited schedule this season, the 23-year-old from Germantown, Tenn. has acquired three top-10s. Swindell hopes to secure this fourth this weekend at Kansas in his eighth start with Venturini.
Ryan Reed, another VMS regular, will make his 14th ARCA start in the Kansas Lottery 98.9. The passionate driver was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February 2011. Doctors told him "racing is out of the question." But now, the 19-year-old from Bakersfield, Calif. is not taking "no" for an answer. With a strict diet, regular workout routine, and doctors' support, Reed is consistently proving that despite his T1D diagnosis, he can continue to race and be successful. His No. 15 JDRF Ford has one top-five and five top-10s and currently sits 13th in the series standings.
In addition to running a regular schedule with Venturini, Reed also made his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 29. Reed ran the No. 5 Racehard.com/Ryansmission.org Ford for Wauters Motorsports. He finished 17th, ahead of series regulars like Parker Kligerman, Ron Hornaday, and Justin Lofton. Heading to Kansas, Reed feels confident. He ran seventh at the Kansas test earlier this month and is determined to add another successful finish to his record.
Hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, Nelson Canache will be making his 19th start in the No. 66 Venezuelan Tourism Toyota this weekend. The two-time Venezuelan open wheel champion has made tremendous strides over the course of this season. Having had practically no prior stock car experience, the VMS rookie has consistently improved all season. Blending what he knew with what he has learned has given the driver two top-10s and he is currently ranked eighth in overall points.
John Wes Townley will be returning to Venturini Motorsports this weekend in the No. 35 Zaxby's Toyota. Townley, also the driver of the No. 09 Zaxby's/RAB Racing Toyota in the Camping World Truck Series, drove for VMS in 2010 before moving up to the Truck Series. He is currently 15th in that series' points standings with two top-10s. The Georgia-born driver's best career finish came with Venturini Motorsports, as he finished third at Daytona. VMS is jovial about his return to ARCA for the season closer in Kansas.
From Team Release