Advertisement

NASCAR racing this week? Yes, depending on how you define NASCAR; not all are on Olympic break

ken willis, daytona beach news-journal
·2 min read
1

NASCAR is on a well-documented two-week break during the Summer Olympics, since broadcast partner NBC and its cable partners are offering blanket coverage from Paris.

The hiatus includes all three of NASCAR's major national touring circuits: The Cup, Xfinity and Trucks Series.

But another NASCAR property, ARCA, is keeping the lights on this weekend and next weekend.

What is ARCA?

The Automobile Racing Club of America dates back to 1953. The Midwest-based series stages most of its races in and around the Midwest, but ARCA's schedule also includes trips to Daytona, Watkins Glen, Charlotte and Bristol, often as a companion event during a NASCAR weekend.

Like NASCAR, ARCA traditionally opens its season at Daytona International Speedway, the week of the Daytona 500.

NASCAR officially took over ARCA in 2018.

GREAT AMERICAN BOOK Celebrate a fast-paced history of the Daytona 500 with new book; foreword by Richard Petty

Michael Self NO. 25 races Ty Gibbs NO. 18 through the turn 4 banking during the ARCA General Tire 100 at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, August 14, 2020.
Michael Self NO. 25 races Ty Gibbs NO. 18 through the turn 4 banking during the ARCA General Tire 100 at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, August 14, 2020.

The Race: What, where and when

The Salem ARCA 200 is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EDT), Saturday night, at the half-mile Salem Speedway in Salem, which is in southern Indiana, east of French Lick and north of Louisville, Kentucky.

What channel is carrying the ARCA race?

You can watch the race live on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) or streaming on the Fox Sports app.

How is the ARCA season going?

Through 10 races, a pair of part-timers are leading the wins column with three victories apiece: William Sawalich, who's won his three races in six starts, and Connor Zilisch, who has won all three of his starts.

Andres Perez, a native of Mexico City, currently leads the points standings, with four top-5s and nine top-10s in 10 starts.

When does NASCAR return?

NASCAR cranks back to life the weekend of Aug. 10-11 at Richmond. The Truck Series races on Saturday the 10th, with the Cup Series racing the next day.

The Xfinity Series doesn't return to the track until the following weekend at Michigan.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR is on TV this week, kinda-sorta. ARCA not on Olympics hiatus