Venturini Motorsports Hits Jackpot Five Drivers in ARCA Slick Mist 200

CONCORD, North Carolina (January 24, 2010)–Venturini Motorsports will open the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards with a strong driver lineup in the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway. The family-run and operated team–led by former driver Billy Venturini–has entered five cars into ARCA’s season-opening race, a record number of entries for any car owner in the national stock car tour’s 57-year history. The Concord, North Carolina-based team, responsible for fielding race winning entries for drivers Joey Logano and Sean Caisse in 2009, has entered Mikey Kile, Steve Arpin, Alli Owens, Mark Thompson and John Wes Townely into this year’s edition of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.

Venturini Motorsports participated in a three-day ARCA-sanctioned test session in preparation for the race this past December, dominating three of the top-four overall positions on the speed charts with Mikey Kile turning the fastest lap of the weekend (49.164 seconds/183.061 mph) in a Toyota and teammates Steve Arpin and Alli Owens posting times nearly identical to Kile’s.

Kile, a Westlake, Louisiana, native will run the full 20-race ARCA Racing Series in Venturini Motorsports’ familiar No. 25 entry-the same number that both Billy and Bill Venturini drove during their ARCA Racing Series careers.

Arpin, a Fort Frances, Ontario, native, is entered in the No. 55 Toyota and recognizes the significance of having four teammates for ARCA’s season-opening race.

“The test was good–we had great times and the cars drove perfect,” said Arpin. “As we all know, things change a lot with 42 other cars out there stirring up the air. I think we have a good enough balance in the car that we should be able to lead a bunch of laps and stay up front. The more teammates we can have at Daytona the better. We have some of the best equipment in the garage and some of the best drivers behind the wheel. If we can all hook up, work together, and stay out of trouble we should be in good position for the win at the end.”

Owens, a Daytona Beach, Florida, native, will pilot the No. 15 ElectriyingCareers.com Chevrolet and was the fastest of nine females who participated in December Testing. While the appearance of Danica Patrick is sure to bring national exposure to the speedway, Owens looks forward to being the female in the spotlight by running upfront in her newly painted pink Chevy. She is a proven performer at Daytona, qualifying on the outside front row for last year’s edition of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.

Georgia natives Mark Thompson and John Wes Townley complete Venturini Motorsports’ 2010 Daytona line-up.

Venturini Motorsports is familiar with the concept of multi-car teams in the ARCA Racing Series and has entered as many as four cars into race events in the past but their “Daytona Drive for Five” effort is a record-both for the team and for the sanctioning body.

More than 50 entries are expected for the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, race one of 20 in the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards. Watch the race live on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. (ET).