ARCA Series Conducts Preseason Test at Mobile Int’l Speedway

Mobile, Ala. - While the NASCAR world was focused on Daytona for Preseason Thunder, the ARCA Racing Series prepared for their own season with an abbreviated open test at Mobile Int’l Speedway on Friday.

Two ARCA teams, Team BCR and Clark-Diederich Racing tested the high-banked, half-mile oval in advance of the ARCA Mobile 200. The inaugural race is schedule for March 9-10, 2012.

Lafayette, La., native Buster Graham tested a Team BCR entry that has manufacturer backing from Ford and Roush-Fenway Racing. Graham turned a fast lap of 18.10 which is by far the fastest ARCA lap time at Mobile.

“We’re really fired up about testing at Mobile,” Graham said. “We’re running a car that Carl Edwards raced last year and it’s really fast. We decided to test it because we just didn’t want to show up in March without it having seen some test time.

“You like to show up on a race weekend with some sense of direction and that’s what testing today provided us.”

Graham is coming off a successful test at Daytona International Speedway where he posted one of the fastest times, a 48.229 at 186.610 mph on the historic 2.5-mile oval. Graham and Team BCR has committed to running a partial schedule of at least 10 races but may attempt more if financing becomes available.

Las Vegas native, Spencer Gallagher tested the Clark-Diederich Chevrolet but suffered an engine failure early in the session. His team packed-up at 2 p.m. and is expected to make a return trip before March.

Speedway promoter Rick Crawford has continued enhancing the track in preparation for the 2012 season, a fact not lost on Graham.

“Mobile’s such an awesome facility,” Graham said. “It’s a really nice track. I’ve ran a lot of short tracks in the Carolinas and MIS is on par with the best of them. Rick’s done a really nice job and I can’t wait to come back.”

The 2012 season will be ARCA’s 60th Anniversary, featuring 20 races at 18 tracks. The season begins with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 18. The event will air live on SPEED.