CHINA GROVE, N.C. – Fresh off making his rallycross debut in a Sierra ARX3 crosskart last month at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Michael Leach will run the remainder of the Americas Rallycross ARX2 season for Loenbro Motorsports.
The deal is part of a strategic partnership with AF Racing that helps young drivers forge a path to the Supercar ranks.
Leach’s No. 09 American Grinders ARX2 car will make its debut in the series’ upcoming doubleheader from World Wide Technology Raceway on July 13-14.
“Running ARX2 is going to be very exciting for me because I’ve never ran a car like this before,” said Leach. “I’m used to turning left all the time and now I’m going to be switching back and forth as well as running on both dirt and asphalt. The ARX2 cars are completely different from cars I’m used to running. My main car is a dirt oval stock car, so I only have to turn left. Now I’m going to be driving a car with a lot more power. All in all this is going to be very fun and I can’t wait to compete with the other racers!”
“It’s exciting to get Michael into an ARX2 car,” added Steve Arpin, Loenbro Motorsports general manager and ARX Supercar driver. “The little bugger has impressed in everything he has jumped into and he is a smart, calculated driver that really respects his equipment. Having the ARX2 series as a development class feeding the Supercars has proven to be a successful model, which has recently been proven again by how my teammate Travis PeCoy turned about every head that could be turned in his debut at Mid-Ohio a few weeks back. It’s going to be a fun year watching Michael progress.”