BASHAM, MULLINS SET FOR TEAMWORK IN 2017
After a career season for both Darrell Basham Racing and Mullins Racing, the two have decided to once again collectively field the No. 34 entry for the 2017 ARCA Racing Series campaign.
Throughout 2016, Mike Basham and Willie Mullins split time in the No. 34 racing machine, as Mullins focused on both restrictor plate races and the series lone road course, while Basham focused on the remaining 17 races that made up the 20 race schedule for the series.
It was also a season of career-best’s, as both drivers recorded their best starts and finishes in their ARCA Racing Series career.
Mullins best qualifying effort came at the Talladega Superspeedway, qualifying 6th, while recording a career-best 8th place finish at the Daytona International Speedway.
Basham also recorded career-bests in both categories, qualifying 12th at the Kansas Speedway, while recording his first Top-10 finish of his ARCA Racing Series career, finishing 12th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
He also went on to finish 10th in Driver Championship Points, while helping guide the No. 34 Darrell Basham Racing entry to a 12th place finish in Owner Championship Points.
This season will mark the second year the two teams have partnered, as it all started from a conversation last January.
“When it was brought up about running the No. 34, I was pretty excited,” Mullins said. “I remember watching ARCA on TV with my dad when I was younger, and seeing Darrell race. This is an honor to have the No. 34 on the side of my car."
In addition to the partnership, Mullins will once again call upon the experience of long-time ARCA driver and owner Andy Belmont, who plans to be calling the shots from pit road.
“We are planning on running both restrictor plate races and the road course again. We are hoping to add a few more races to our schedule too. Crow Wing Recycling, our primary sponsor, is out of Minnesota. That makes running Elko very appealing.” Mullins explains “We want to keep expanding our team, and the Basham’s are nothing but supportive with us trying to run a bit more”
The partnership also brings a long history of ARCA Racing Series experience, as both Darrell and Sandy Basham have been a staple in the series for years.
In Darrell Basham’s ARCA Racing Series career, he has made 282 starts, scoring 4 Top-10 finished, with a career-best 7th place finish at the Kansas Speedway in 2005. He and Sandy bring valuable experience from both the driver’s seat and the car owner’s seat.
In preparation for February, Mullins and crew will participate in the annual ARCA Racing Series Open Test at the Daytona International Speedway on January 13th and 14th. The team plans to test their primary car, while bringing a second car for other drivers to test.
ABOUT MULLINS RACING
Mullins Racing is an all-around motorsports team, racing in the ARCA Racing Series and in the Sports car Club of America (SCCA). This will be the team’s sixth year competing in the ARCA Racing Series.
For more information on Mullins Racing, visit their website, www.mullingsracing.net, or connect with the team through Facebook (Mullins Racing) and on Twitter (@mullins_racing).
