Bill McAnally Racing has officially announced the 40-race schedule – comprised of 16 two-day events — for the first season of the BMR Drivers Academy, which will begin March 26th at All American Speedway.
The series’ schedule is a combination of three short tracks and two ovals in California, with events being held at All American Speedway, Irwindale Speedway, Kern County Raceway Park, Sonoma Raceway and Thunderhill Raceway.
The BMR Academy will culminate with opportunities in both the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for race winners and points leaders.
Drivers will compete in a full-sized stock car utilizing a 625-horsepower Yates Spec Engine and the same chassis components as ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series. Races will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via SPEED SPORT TV.
After races 14, 21 and 30, the Academy’s points leader will be awarded an opportunity in an ARCA Menards Series event with Bill McAnally Racing in 2021. Drivers that win an event throughout the season will receive an entry into a draw, in which the winner will get to drive a second McAnally-Hilgemann Racing entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-finale at Phoenix Raceway.
The first three signees for a planned roster of 14 full-time drivers have been confirmed as well. Cole Moore of Granite Bay, Calif., David Smith of Sidney, British Columbia, Canada, and Amber Balcaen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada are set to join a roster of drivers that includes standouts from grassroots motorsports across North America.
Moore will compete on the circuit after winning the 2020 All American Speedway Late Model championship and the 2019 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour crown. Smith is a prostate cancer survivor and racer who is a 2011 Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Balcaen is the first Canadian female to win a NASCAR sanctioned race in the United States.
In addition to driver support on track, the BMR Drivers Academy program will also provide training in media relations, sponsorship relations, social media, fitness, leadership development, and diet.
At season start, all drivers will participate in a drawing to determine their choice of race cars for the season. Drivers will be guided by a crew chief/spotter who has experience as a proven winner. After eight race events a redraw of crew chief/spotter will occur, giving drivers opportunities to have a different perspective. If a participant reaches six victories, their car becomes eligible for exchange.
Primary car inventory including hood, quarter panels, color scheme, number, and font can be utilized by academy participants for their supporters and sponsors, after approval by the Academy.
BMR Drivers Academy is being presented by Toyota/TRD. All series cars will compete on Hoosier Racing Tires with Brembo Brakes, G-Force Transmissions, and Racing Electronics communications.
