DAYTONA BEACH, Fla — Months of preparation are about to pay off for Alli Owens as the ARCA Menards Series season kicks off, bringing with it the thunder of refired engines and a long-awaited return to the cockpit in Saturday afternoon’s General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway.
Owens is set to make her first ARCA Menards Series start at the World Center of Racing since 2010, driving for the formidable Venturini Motorsports organization.
The race also marks her first appearance in the series since August of that year at Chicagoland (Ill.) Speedway — a full-circle moment more than a decade in the making.
In the years since, Owens has made select starts across NASCAR’s national divisions, but her focus shifted toward motherhood as the devoted, hands-on parent of three.
Still, the competitive fire never faded for the Daytona Beach, Fla., native — a racer shaped by the blue-collar backbone of grassroots America and determined to write the next chapter of her story.
Owens’ return to the high banks isn’t just about racing again — it’s about redefining who belongs in motorsports.
Raised on hard work, shaped by real American families and strengthened by the battles she’s faced away from the racetrack, Owens climbs back into the driver’s seat representing those who don’t always see themselves in the spotlight — the working moms balancing impossible schedules, the dreamers chasing second chances, the underdogs fighting to be heard and the young girls who need proof that strength, perseverance and grit belong at full throttle.
On Saturday afternoon, Owens takes that message from words to action, strapping into the No. 68 Ford for the seasoned Kimmel Racing team with the opportunity to let her performance speak the loudest.
“This opportunity isn’t just about me,” Owens said. “It’s about showing that your story doesn’t end just because life takes you in a different direction. I’m proud to represent working moms, second chances and anyone who refuses to give up on their dreams. Now I get to go out there and race.”
To prepare for her return, the South Daytona, Fla., native participated in preseason testing at the 2.5-mile superspeedway last month, quickly proving that even after 16 years away from ARCA competition — and adapting to a completely different style of car — she hadn’t missed a beat.
Owens showed encouraging pace in her No. 68 Ford, posting solid single-car speed before backing it up with top-10 lap times in the draft. By the end of the two-day session — which featured 82 drivers turning laps — she ranked 19th overall, a performance that underscored both her comfort and competitiveness heading into race week.
Since that early January test, her Kimmel Racing team — led by the father-son duo of Bill and Will Kimmel — has gone through the car with a fine-tooth comb, determined to give Owens every opportunity not just to shine, but to contend for her first top-10 finish since a ninth-place run at the demanding Salem (Ind.) Speedway in 2010.
“Getting back in the car during testing was emotional, but once the helmet went on, it was all business,” added Owens. “The speed was there, and that builds confidence. The team has worked hard to give me something I can race with, and I’m ready to make the most of it.”
While the emotion of the moment isn’t lost on her, Owens isn’t coming to Daytona simply to take part. Armed with encouraging speed from preseason testing and a veteran Kimmel Racing team behind her, she has her sights set on contending for a top-10 finish on one of the ARCA Menards Series’ biggest stages.
“Daytona is about putting yourself in the right position and being there when it counts,” explained Owens.
“We showed at the test that we have speed and I believe in this team. If we stay disciplined, work the draft the right way and avoid the chaos, there’s no reason we can’t be battling inside the top-10 when it matters.”
Saturday’s 80-lap race for Owens reaches far beyond the track. It’s a moment her teenage daughters and young son will witness firsthand — watching their mother strap into a race car at Daytona International Speedway as the only mother in the ARCA Menards Series field.
For her, that perspective changes everything. The pressure is different. The purpose is deeper. This isn’t just about laps led or positions gained — it’s about showing her children what perseverance looks like when life demands sacrifice, resilience and belief.
“They’ve seen the hard days,” Owens said. “They’ve seen the sacrifices and the work it took just to get back here. To have them at Daytona, watching me do something I love, means more than any finish ever could.
“I’m their mom first — that will always come before anything — but when I buckle in, I’m still a racer. And I want them to see both.”
Owens’ return to the track is made possible through strong partnership support. Bighorn Outdoors — a go-to destination for high-quality pizza ovens, grills and outdoor kitchen essentials — will serve as her primary marketing partner for her 33rd career ARCA Menards Series start.
