ROSEVILLE, Calif. – NASCAR has partnered with the BMR Drivers Academy as it develops drivers at five NASCAR national and Weekly Series tracks in California.
The BMR Drivers Academy – a NASCAR development program – will feature 14 full-time drivers competing in 16 two-day race events on the West Coast, culminating with opportunities in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The 40-race campaign opens on March 26-27 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
Drivers will compete in full-sized stock cars utilizing a 625-horsepower NASCAR Yates Spec Engine and the same chassis components as ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Races will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via SPEED SPORT TV.
“NASCAR and the ARCA Menards Series are fully committed to strengthening stock car racing on the West Coast,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Development Officer. “We believe the BMR Drivers Academy will amplify our West Coast efforts and develop future NASCAR and ARCA Menards Series drivers through a competitive environment that will sharpen their skills with real-world racing experience.”
Drivers that win race events in the Drivers Academy during the season will receive one entry per win, towards a drawing for an opportunity with BMR/MHR in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway in November.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing fields the No. 19 Toyota Tundra for Derek Kraus, with a career-best finish of second at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway last year.
After races 14, 24, and 32, the points leader will be awarded an opportunity in a Bill McAnally Racing Toyota for an ARCA event this season.
Bill McAnally Racing is based in Roseville, Calif., and has won a record 10 NASCAR and ARCA regional championships and more than 100 victories.
Last year, BMR won the ARCA Menards Series West championship with 15-year-old Jesse Love, the youngest champion in series history.
Drivers who have raced at BMR include Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe, Brendan Gaughan, Todd Gilliland, Hailie Deegan, Derek Kraus and Peyton Sellers.
Oval tracks in the BMR Drivers Academy include All American Speedway, Irwindale Speedway and Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield. Road courses will feature Sonoma Raceway and Thunderhill Raceway near Willows.
In addition to driver support on track, the BMR Drivers Academy program will also provide training in media relations, sponsorship relations, social media, fitness, leadership development, and diet.
Primary car inventory including hood, quarter panels, color scheme, number, and font can be utilized by academy participants for their supporters and sponsors, after approval by the Academy.
The program is being made available to 14 drivers, along with two additional cars being made available for one-off or part-time entries.
Program costs and additional details are available at www.BMRDriversAcademy.com.