JUPITER FL (2-20-10) - Bob Schacht's ARCA Racing Series driving career spans over four decades. It's also impressive. The 60-year-old driver, in 182 career starts, has 19 series wins among 55 top-five finishes and 92 top-10s. In addition to 16 career poles and 1,887 laps-led in 56 races, the veteran driver has fielded top-notch equipment for a variety of drivers over the years.

His 19 wins places the veteran campaigner 14th on ARCA's all-time winner's list. One of his 19 wins came on the now-defunct St. Louis Int'l Raceway road course in 1986. That puts Schacht in a very elite group of racers. Since 1953, there have been only 12 ARCA events sanctioned on road courses. And it just so happens that ARCA's list of road course winners is virtually a who's-who of big-name winners. They are, in order, Fred Lorenzen, Nelson Stacy, Curtis Turner, Elmer Musgrave, Jack Bowsher, Schacht, Ken Schrader, Darrell Waltrip, Scott Lagasse, Sr., John Finger, Justin Allgaier and Patrick Long.

"That's an interesting list," commented Schacht. "Never really looked at that before. Now that I see the names, I feel pretty honored to be among them. That's one hell-of-a club.

"I've always loved road racing. Some of the best drivers in the world are road racers. I always wished ARCA had more of them on the schedule."

As it turns out, Schacht will finally get his wish. In fact, in 58 years of ARCA competition, 2010 marks the first year in ARCA's history during which the sanctioning body will host more than one road course event in any single season. ARCA will also compete at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) later this summer.

"The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards has long been recognized for the diversity in the types of venues on the schedule," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "Having road courses on our schedule truly rounds out the full range of venues to include paved short tracks, superspeedways, intermediate tracks and the mile dirt state fairgrounds ovals."

Speaking of mile dirt tracks, another of Schacht's wins came at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile-dirt. Another was a grueling 500-lapper on the Salem Speedway short track. Add Schacht's six wins at Pocono and one begins to get a better understanding of his diverse skill level. In fact, Schacht is one of only a handful of drivers who has won on all the different track types that ARCA races on - speedways, short tracks (dirt and pavement) and road courses.   

However, the Chicago-born-and-raised racer hasn't driven much over the last decade. In fact, in the last 10 years, Schacht has just two ARCA Racing Series starts.

So why now after 10 years away from the saddle?

"It's fun," Schacht said from his Mooresville, North Carolina race shop. "I can go there and have fun. There's no ulterior motive. I'm in my own deal, so I don't have to listen to anyone. I'm not running for points - it's all about enjoying myself at the track, like we all used to do."

When asked if this would be a sign of things to come, Schacht replied, "Well, never say never. But I'm 60 now. Where am I going? There's nothing I'm trying to prove. I just want to have some fun and get my fix in. Funny thing is, I'm probably more competitive now than I've ever been, which is really scary. Meaner the older I get too.

"Maybe Palm Beach will be my last hurrah, who knows."

Schacht, after an eight-year hiatus, returned to the series to race at NJMP in 2008 where he started 19th and finished 9th. In 2009, Schacht returned to NJMP and qualified 12th and was running well into the top-10 before transmission failure ended his run just 11 laps from the finish.

Schacht's first ARCA Racing Series victory reaches back to 1980 at Illiana Speedway in Schererville, Indiana. The last time he went to victory lane was 18 years later at Memphis Motorsports Park in 1998. In between are victory lane credentials worth crowing about. In addition to the wins at Pocono (6), Salem, DuQuoin and St. Louis, Schacht won three at the Nashville Fairgrounds, two at ORP and one each at Pensacola FL, Sandusky OH and Springfield MO.

Schacht, who always fielded his own equipment as well as quality cars for dozens of drivers over the years, has his own opinions regarding the development drivers coming through the ranks.

"A lot of these kids coming up have the talent, but they've also got to make all the right moves. It's just like anything else; the well could dry up tomorrow."

Schacht is explicit in regards to what he means by making ‘all the right moves'.

"They move up too soon; then they get consumed by everything you have to deal with at that level. Then people say he was just a flash in the pan.

"In reality, a lot of these young kids today are not always there on talent. Without the money, where would they be? The way everything is today - last 10 years anyway - you need more than talent to bring to the party. You need money; and when you run out, you're gone.

"I'm on my own dime at Palm Beach, so I'm gunna go have some fun; that's all there is to it."

The Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace at Palm Beach Int'l Raceway is scheduled to roll off at 1:00 PM Saturday afternoon, February 27th. On-track activity begins on Friday, February 26th with practice from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM followed by Menards Pole Award Qualifying presented by Ansell at 4:00 PM.

The race will also be featured in live streaming audio at ARCAracing.com.  

CONTACT:
Don Radebaugh, PR/Media/Communications
(419) 450-0611
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