ARCA Action Heats Up: Nolan Wilson Returns to Kimmel Racing at Daytona

There is something undeniably magnetic about Daytona International Speedway. For racers, it’s not just asphalt and high banks. It’s a cathedral of speed where dreams are either realized or wrecked in the blink of an eye. For Nolan Wilson, the allure is personal, and this February, he’s heading back to the “World Center of Racing” with unfinished business.

In a move that feels like a homecoming for both driver and team, Wilson will once again pilot the No. 69 entry for Kimmel Racing in the ARCA Menards Series season opener. But this time around, things look a little different under the hood. The veteran driver is trading the Blue Oval of Ford for a Chevrolet SS, a strategic shift that signals the team is all-in on the pursuit of glory at the superspeedway.

Wilson Returns with Renewed Focus and New Hardware

The decision to switch manufacturers wasn’t made lightly. In racing, familiarity breeds comfort, but sometimes you need a shake-up to find that extra tenth of a second. Kimmel Racing acquired a superspeedway-specific chassis from REV Racing, a team known for putting fast cars on the track. For Wilson, getting his hands on this new piece of equipment is a massive confidence booster heading into Speedweeks.

“We were lucky enough to acquire a superspeedway car from REV Racing. As the results have shown, it’s a pretty good piece. No excuses this time,” Wilson stated, his tone reflecting the determination of a driver who knows he has the tools to win. Last season, we saw Wilson behind the wheel for Kimmel Racing at both superspeedway events.

While the results on paper, specifically a 14th-place finish at Talladega, show promise, they don’t tell the whole story. Daytona was a heartbreaker. Early in the race, caught up in the chaos that inevitably unfolds when thirty cars run inches apart at 190 mph, his day ended after less than 20 laps. It’s the kind of memory that sticks with a driver, fueling the fire to return and set the record straight.

The Chemistry Between Driver and Team Owner

The relationship between a driver and a team owner is pivotal, especially for independent teams fighting against the massive organizations that dominate the sport. Bill Kimmel Jr., the owner of Kimmel Racing, has seen it all in ARCA. He knows talent when he sees it, and he knows that luck, both good and bad, plays a massive role in superspeedway racing. Kimmel’s excitement about having the Sanford, Florida native back in the seat is palpable.

There’s a sense of shared mission between the two.”Looking forward to Daytona this year,” Kimmel said. “Unfortunately, Nolan got wrapped up in someone else’s wreck last year, early in the race. We only got to run 18-19 laps. We hope to have Nolan in a better car this year that can produce a better finish. We are excited, and I know Nolan is excited to return.”

That shared optimism is the lifeblood of garage areas. It’s what keeps teams working late nights in the shop, welding, fabricating, and tweaking setups. They aren’t just preparing a car; they are preparing for redemption.

Why Daytona Means More to Wilson

For Wilson, Daytona isn’t just another stop on the schedule. It is home turf. Living in nearby Sanford, he breathes the same humid Florida air that settles over the speedway. But his connection goes deeper than geography. At 51 years old, Wilson has logged more laps around the 2.5-mile tri-oval than perhaps anyone in the field.

Thanks to his time racing in the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series and his countless hours working as a driving instructor at the track. He knows every bump in the asphalt, every shift in the wind, and exactly how the draft behaves coming off Turn 4.

“It’s my favorite place in the whole world,” Wilson admitted, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the rumble of engines banking into the tri-oval. “It all starts with the test. I expect to have good speed with this No. 69 Kimmel Racing Chevrolet SS.”

The Strategy for Victory Lane

Experience is the great equalizer at Daytona. You don’t need the most significant budget to win. You need smarts, patience, and the ability to survive the “Big One.” Wilson knows the game plan. It’s not about leading lap 5. It’s about leading lap 80.

“We need to start up front and stay up front in February. It’s as simple as that,” Wilson explained, outlining a strategy that sounds simple but is incredibly difficult to execute. “If we can avoid the carnage and be there at the end, we got a good shot at this thing. There will be a bunch of people up in Turn 4 ready to climb the fence to victory lane.”

Final Thoughts

The upcoming test session in January will be the first true litmus test for the new No. 69 Chevrolet. It will be a time to shake down the car, adjust the gearing, and ensure the aerodynamic package is slippery enough to cut through the air. Following that, all eyes turn to Saturday, Feb. 14, when the green flag drops for the 2026 Daytona ARCA 200.For Nolan Wilson and Kimmel Racing, the goal is clear: survive the chaos, maximize the draft, and finally park that No. 69 car in Victory Lane.