Bloggin' is Racin'

Buescher qualifies 7th, Ali 35th for Daytona ARCA race

Plano native James Buescher, who is scheduled to run a full NASCAR Trucks series schedule this season for Circle Bar Racing, qualified seventh in his No. 32 Toyota for Saturday's season-opening ARCA RE/MAX race at Daytona International Speedway. Justin Lofton posted a lap of 182.120 mph to edge Alli Owens (181.510 mph) for the pole on the 2.5-mile Daytona oval. Owens, a second-year ARCA driver from Daytona Beach, Fla., is one of two women in the field.
NASCAR phenom Joey Logano, 18, will start third in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 after running 181.324. Fort Worth resident Nur Ali qualified 35th in his No. 45 Dodge. Read more about Ali here. A full ARCA lineup can be found here. The race will be shown live on Speed, starting at 3 p.m. (Central) on Saturday.

-- Michele Vincze

Harvick inks Carmichael for 'Dega ARCA race

Former motorcross champion Ricky Carmichael is scheduled to make his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut on Oct. 3 at Talladega Superspeedway. Kevin Harvick Inc. will provide Carmichael's ride at the 2.66-mile high-banked track. Carmichael, who is a 15-time AMA motorcross champion, is eighth in NASCAR's Camping World East Series standings. The rookie has three top-five and six top-10 finishes driving for Ken Schrader Racing. Carmichael is participating in an ARCA open test at Talladega this week.

-- Michele Vincze

Quote of the week

"I don't have an ego. And everyone that knows me here realizes it. I know I'm not the best (NASCAR) driver. I probably never will be, because I didn't grow up racing this stuff. I care a lot about it, but I keep it in perspective. We're entertaining fans."

-- Red Bull driver Scott Speed, in a recent USA Today piece about his experiences driving stock cars. The former Formula One driver has won four ARCA races and one Craftsman Truck Series event so far this season. The California native is a real talent and a real character. Keep an eye on him.

Photo: Getty Images