PIT BOX: ARCA makes its long-awaited return to Madison International Speedway, ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’

For the first time since 2019, the ARCA Menards Series will visit the half-mile Madison International Speedway located in the Town of Rutland near Oregon, Wisconsin.

Known as “The Track of Champions” and “Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile,” Madison has lived up to both nicknames since it opened to the public in 1969. Drivers like Dick Trickle, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Sammy Swindell, Bob Senneker and Butch Miller are among those who have conquered Madison’s fast layout and found their way to the track’s Victory Lane.

The ARCA Menards Series competed at Madison three times during the 1970s, but the facility did not become a staple on the calendar until the 2010s. Madison’s relationship with the ARCA Menards Series was initially set to continue in 2020, but that date ended up canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now back on the schedule for the first time in six years, the current generation of ARCA Menards Series drivers are set to experience all the unique qualities that give Madison its identity. The high speeds will require drivers to push their equipment and themselves if they wish to join the facility’s prestigious group of winners.

Tickets to Friday’s Badger 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the 15^th race of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season.

Badger 200 at Madison International Speedway

Fresh off a victory in his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International, Tristan McKee is returning to the platform at Madison International Speedway in a bid to stay perfect.

McKee in the No. 82 Gainbridge Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group will serve as a teammate to ARCA Menards Series points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. The second PRG car has enjoyed plenty of success in limited starts this year, as Austin Green drove it to Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway back in May.

Another young driver set to take on Madison this weekend is Julian DaCosta, who is making his first ARCA Menards Series appearance with Nitro Motorsports. Like many of Nitro’s drivers, DaCosta has competed with the organization in the Trans Am TA2 Championship, having amassed five top 10s this season.

DaCosta prevailing in his debut race Friday would give Nitro its fourth victory in its debut season on the ARCA Menards Series platform. The list of competitors who have won in a Nitro car this year consists of Treyten Lapcevich, Thomas Annunziata and Brent Crews, the latter of whom piloted the No. 70 to Victory Lane at the Springfield Mile on Sunday.

In 2019, when the series last visited Madison, Venturini Motorsports swept the front two positions with Chandler Smith and Michael Self. There are three Venturini cars entered in Friday’s race, with Mason Mitchell joining the program’s full-time drivers in Lawless Alan and Isabella Robusto in pursuit of his first ARCA Menards Series victory in a decade.

Other drivers competing at Madison this weekend include Max Reaves, Willie Mullins, Kaylee Bryson, Brayton Laster and Quinn Davis.

The complete entry list for the Badger 200 will be released later this week.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series races at Madison
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Madison

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 26 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive laps qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after taking the green flag at the Start/Finish Line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all cars must practice before they qualify (EIRI).

RACE PIT STOP: Break pit stop procedure. Breaks at or near laps 75 and 125. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Maximum number of tires allowed for use in race = 14 (purchased at track plus from-home tires; EIRI).