ARCA Racing Series to Return to Mobile International Speedway in 2014

American Stock Car Racing’s ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will return to Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, Alabama on March 22, 2014. 

Defending ARCA Mobile 200 champion and Fairhope, Alabama native Grant Enfinger led a star-packed media event Wednesday in Mobile.

“It is my honor as a Mobile International Speedway driver and the defending ARCA Mobile 200 champion to announce that the ARCA Series is coming back to Mobile in 2014,” Enfinger said.

ARCA Week will begin on Saturday, March 15 with an open practice for ARCA teams and culminate with the third running of the ARCA Mobile 200 on Saturday, March 22.

“The combined efforts of everyone associated with the ARCA Mobile 200 have clearly created a winning formula for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “For the third consecutive year, we will bring the series directly from the season opener at Daytona in February to Mobile in March for the second race of the season. The ARCA Mobile 200 is now talked about all season long by the entire ARCA community-race teams, fans, media and officials. We’re pleased and proud our series has found a home on the Gulf Coast.”

Local Mobile, Alabama driver Thomas “Moose” Praytor, who finished ninth in 2013 ARCA championship standings, said, “Mobile International Speedway has been a launching point for each level of my racing career, my first stock car start, my first ARCA start and this year our effort at Mobile led to 19 more races with Hixson Motorsports in the Realtor car. After all the new tracks this year I’m really happy ARCA is coming back to my home track.”

Local Mobile drivers Enfinger and Cale Gale have provided story book endings to the first two ARCA Mobile 200s, winning in front of the home town fans. While the ARCA series has raced at over 200 different tracks since its inception in 1953, the 2014 ARCA Mobile 200 marks only the third appearance at Mobile International Speedway.

“The community has embraced the ARCA Series and the ARCA Mobile 200 has become much more than a race; it’s a happening,” said ARCA Mobile 200 Promoter, Tommy Praytor. “The Mobile Sports Authority, Mobile Convention & Visitors Bureau and Alabama’s Tourism Department all realize the importance of this race to Mobile and it takes everyone to make it happen.” 

Opened in 1964, Mobile International Speedway is Alabama’s fastest half mile and is currently host to the Sunoco Southern Super Series and Miller Lite Super Late Model Series along with a regular schedule of Saturday night racing. Lee and Ida Fields purchased the Speedway in 1972 and for almost 40 years the duo produced “The Fastest Fun Around”. The track is currently being managed and promoted by Tim Bryant who is also the owner/promoter of Pensacola’s 5 Flags Speedway, the home of the Snowball Derby.