All Photos Courtesy of Doug Hornickel / www.FastLapPhoto.com
by Kari Shear-Carlson / Mar 27, 2015 – The Touring Star Program for the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment has been in place since the inception of the series. The program includes the top drivers competing in the ARCA Midwest Tour and some of the best drivers in the country. Past champions, consistent challengers, and up and coming drivers looking to break into the next stage of their racing career, will all be competing against one another for a $30,000 point fund. With the level of competition in this year’s class of Touring Stars, there is no doubt 2015 will be one of the best seasons yet.
The 2014 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion and Rookie of the Year, Ty Majeski will make his return to the ARCAMT as a Touring Star trying to capture his second consecutive championship in the series. Majeski’s racing did not take a hiatus once he was crowned the 2014 Champion. During what many consider the “off season,” Majeski and his team did a little racing in the South. Rattling against 42 of the nation’s top short track drivers, Ty came home with a sixth place finish in the Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway. The team also found success in the World Series of Speed in New Smyrna, FL, where he captured one win and led the the point standings for two nights. Unfortunately a mechanical failure forced their campaign to end one night short.
Cardell Potter will also return as a 2015 Touring Star. Potter had an incredible “off season” as well, capturing some of the most prestigious snowmobile victories in the Midwest. He was crowned the 2015 Eagle River World Champion, which in the snowmobile world, doesn’t get any better. Cardell continues to prove that he and his team know what it takes to win and looks forward to putting that effort back on the asphalt in 2015.
Roscoe, IL native, Austin Nason, will be joining the list of Touring Stars for the first time in 2015. The 19 year old already has an impressive resume’ showing his competitiveness in every division he has competed in. He had great success in The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sportsman and Late Model Divisions from 2010-2012, moving into and having success in the Big 8 Series in 2013. Last season Austin finished his year with four wins between his Super Late Model and Big 8 Series starts. So far in 2015 Nason has competed in the World Series of Speed in New Smyrna, FL. Between three Super Late and four Pro Late Model starts, the team secured five top fives and one win.
Nick Barstad will again be returning to ARCA Midwest Tour competition in 2015. Barstad started racing Super Late Models in 2011 having much success in the NASCAR Whelen All-American series at Raceway Park and Elko Speedway in MN. Barstad came up through the ranks starting his career in Quarter Midgets and Karts, and moved into the Mid American Sportsman Division in 2008. In 2013, Nick competed on the ARCA Midwest Tour circuit claiming two top fives and three top ten finishes. Last season he accumulated another top five along with three top ten finishes. Barstad was also awarded a Pathfinder Chassis for his Rookie of the Year efforts in 2014 and is ready to put it to the track.
Stay tuned as the introduction of the rest of the 2015 Class of ARCA Midwest Touring Stars continues…
Don’t forget to make your plans for the Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway coming up on May 3rd.
Be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (/midwesttour) and Twitter (@midwesttour).
To learn more about the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour, log on to arcamidwesttour.com. The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.
