The ARCA Menards Series returns to Madison International Speedway this Friday night for the Badger 200, and if history is any indication, fans might just be watching the next big star in the making. Madison’s flat half-mile has a tradition of crowning winners who go on to achieve greatness in NASCAR and beyond. Here’s a look at the impressive roster of former ARCA winners at Madison:
🏆 Former Madison ARCA Winners & Their Career Highlights
• Ramo Stott (1970) – A three-time ARCA national champion (1970, 1971, 1974) who also earned victories in the USAC Stock Car Series and made starts in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500.
• Tom Bowsher (1971) – An Ohio racer known for his strength in ARCA competition throughout the 1970s, carrying on the respected Bowsher family name in stock car racing.
• Bruce Gould (1973) – A Midwestern short-track standout who collected multiple ARCA victories during his career, respected for his consistency across regional circuits.
• Alex Bowman (2011) – Now a NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman is a multi-time Cup race winner and a former Daytona 500 pole winner (2018, 2021).
• Chris Buescher (2012) – Went on to become the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, and today is a NASCAR Cup Series race winner with RFK Racing, including multiple playoff victories.
• Kyle Benjamin (2013) – A highly touted prospect who earned ARCA wins and later competed in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
• Justin Boston (2014) – A former Venturini Motorsports driver who won multiple ARCA races and went on to make NASCAR national series starts with Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Josh Williams (2016) – A full-time competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, known for his fan-favorite personality, tireless work ethic, and competitive runs with smaller teams.
• Austin Theriault (2017) – The 2017 ARCA Menards Series Champion, who later moved to NASCAR national series competition and today works in driver development and motorsports business.
• Chandler Smith (2018, 2019) – One of ARCA’s most dominant young stars at Madison, Smith has since risen to NASCAR, where he is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner and a playoff contender with Joe Gibbs Racing.
🎇 This Friday Night – The Tradition Continues!
Fans will see the next wave of stars chase glory in the Badger 200 at Madison. Could it be Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, the rookie sensation leading the standings? Or maybe Kaylee Bryson, making her first national ARCA start? Veterans like Mason Mitchell and Willie Mullins are in the mix, along with rising contenders like Isabella Robusto and Lavar Scott.
📍 Madison International Speedway – Oregon, WI
🗓️ Friday Night – The Badger 200
⏰ Schedule:
• All-Star Challenge Late Model Feature: 6:00 PM
• Autograph Session: 7:00 PM
• ARCA Menards Series Green Flag: 8:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets:
• Online: tickethoss.com/event/1078
• Or Save Big Money at Menards by purchasing tickets at the customer service desk at your local Menards store!
Be there Friday night as the Badger 200 writes its next chapter—where tomorrow’s stars are made today. 🌙