ARCA Team’s I-80 Crash Leaves Racing Ambitions in Turmoil
If there’s one thing ARCA teams are used to, it’s challenges. But this? This is a whole new level. Clubb Racing Inc., a team that has epitomized grit and house-built determination since Alex Clubb’s debut in 2015, is now reeling from an accidental disaster that could derail their racing season entirely.
What Happened on I-80?
Picture this scene. After wrapping up the ARCA Menards Series race at Iowa Speedway, Clubb Racing Inc.’s trailer is en route back to Morris, Illinois. It’s late, spirits are undoubtedly tired but uplifted after another weekend in the racing grind, when disaster strikes. A friend of the team who was driving the trailer nodded off at the wheel. No pit stop could have saved what happened next.
The trailer carrying the No. 03 Ford and essential race gear flipped after striking the highway median. And because 2023 has no concept of “worst-case scenario being ‘done’,” the chaos didn’t end there. Semi-trucks smashed into the wrecked trailer, resulting in catastrophic damage to the vehicle, their truck, and one of their race cars.
Damage That Hits Harder Than a Semi-Truck
We already knew motorsports could be heartbreakingly expensive, but Clubb’s explanation showcases just how slim the margins are for teams that don’t have NASCAR-level war chests.“Really bad night coming home along I-80,” Clubb said. “Thankfully, everyone involved is OK. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of our equipment for the #03 is destroyed.”
Translation? The bounce-back is going to sting. No trailer. No truck. No main racecar. It’s an avalanche of destruction, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With Watkins Glen International on the immediate horizon, Clubb Racing is suddenly staring at a logistical and financial emergency big enough to make even seasoned gearheads wince.
ARCA Racing’s Backbone of Resilience
It’s moments like these that put the true nature of ARCA into perspective. Unlike NASCAR’s cash-flush Cup Series elites, ARCA embodies a scrappier kind of racing spirit. Many teams, like Clubb Racing, operate as family-run or tightly knit groups that rely on pure determination, meticulous finagling, and maybe just a dash of luck to stay competitive.
Clubb himself captured that essence perfectly during last year’s ARCA season, where he both owned and drove for the No. 03 team. His best-ever ninth-place finish in ARCA standings highlighted not only his skills behind the wheel but the relentlessness of a team determined to punch above its weight. This season was supposed to be a continuation of that hard-fought growth. A story of small-team perseverance with glimpses of podium dreams.
Rookie Debut Overshadowed by Catastrophe
Talk about an unfair welcome to professional racing. Iowa wasn’t just another race weekend. It marked the ARCA debut for Clubb Racing’s newest addition, Colby Evans. The 24-year-old Iowa native, known for his years as a crew member in NASCAR and ARCA, got behind the wheel of the No. 86 for his first outing.
While his race finish of 23rd place isn’t going to launch banner headlines, it’s often not placement but experience that matters most to rookies. Only now, with Clubb Racing gutted by equipment loss, the question isn’t just “What’s next for Evans?” but “Can the team continue fielding cars for the rest of the season?”
The Road Ahead
What’s standing between Clubb Racing Inc. and the green flag at Watkins Glen next week? Money. Logistics. Time. Otherwise known as the unholy trifecta of motorsports angst. Racing isn’t just about showing up at the track. It’s also trailers, tires, parts, and crews. And replacing wrecked gear isn’t cheap. The harsh reality here?
Without a fair share of teamwork, miracle-solving, or just sheer generosity from ARCA’s broader community, Watkins Glen may become just another hurdle too high to clear. And Alex Clubb knows it. With an understated, almost stoic reflection on his misfortune, Clubb has remained focused on ensuring everyone involved in the wreck walked away safe and sound. However, the strain on his team moving forward is impossible to ignore.
ARCA’s Small Teams Are the Heart of Racing
This accident underscores the uncertainty small teams deal with in professional motorsports like ARCA Menards. Unlike corporate-backed behemoths fielding fleets of spare cars, teams like Clubb Racing survive on passion and elbow grease. Even the hardiest of underdog racers aren’t immune to disasters like this, where dreams of racing turn into damage tallies and questions of survival.
Still, if ARCA as a community has shown one thing over the decades, it’s resilience. Whether the future brings crowdfunding efforts or equipment donations to help Clubb Racing recover, this isn’t the kind of story that stays silent. It’s moments like these that remind us why ARCA is worth watching.
It’s not polished perfection that draws us in. It’s the grit, the stories, and the relentless hope to rebuild one race at a time. For racing fans reading this and looking for a reminder of why we love motorsports, Clubb Racing’s story is it. One thing’s for sure, though. Whatever happens next for the No. 03 team, the racing community will be watching.
