Automobile Racing Club Badges

Object/Artifact

-

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Name/Title

Automobile Racing Club Badges

Entry/Object ID

2024.14.250

Description

These two badges trepresent ARCA or the Automobile Club Of America. The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) was founded in 1953 by John Marcum, a former NASCAR official and friend of Bill France Sr., with the goal of creating a Midwestern stock car racing series that mirrored NASCAR’s structure but catered to regional drivers and tracks. Initially known as MARC (Midwest Association for Race Cars), it was renamed ARCA in 1964 when it began racing at Daytona International Speedway, marking its expansion into national prominence. ARCA became a vital developmental league for aspiring NASCAR drivers, with alumni like Benny Parsons, Ken Schrader, and Kyle Busch. Its successes include fostering grassroots racing and maintaining a diverse schedule across dirt tracks, short ovals, and superspeedways. However, ARCA struggled with visibility and sponsorship compared to NASCAR, and its independence waned when NASCAR acquired it in 2018, integrating it into its developmental ladder. Despite these challenges, ARCA remains a respected proving ground for talent and a link to stock car racing’s regional roots.

Collection

Dr. Frederick A. Simeone Founder Collection, Simeone - Automobilia

Category

Automobilia

Acquisition

Accession

2024.14

Source or Donor

Dr. Frederick A. Simeone

Made/Created

Time Period

Mid 20th Century

Dimensions

Height

10 cm

Width

9 cm

Height

8.3 cm

Width

7.3 cm

Location

Wooden Display Box

DB29

Second Floor

Simeone Library

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good