ARCA team involved in hauler crash will race at Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — An ARCA Menards Series team is set to race at Watkins Glen with a car that was tipped over and crashed into on the interstate just days before.
Clubb Racing posted pictures on social media Tuesday, showing the team preparing their No. 03 Ford for Watkins Glen.
Just three days before, they posted pictures showing that same No. 03 car tipped on its side in the middle of Interstate 80 in Illinois after its hauler crashed Saturday at around 1 a.m.
“Unfortunately in the accident, our rig flipped and was stuck across the right eastbound lane of I-80. Several semi trucks stuck our trailer, causing further damage to everything,” Clubb said on GoFundMe.
The crash heavily damaged their trailer, their equipment and the car. Clubb Racing started a GoFundMe to raise money to replace the damaged equipment. As of Tuesday, Aug. 5, the team raised $16,529 of the $25,000 goal.
Because of that, they’re going racing this weekend.
“This car is racing at Watkins Glen. It wouldn’t be possible without the racing community, who donated $16k+ to help Clubb Racing after this wreck on Friday,” team partner Jeff Maconi said on X.
Maconi said the team worried about damage to the engine, suspension and fuel cell.
“Ever since we got back Saturday afternoon, we’ve been working on stuff, trying to fix stuff. The 03 car was really tore up, all of our stuff really smashed and messed up. We haven’t had a chance to evaluate that yet. We’ve just been wide open working on a car nonstop, around the clock, on structural stuff that got messed up, making sure everything is okay,” Clubb said.
The team repaired the frame and didn’t report any other damage. They posted a video Monday when they fired up the engine for the first time since the crash.
Clubb said he took some responsibility for the incident. According to him, they usually rely on a buddy system while traveling and stop when tired. However, things didn’t work out right for them this time.
Now back on his feet, Clubb will get to race the No. 03 at Watkins Glen. They also had enough time to prepare their second entry, the No. 86, which will also race.
Maconi said the team is working on lining up a trailer, adding they may work with fellow driver Brayton Laster to get one.
You can find the GoFundMe here at this link.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com