ARCA Veteran Will Kimmel to Attempt NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Debut

There will be a new face behind the wheel of Go FAS Racing’s No. 32 Ford at Kentucky Speedway in July.

Will Kimmel, a veteran racer from the ARCA Racing Series, will be attempting his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut when the division hits the 1.5-mile track on July 11. After being approached earlier in the year by Go FAS Racing owner Archie St. Hilaire, Kimmel has signed a one-race deal with the organization.

“We just got the opportunity to run for Archie St. Hilaire with Go Fas Racing,” Kimmel told Frontstretch on Monday. “I drove for Archie for the first time in 2011 in the Nationwide car. Archie approached me earlier this year, and we have been able to work a deal out where I get to run a Cup race. I’m absolutely beside myself to get to go run in the most elite series in the world. There is no higher up than that.”

Driving for his family-run team in the ARCA Series since 2008, the Indiana native has recorded 11 top fives and 26 top 10s in 79 races. In 2010, his team ran a Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky, finishing 21st. The next year, he ran an event for Go Green Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he also raced at Kentucky.

During the 2014 season, Kimmel signed a five-race deal with TriStar Motorsports to pilot the No. 44 car. Recording a best finish of 22nd at Bristol, the veteran racer says he was able to show he can adjust rather well to the longer events.

“It just means a lot,” Kimmel said. “Unfortunately, we still have to bring sponsorship to the table. We still have to bring money, and obviously my dad isn’t loaded. If my dad were loaded, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are in. Archie has got it to where it is very reasonable for us. It fits what we can do, and we can get enough local help behind us to do it.

“Regardless, the fact that he asked me to do it and the opportunity is there means a lot to me. It’s pretty humbling to get to go do it. I’m nervous, I’m nervous about it just thinking about it. It’s going to be a long night. It’s a long race and it’s going to be the longest race I have ever run. Being a racecar driver, you get nervous about stuff like that. It’s a Cup race and you have to take one step at a time with it, but I’m awfully excited. At the same time, I’m anxious and ready to get it over with.”

The 27-year-old will have partial funding from Keen Parts, but is still looking for additional sponsorship. Thus far into the 2015 season, Mike Bliss has driven the No. 32 car in six events, with Joey Gase and Bobby Labonte each racing in a pair of contests. Boris Said is scheduled to drive the car at the road-course races, with Labonte running the two remaining restrictor-plate events.