Rate this article:
"Dale Earnhardt: The Pass in the Grass and Other Incredible Moments…"
The book and accompanying audio CD highlight Earnhardts most memorable races.
Our Price: $39.95
Hurricane!
The story of Bob Hannah, the undisputed king of American motocross in the late 1970's.
Our Price: $35.00
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
Ferrari racing shield embroidered on front and Ferrari branding on back adjuster strap with shield embossed metal closure.
Our Price: $29.00 ($26.10 Member)
Written by:
Mike Harper
RaceTalkRadio.com http://www.racetalkradio.com
RaceTalkRadio.com http://www.racetalkradio.com
07/29/2007 - 07:00 PM
Midland, MI
SPEED analyst Ray Dunlap. (SPEED Photo) ยป More Photos
As for ARCA's ability to continue having NASCAR owners use it as a development driver series, even though the Car of Tomorrow seems to be years away in ARCA, Dunlap gives his opinion. "In the big picture I'm not sure there's any plan today on how you should bring a development driver in," said Dunlap.
"What I love about the ARCA RE/MAX Series is it allows drivers to run on such a diverse group of different race tracks. If you can take a race car and compete at Salem and be in the top 10, and then go to Pocono, and then go and run the dirt at DuQuoin. And then at the end of the year go to Talladega and run Toledo, you've done those five races, that's a lesson that a young driver is so hard pressed to find today in any other form of motorsports," explained Dunlap. "If you're trying to develop a young driver today, there's a lot of opportunity in this division."
Teams in the Nextel Cup Series garage agree with Dunlap. In speaking with a few of them, the common belief is ARCA does offer a very good development platform for their drivers because it gives them the experience of a bigger car
In addition, the trickle down effect that Dunlap touched on does work extremely well for ARCA and for those NASCAR teams who rely on ARCA teams to purchase older equipment and assist in driver development. This concept should work for ARCA if they plan to announce a switch to the Car of Tomorrow in the next four to five years. This would give NASCAR teams sufficient time to increase their inventory of new cars making it cost effective for ARCA teams to step in and purchase them down the road.
To switch or not to switch may be the ultimate question. But as ARCA faces the Car of Tomorrow challenges, we all should take comfort in knowing it will remain a series with a rich history and a bright future, full of veterans and development drivers racing the most diverse schedule in the nation.
Mike Harper is an ARCA RE/MAX Series contributor for SPEEDtv.com, and host of Inside the ARCA RE/MAX Series radio show on RaceTalkRadio.com.
RaceTalkRadio.com
Page 2 of 2
