Holmes on the move
- Updated: January 5, 2017
Munford driver commits to full-time ARCA schedule, moves shop to North Carolina, changes crew chiefs
By Jason Katz
Special to East Alabama Sports Today
STATESVILLE, N.C. – Bret Holmes Racing formally announced on Wednesday its intentions to compete in all 20 ARCA Racing Series events during the 2017 season.
The announcement comes on the heels of the team moving its ARCA operations from Holmes hometown of Munford to a new facility on the campus of GMS Racing in Statesville, N.C. The move is expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2017 season and will allow BHR to continue to work alongside GMS in the development of racing technology and strategy related to its ARCA program.
Additionally, Bryan Berry will assume the role of crew chief previously held by 2015 ARCA Series Champion Grant Enfinger, who will be pursuing his own personal racing goals in 2017.
Berry, a Homestead, Fla,, native, has worked in racing for over 20 years. He was the Crew Chief for Ross Chastain in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015 and 2016, and has collaborated with other NASCAR greats like Brendan Gaughan and Mike Cope throughout his career.
“I am deeply excited for what 2017 has in store for us,” Holmes said. “We got our feet wet with seven appearances in ARCA last season and had great results, but we just were not organized enough to run an entire season. Now that we have done things like move our ARCA team to Statesville and get Bryan Berry to come aboard, we feel like we can now not only win races in 2017, but contend for a championship.
“This is a significant step forward for me as a driver, and for our team as a whole. I just want to thank all those people who have helped me in my progression as a driver over the years, and hopefully, this will be the start of a fantastic year in ARCA.”
Holmes ran in seven ARCA events last year, finishing in the top 10 in six of them, including Talladega. His highest finish came at Salem Speedway in early September when he battled near the front throughout the race and finished third.
Holmes, Berry, and the new BHR will make their season debut in the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 18 after attending open ARCA testing at Daytona in mid-January.
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