Point Leader Arpin on a Roll to Talladega; Double Duty in ARCA and Nationwide Series

Topics:  Steve Arpin, Talladega ARCA 250

Emily Teeter
Venturini Motorsports
April 19, 2010

TALLADEGA AL (4-19-10) - On the strength of back-to-back ARCA Racing Series wins for Canada's Steve Arpin, the good news just keeps coming.

After signing a brand new sponsor for his ARCA car just before the Texas race (Mike's Hard Lemonade), the current ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards point leader picked up another ride. And not just "another" ride.

It was announced on Friday that Arpin will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 7 car for JR Motorsports. Arpin will take over the seat from Kelly Bires, who was released from the ride. Jamie McMurray will drive nine races in JR Motorsports' No. 88 as the team tests new drivers in the No. 7 during Danica Patrick's absence.

"With the way the Bires deal went down, we're sitting there going, ‘Look, man, we don't want people to just think we're going to plug Jamie in and coast to the end of the season,'" Earnhardt Jr. said. "We want to find the next talented driver that can work for our program."

Arpin is also scheduled to run the Nationwide Series race at Richmond race in the 7 car for JR Motorsports.

Arpin, One of Five for Venturini Motorsports at Talladega-

Venturini Motorsports is headed to Talladega well stocked with five teams entered: Daytona Beach, Florida's Alli Owens, Westlake, Louisiana's Mikey Kile, Fort Frances, Ontario's Steve Arpin, Cartersville, Georgia's Mark Thompson and the no. 35 Zaxby's Toyota. Kile finished fourth at Talladega in 2009 while Owens finished a career-best sixth in the same race. Arpin finished 11th in last year's event at Talladega while Thompson DNF with engine trouble. Thompson finished second in the 2010 Daytona opener with Townley trailing in third.

Venturini Motorsports/Arpin Lead Points by 10 to Talladega-

On the strength of back-to-back wins, Steve Arpin is on a roll. Arpin who drives the no. 55 Mike's Hard Lemonade car for Venturini Motorsports, won the last two ARCA races on the Salem Speedway short track (April 11) and most recently at Texas Motor Speedway (April 16). The Venturini-Arpin duo leads the points to Talladega by just 10 markers over Justin Marks.

The green flag of ARCA 250 at Talladega Superspeedway will drop at 4:00pm ET on Friday April 23rd and will be aired on SPEED.

www.arcaracing.com