The ARCA Menards Series mantra, “We Build Champions,” continues to prove itself as one of the most accurate slogans in motorsports. In 2025, all 12 Championship 4 drivers across NASCAR’s three national touring series — the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — have ARCA experience on their résumés, many of them with significant success that includes race wins and championships.
Those numbers reinforce what longtime fans and industry insiders have known for decades: ARCA is no longer just a stepping stone. It has evolved into one of the premier developmental series in stock-car racing for drivers of all ages.
The Frank Kimmel Era
In the 1990s and 2000s, ARCA racing was synonymous with one name: Frank Kimmel.
Kimmel defined the modern ARCA era, winning 10 series championships — including an incredible eight consecutive titles from 2000–2007 — along with championships in 1998 and 2013. He also holds the all-time ARCA record with 80 career victories, a mark that remains one of the most dominant achievements in American stock-car racing.
For many fans, Kimmel’s sustained success cemented ARCA’s reputation as a legitimate proving ground where talent was sharpened before advancing to NASCAR’s biggest stages. What made his dominance even more impressive was the competition he faced, racing against future NASCAR Cup winners and national-series standouts such as Justin Allgaier, Michael McDowell, and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
The Pipeline Is Stronger Than Ever
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While the Frank Kimmel era has passed, ARCA’s importance has only grown.
This past season, every Championship 4 driver across NASCAR’s national touring series had prior ARCA experience, reinforcing the series’ role as a true feeder system rather than a regional curiosity. Today’s drivers use ARCA not only to race, but to develop racecraft, adaptability, and professionalism at a national level. Since 2020, the list of ARCA champions reads like an entry list for an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event, featuring names such as Brenden Queen, Andres Perez de Lara, Jesse Love, Nick Sanchez, and Ty Gibbs.
ARCA also provides a unique early-entry development pathway:
Age 15: Eligible to compete on tracks under one mile and on road courses
Age 17: Approved for intermediate speedways
Age 18: Required for superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega)
This structure allows drivers to gain high-level experience a full year earlier than the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where the minimum age is 16 for short tracks and road courses. While select drivers aged 16–17 may participate in January Daytona testing, they are not permitted to compete during Speedweeks. That reality was evident with William Sawalich, who—at just 19 years old—has already been competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series since 2023 and entered the series full-time in 2024.
That extra year of development often proves critical, as ARCA champions and standouts continue to move directly into competitive Craftsman Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series rides and contend for wins almost immediately.
The Future
The future of the ARCA Menards Series is bright, highlighted by a test session this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The current entry list features 79 drivers representing 24 states, showcasing the depth and reach of the series.
From ARCA Racing
Ages span a wide range — from 16-year-old Isaac Kitzmiller of Maysville, West Virginia, the reigning ARCA East Series champion, to local New Smyrna Speedway and Florida state champion Brad May, who will compete at age 48. One of the most intriguing entries is Takuma Koga from Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, further highlighting the diversity of a field that continues to grow — welcoming drivers from across the globe and featuring both men and women.
Information compiled with assistance from ChatGPT using publicly available ARCA Menards Series data.