(CONCORD, N.C. - June 26, 2012) - Current ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards points leader Brennan Poole and 16-year-old teammate Erik Jones, led the way this past weekend for Venturini Motorsports in the Herr’s Chase the Taste 200 at Winchester Speedway, finishing second and third behind race winner Alex Bowman.

Although he missed out on claiming his third series victory in the last four races, Poole continued his impressive performance streak once again, leading 72 laps and finishing second in his No.25 Venturini Motorsports entry.

No other driver in the series is carrying more momentum nearing the mid-way point in the ARCA season than the twenty-one year old driver from The Woodland, Texas.  In the last four races, Poole has dominated, winning back-to-back races at Elko Speedway and Pocono Raceway, leading more laps (356 laps) during this time frame than any other driver on the circuit. 

After a slow start Poole has lived up to the pre-season hype earning two victories, one pole position, four top-5 and seven top-10 finishes, while completing all but six laps in the first nine races of the 2012 campaign. 

Maintaining a 30-point series lead over driver Chris Buescher, Poole continues to increase his stock, proving to be the driver to beat week after week. 

Another Venturini driver making his presence known in the ARCA Series is 16-year old Erik Jones from Byron, Michigan.  After becoming the youngest driver (15 years old) in series history during his driving debut at Mobile International Speedway earlier this year, Jones claimed a new career best finish at Winchester crossing the stripe third in his No.55 Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevrolet.

In just five career ARCA series starts Jones now has compiled two top-5 and three top-10 finishes.

Not only did Jones earn a career best finish at Winchester but he used his previous track experience and natural driving skills to challenge the field for the top spot leading 56 laps late in the race before eventually settling for his third place finish.  Jones’ strong performance gives him a big boost of confidence going into his next scheduled ARCA event at Iowa Speedway on Friday, July 13^th. 

Joining Poole and Jones at Winchester were Venturini teammates, Ryan Reed (No.15 RaceHard.com), Nelson Canache (No.35 Venezuelan Tourism Toyota), and 16-year old Clint King (No.66 Warehouse Designs Chevrolet.)

Driver, Ryan Reed qualified 11^th and finished a disappointing 18^th after his RaceHard.com machine lost an alternator early, forcing him 40-laps down and dropping the Bakersfield, California native out of contention.

Although Reed’s on-track misfortune was most noticeable, his off-track efforts continued to shine as the 18-year old driver with Type-1 Diabetes once again proudly used his JDRF Celebrity Advocate status to create awareness to JDRF’s initiative to help cure, treat and prevent diabetes and promote his own cause, Ryan’s Mission, a non-profit organization to help build awareness, become a role model, and positively touch the lives of so many that already have been affected by the disease. 

Denton, North Carolina teenager, Clint King entered the Herr’s Chase the Taste 200 with high hopes after riding momentum from his fourth place finish at Toledo Speedway in his last ARCA series start.   

Qualifying 8^th for Sunday’s event his good starting position put him in great position for yet another strong performance.

King, who made a huge splash onto the ARCA scene in 2011 with back-to-back pole positions, continues to compile an impressive resume during his first seven series events with three top-5 and five top-10 finishes.  

However, King was unable to advance after he cut a right front tire mid-way through the race dropping him 7-laps off the pace and settling for a respectful 12^th place finish.

Venezuelan driver, Nelson Canache, still adapting to his new stock car surroundings started 16^th and finished 19^th after a late race accident ended his day early. 

Canache, who continues to show improvement during his rookie campaign, looks ahead to New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway this weekend when the ARCA series makes its annual road course visit to “The Garden State.”  Canache’s road course experience undoubtedly makes him one of the early race favorites.

Canache, a two-time driving champion in the Venezuelan Super Touring GT Class Series has spent the majority of his career competing on road courses.  Earlier this year Canache drove for team AUDI and APR Motorsports making his Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway behind the wheel of his Audi R8 in the Grand-Am series.