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ARCA, Gateway Motorsports Park and Track Enterprises today announced the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will compete at GMP in 2018. The 150-mile race will take place on the evening of Friday, June 22, one day before GMP's annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

The 2018 race will be the seventh ARCA event held at GMP, but the first since 2007. GMP ARCA winners include 10-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel (2001) and the late Bryan Clauson (2007). The full-size stock car series has a rich history dating back to 1953 and has served as the launching pad for many successful motorsports careers, including Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Davey Allison, Alex Bowman and Ty Dillon. The series is diverse and challenging because it competes on superspeedways, short tracks, dirt ovals and road courses.

The ARCA series (www.arcaracing.com) has a famous local connection: NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series veteran Ken Schrader, of Fenton, Missouri, is the team owner for 2017 ARCA champion Austin Theriault. Schrader, 61, has 18 ARCA wins as a driver as well.

“We are proud to work with promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises and ARCA’s management team to bring the Menards Series to the St. Louis region," said GMP Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. "Our June NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event has been one of the most popular races on the schedule and the addition of another premier series allows us to continue the momentum we’ve been building since we purchased the track in 2012.

“The ARCA Menards Series event on Friday, which will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1, will kick off an amazing racing weekend that also will feature the Midwest Tour Super Late Models on Saturday as well as a complete show of qualifying and the 200-mile NASCAR event. In addition, the Gateway team is focusing their efforts on enhancing the event weekend with a craft beer festival and campground activities."

The June 22-23 oval track weekend will feature the ARCA Menards Series on Friday and the Midwest Tour Super Late Models and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday. Weekend camping will open on Thursday morning with expanded infield parking as well as a new camping area in Turn 4. Weekend combo tickets will be available in late November. Tickets also will be available at local Menards stores.

GMP now will feature seven days of live, nationally-broadcast event programming in 2018, with ARCA (Fox Sports 1), NASCAR (Fox Sports 1), INDYCAR (NBC Sports) and NHRA (Fox Sports 1).

For more information on Gateway Motorsports Park, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit www.gatewaymsp.com. Follow GMP on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.