The most surprising fact about the 2027 racing season isn’t a new rule or a big name driver. It is the sheer number of tracks the ARCA Menards Series will hit. The series just released a schedule with 20 races at 19 different tracks across 11 states. That is a lot of ground to cover for a series that keeps getting better. The season opens at Daytona International Speedway in February and closes at Kansas Speedway in October. This is the 75th year for the series, and they are celebrating by going big.
Speedway Media reported on Tuesday that the slate includes stops in the southeast, southwest, Midwest, and northeast. The series will race at Toledo, Berlin, Elko, Indianapolis, Madison, and Salem. Illinois gets four races, including the dirt track at the state fairgrounds. The schedule also features doubleheaders with the NASCAR Truck Series and Cup Series at major venues. It is a full tour that respects the history of the sport while looking forward.
A Historic 75th Season
This schedule marks a major milestone for the organization. ARCA president Ron Drager spoke about the plan in a release on Tuesday. He said, “Just as we have since John and Mildred Marcum founded ARCA in 1953, the ARCA Menards Series will compete at a widely diverse group of the country’s best racetracks for our 75th season.” The founders started this in 1953, and the spirit of that era is still alive today. They want to show fans that racing is about the track, the car, and the driver.
The 20-race plan includes 63 consecutive years at Daytona International Speedway. The series has opened there every season since 1987. It kicks off with the 63rd annual Daytona ARCA 200. The race will be part of a same-day doubleheader with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. This setup brings more fans to the track on one day. It also gives young drivers a chance to race in front of a huge crowd before the big show.
Tracks That Build Character
The schedule respects the old-school values of American racing. It hits short tracks in the Midwest during late spring and summer. Fans in Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota will get to see the action live. The series also returns to the northeast with stops at Watkins Glen International and Lime Rock Park. These are road courses that test a driver’s skill and focus. They are not just ovals where you go fast in one direction.
Dirt tracks are a big part of the plan too. The two dirt miles at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair both return. A new date for Springfield on August 8 adds to the excitement. The Labor Day Sunday night race at DuQuoin is a tradition that fans love. These events bring racing back to the heart of the community. They are not about flashy lights or big money. They are about the smell of the dirt and the roar of the engines.
The Road to Kansas
Kansas Speedway will host the final race of the season for the second year in a row. It is the only track on the schedule twice. The first race there is in May, and the second is in September. Both races run in conjunction with the NASCAR national series. This gives the ARCA drivers a chance to race alongside the best in the sport. It is a great way to end the year.
The full slate of combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East will be announced later. The East and West schedules are coming in the coming weeks. For now, fans have a solid plan for the 2027 season. It is a schedule that honors the past while building for the future. The 20 races at 19 tracks prove that ARCA is here to stay.