The ARCA Racing Series has released the 2016 schedule for the Bill France Four Crown Award championship.
The award championship dates back to 1984, when it was first instituted. The first champion was the late Davey Allison, who went on to NASCAR stardom after his ARCA days.
The four racetracks chosen for this year’s award championship constitute a good cross-section of the various types of tracks on the ARCA schedule.
This year’s BFFC will feature a road course (New Jersey Motorsports Park), a short track (Lucas Oil Raceway), a dirt mile (DuQuoin State Fairgrounds) and a speedway (Chicagoland Speedway).
Three of the four tracks are located in the Midwest: Lucas Oil Raceway is in suburban Indianapolis, while DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Chicagoland Speedway are both in Illinois.
“The Bill France Four Crown Award speaks to the very nature of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “Considering our diverse schedule of superspeedways, short tracks, dirt ovals, and a road course, this award captures what our series is about.
“It also allows us to recognize our long standing respect and appreciation for the great leadership and professionalism Bill France Sr. contributed to ARCA, beginning in our formative years in the 1950s and continuing for decades.”
Ten-time ARCA champ Frank Kimmel has won the Bill France Four Crown more than any other driver over the years: seven times (2013, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 1998).
Bob Keselowski, father of NASCAR drivers Brad and Brian Keselowski, won the award twice in 1990 and 1993.
Reigning Xfinity Series champ Chris Buescher won the award in 2012, while NBC NASCAR analyst Parker Kligerman won in 2009.
Most recently, Kyle Weatherman and Blake Jones of Cunningham Motorsports won the award championship in 2015.
ARCA Bill France Four Crown Award Champions:
1984 - Davey Allison
1985 - Lee Raymond
1986 - Lee Raymond
1987 - Grant Adcox
1988 - Grant Adcox
1989 - Tracy Leslie
1990 - Bob Keselowski
1991 - Bobby Bowsher/Bill Venturini (Tie)
1992 - Bobby Bowsher
1993 - Bob Keselowski
1994 - Bob Hill
1995 - Harris DeVane
1996 - Tim Steele
1997 - Tim Steele
1998 - Frank Kimmel
1999 - Bill Baird
2000 - Tim Steele
2001 - Frank Kimmel
2002 - Frank Kimmel
2003 - Jason Jarrett
2004 - Brent Sherman
2005 - Frank Kimmel
2006 - Blake Bjorklund
2007 - Frank Kimmel
2008 - Frank Kimmel
2009 - Parker Kligerman
2010 - Joey Coulter
2011 - Chad McCumbee
2012 - Chris Buescher
2013 - Frank Kimmel
2014 - Grant Enfinger
2015 - Cunningham Motorsports (Kyle Weatherman/Blake Jones)