NEWTON, Iowa: On the heels of securing his eighth top-10 finish of the season this past weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team head west for another short track challenge in Friday night’s Atlas 150 at Iowa Speedway.
Kitzmiller continued to show growth in his short track performance during last Friday night’s LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy, delivering competitive lap times and steadily climbing through the field.
After starting mid-pack, the West Virginia native gained four positions en route to an impressive eighth-place finish.
As the ARCA Menards Series enters the third week of a grueling seven-race stretch, Jason Kitzmiller invades the popular short track of Iowa Speedway, aiming to bolster his short track résumé and contend for his third top-five finish of the 2025 season.
Iowa Speedway marks the seventh new track of the season for the Petersburg, West Virginia native, and while Kitzmiller’s approach remains consistent, he’s focused on putting himself in position to race closer to the front.
“I was really happy with our performance last weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park,” said Kitzmiller. “The A.L.L. Construction Racing team gave me a fast race car, and we were able to execute throughout the race and stay solidly inside the top 10.
“I’d love to keep that momentum going this weekend at Iowa Speedway and maybe sneak in a top-five finish as we look ahead to returning to a road course next weekend at Watkins Glen.”
Kitzmiller acknowledges that the addition of 10-time ARCA Menards Series champion Frank Kimmel has been a tremendous asset in helping him navigate the uncharted waters of new tracks on the 2025 schedule.
The 0.875-mile paved oval, which has long been an ARCA staple, offers high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and a worn-out racing surface that demands tire management, precision, and a dose of patience to survive and thrive.
“I’m looking forward to Iowa Speedway this weekend,” said Kitzmiller. “It’s another new track for me, but I’m confident in my ability to adapt quickly and make solid gains throughout the day. I’ll be leaning on my team’s feedback as we work toward another strong finish.”
Friday night’s showdown at Iowa Speedway will also mark the third straight ARCA event where Kitzmiller will share the track with his teenage son, Isaac Kitzmiller, in a combination race for the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East.
The younger Kitzmiller edged his father by just one position at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
However, Jason is keeping score in good spirits, with two combination events still to come in 2025.
The elder Kitzmiller hopes to have the advantage this weekend as the series heads to Iowa Speedway — a track that promises close-quarters racing and ample opportunity for redemption.
With family pride on the line and bragging rights in play, both father and son are eager to put on a strong showing.
“Isaac’s got me beat two in a row now,” Jason Kitzmiller said with a smile. “I’m proud of how well he’s running, but I’m not ready to hand over all the bragging rights just yet. Hopefully, I can flip the script this weekend at Iowa and even things up a little.”
Friday night’s combination ARCA race leaves just two opportunities for the teenager to extend his ARCA Menards Series East points lead and build a cushion heading into the season finale at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September, where he’s also slated to compete alongside his father for what is expected to be their final race together in ARCA competition in 2025.
“I’ve been really proud of how Isaac’s handled himself this season,” sounded Kitzmiller. “To come into the ARCA East series as a rookie and lead the points the way he has — it’s impressive.
“He’s stayed focused, put in the work, and it’s showing on the track. As a dad, that’s pretty special to watch.”
For Iowa Speedway, the team welcomes the continued support of Carter Machinery, featuring the iconic Caterpillar (Cat®) brand as the primary partner on the No. 97 Chevrolet SS for the 12th consecutive race this season.
Carter Machinery’s humble start began in 1928, serving Virginia and southeastern West Virginia.
As our customers’ needs changed over the years, we evolved by continually adding new products, services, and locations, with exponential growth occurring after our 2020 acquisition of Alban Tractor Company.
Today, our footprint spans the Mid-Atlantic, with over 30 locations throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
We sell, rent, and support the full line of Cat® equipment, engines, and electric power generation systems, backed by the best parts availability, most diverse rental fleet, and an expert service team working together to enable our customers’ highest level of success.
Our ongoing investment in people, infrastructure, technology, and tooling continues to position us as one of Caterpillar’s leading dealers in North America and throughout the world.
“Carter Machinery has been such an asset to our program this year,” said Kitzmiller. “To carry the Caterpillar brand into a place like Iowa Speedway — a well-known short track in the heart of the Midwest — is a great opportunity to showcase our partnership. We’re proud to represent them and hope to give them a strong run Friday night.”
In addition to Carter Machinery, A.L.L. Construction Inc., Grant County Mulch, A&J Excavating, Cobra Mining, Champion Power Equipment and Volt Battery Technology will all serve as associate marketing partners for the 19th ARCA national race hosted at Iowa Speedway.
Entering Iowa Speedway, Kitzmiller, 51, sits fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 63 points behind third-place Lavar Scott and 100 points behind leader Brenden Queen, with nine races remaining.
The A.L.L. Construction Racing team also holds a solid sixth place in the championship owner standings.
Since 2020, Kitzmiller has made 36 ARCA Menards Series starts, earning two top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, including a career-best third-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in February 2025.
The Atlas 150 (150 laps | 131.25 miles) marks the 12th race of 20 on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule. On Friday, August 1, teams will hit the track for a forty-five-minute practice session from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. General Tire Pole Group Group Qualifying will immediately follow at 3:30 p.m. CT, with the green flag expected to wave shortly after 6:00 p.m. CT (7:00 p.m. ET). The race will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and the Motor Racing Network (radio), while ARCARacing.com will provide live timing and scoring throughout the day’s activities. All times are local (CT).