The ASA Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year, Dustin Smith will get an opportunity to test an ARCA Menards Series car on January 9th and 10th at Daytona International Speedway.
Smith is coming off the best season of his career, with a win at Mobile International Speedway, a top-10 at the 57th Annual Snowball Derby at Pensacola’s 5 Flags Speedway and the Rookie of the Year for the Southern Super Series (SSS). His SSS ROY Honor earned him his spot in the 2025 ARCA Road to Daytona program.
“Dustin had a big year and really improved tremendously as a driver,” said Southern Super Series Promoter Tim Bryant. “We think Dustin has a big future ahead of him and we are happy to be part of sending him to Daytona as our Rookie of the Year.”
A total of seven drivers representing the ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, and ASA Southern Super Series will split time in cars prepared by Fast Track Racing throughout the two-day test session. Each driver will have an opportunity to run approximately 30-40 laps or 75-100 miles at speeds approaching 190 miles per hour.
1995 ARCA Menards champion Andy Hillenburg will be Smiths driver coach while long time Fast Track Spotter John Szulczewski will be on the roof, helping the Mobile native navigate his first laps at Daytona.
“We are expecting big things from Dustin at the test,” offered Hillenburg. “We’ve been doing the Road to Daytona Program for over 20 years and Dustin has the potential to be one of our top graduates.”
The size of the track or the opportunity is not lost on the 27-year-old Mobile driver. “Come on, it’s Daytona! The history, the excitement, everyone wants an opportunity to drive at the World Center of Speed”, said Smith. “Really appreciate the Southern Super Series making this possible and Mr. Andy (Hillenburg) taking an interest in me.”
Smith is expected to his opportunity on Thursday January 9th with live timing and scoring data throughout the test onARCARacing.com.
The 2025 ARCA Menards Series season will kick off with the 62nd Annual Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15.
The race will be televised live on FOX starting at 12 p.m. ET; the race will also be broadcast nationwide on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network.
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