A Christmas Day fire in Pennsylvania has left the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards owner/driver Brian Kaltreider without any of his racing equipment for the 2019 season. Per the ARCA release, the fire destroyed two cars along with other tools and equipment that was stored in the building.
One of those care had just been returned from GMS Racing after getting the required updates for the 2019 season, including a new composite body. The other car was slated to be sent to the North Carolina to be updated for this season but, as noted, was destroyed in the fire.
“Right now, the fire is under investigation,” Kaltreider said in the ARCA release. “The forensic team has been over and the half of the building that was damaged has been roped off so we can’t even access it.”
According to the ARCA release, the fire has put Kaltreider’s small racing outfit into financial distress.
“I have tried and tried to make this work and I’ve taken out a lot of personal loans to try to make it happen,” Kaltreider added. “My business insurance came to look at it and said it’s not a covered loss and that I didn’t have the right type of coverage. I have one racecar left, but right now I would have to sell it just to try to start to pay off the loans I’ve taken out. Right now, we are just hoping for a miracle.”
Kaltreider has been running a part-time schedule in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since 2001. He has finished 14th, his best career result, twice with both runs coming at Pocono (2008 & 2016). He made his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut at Chicago this year with Beaver Motorsports, where he finished 25th.
Benjamin Bixby has started a GoFundMe page to help raise some funds to help try and get Kaltreider back on track. They have raised $125 of the $18,000 goal. If you would like to donate to the fund, a link is noted below. Bixby is the nephew of Todd Bixby, an avid volunteer in the NASCAR world, mostly at the northeast races.
His favorite tracks on the circuit include Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, and Bristol Motor Speedway.
During the season, Christian also spends time as a photographer with multiple other outlets shooting Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Minor League & Major League Baseball, and NCAA Football.