Salem Speedway Happy to Be Part of 2020 ARCA Menards Series Schedule

Salem and its 35-degrees of banking

With a history that dates back to 1955, Salem Speedway will host the ARCA Menards Series for the 107th time next April 19 for the annual Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. The race will not only be a part of the battle for the overall ARCA Menards Series championship, but it will serve as the second event of the ten-race ARCA Menards Series Showdown which will invite teams from the ARCA Menards Series East and West to southern Indiana to compete on the legendary 0.555-mile oval’s imposing 35-degree banks for the first time.

As has been the case for the past three years, Salem will again be the ARCA Menards Series’ official throwback race, inviting teams to display their favorite color schemes from the past.

Jack Harrison won three of the first four ARCA Menards Series races at Salem in 1955 and 1956, and his legacy will be honored once again as the series will present the Jack Harrison Trophy to the best appearing throwback scheme as judged by the fans in attendance. Ed Pompa and Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track High Performance Racing Team’s Darrell Waltrip-themed “chrome car" were judged to be the best last fall.

“There will be a lot of excitement when the ARCA Menards Series returns to Salem Speedway next spring," said ARCA president Ron Drager. “Not only will it be our annual throwback race, which always energizes the fans in the grandstands, it will be the first Midwestern race for the Showdown after the opener at Phoenix. The races at Salem are always exciting, the history and tradition are unmatched, and we expect more of the same in 2020."

"It's always a good day when the ARCA Menards Series comes to town," said Don Radebaugh, multi-media director for Salem Speedway. “There's a reason that ARCA has been coming to Salem since the mid-50s; the atmosphere is spectacular, especially on the Throwback weekend. It's not just the great racing and live pit stops; it's the tradition of the event that continues to make this race one of the most exciting and successful shows at Salem Speedway fueled by the Hoosier Lottery."

Some of the biggest names in stock car racing history have won ARCA races at Salem over the years, including former NASCAR Cup Series champions Benny Parsons and Bobby Allison, former ARCA Menards Series champions Frank Kimmel, Jack Bowsher, Tim Steele, Ramo Stott, Justin Allgaier, Tracy Leslie, and Bob Keselowski. Current NASCAR stars Brennan Poole, Alex Bowman, and Chris Buescher have also won at Salem, and 1952 Indianapolis 500 winner Troy Ruttman earned one of his three career ARCA wins at Salem. In all, 63 different drivers have won ARCA races at Salem including Ty Gibbs, grandson of NFL Hall of Fame coach and NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Joe Gibbs, who won at Salem last fall.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway is set for Sunday, April 19, 2020. Race broadcast information and starting time will be released shortly. Tickets for all events at Salem Speedway are available by calling (888) 246-RACE or by visiting SalemSpeedway.com. For more information on the ARCA Menards Series, or the ARCA Menards Series Showdown featuring teams from the ARCA Menards Series East and West, please visit ARCARacing.com.