ARCA: First Day of Testing in the Books at Daytona

The ARCA Racing Series took to the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway Friday to prepare for the 52nd annual Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAV TV American Real on Saturday, February 14th. The annual race will be held just prior to the start of the Sprint Unlimited. Over 40 drivers took laps around the speedway.

Cody Caughlin posted the fastest time of the morning session with a lap of 48.210 seconds, 186.683 mph. Caughlin was driving the first of two cars for Venturini Motorsports on Friday. His teammate, Leilani Munter, ended up fourth on the speed chart. She posted her fast time of 48.470 seconds, 185.682 mph.

Sean Corr, who made his only start last season at Daytona, rounded out the second fastest of the afternoon. Corr posted a fast time of 48.362 seconds, 186.097 mph. in his No. 48 Hylton Motorsports Ford. He is the only driver testing for the single car operation this weekend.

Tom Hessert, one of two drivers testing Friday with Cunningham Motorsports, rounded out the top-three. Hessert posted a fast lap of 48.366 seconds, 186.081 mph. Austin Cindric, who is the son of President of Penske Racing, Tim Cindric, was the driver of the second Cunningham Motorsports car. Cindric posted a lap of 49.205 seconds, 182.908 mph. and good enough for eighth fastest.

In the afternoon session it was all Patrick Staropoli. Staropoli, testing for Empire Racing, posted a fast time in the draft of 47.785 seconds, 188.344 mph. The Plantation, FL. native turned his first ever laps today inside of an ARCA Racing Series car. He was 14th fastest in the morning session.

Eight-time Daytona winner in the ARCA Racing Series, Bobby Gerhart, ended up as the second fastest driver during the five-hour test session on Friday afternoon. Gerhart, the only driver testing for his own racing team, posted a time of 48.078 seconds, 187.196 mph. Gerhart ended up fifth in the morning session. This draft is important because qualifying will be held in groups of six in February.

Munter, who was fourth fastest in the morning session earlier in the day, found herself sitting one spot higher in the afternoon session. Munter posted a solid time of 48.080 seconds, 187.188 mph. Caughlin ended the afternoon test in fourth.

Mason Mitchell and Austin Wayne Self had a very slow day as their hauler didn’t arrive until 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. Both the drivers ended the afternoon session 33rd and 36th fastest out of 39 cars.

Testing will continue all day on Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway. Fans are welcome to watch the test in the oldfield grandstand in turn-four. Fans can follow along from home with live timing and scoring on ARCARacing.com. There is no live television or online streaming of this event available.

Brett Winningham
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