By: Kelly Crandall October 6, 2018 10:42 AM NASCAR has outlined the direction it plans to take with the ARCA Racing Series, following its purchase of that stock car series earlier this year.When the acquisition was announced back in April, details about ARCA’s future were sparse other than that ARCA would continue to operate independently through the conclusion of the 2019 season,

after which full integration with NASCAR would take place.On Saturday at Dover, NASCAR officials revealed “primary points of this new competition structure” that will also include both the K&N Pro Series (pictured) East and West. Under this structure, drivers will have an opportunity to contend for four championships. They are as follows:• The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and K&N Pro Series East championship calendars will feature approximately six to eight events,

competing on historic short tracks (under a mile in length) within their traditional regional footprint.• The ARCA Racing Elite Series presented by Menards will be made up of approximately 20 races, with at least half on speedways (over 1 mile) that include traditional companion events in both the ARCA and Pro Series.•

The fourth championship will be the Stock Car Invitational. This championship will consist of the remaining approximately 10 races of the Elite Series and will be on premier short tracks that have long been part of both ARCA and the K&N Pro Series. To be eligible for the championship in this three-way combination series,

East and West competitors must compete in a minimum number of races across those series.• The chassis and body will be roughly the same across all four championships. Teams competing in the Elite Series will run the current ARCA engine package, while teams competing in the Pro Series East and West will run the existing engine package in those series. Teams choosing to compete for the Stock Car Invitational title must race with the same engine they used in the Elite or Pro Series East / West.

• Drivers must be at least 15 years old to compete in the Pro Series East and West as well as the Stock Car Invitational. Drivers must be at least 18 years old to compete in the Elite Series.Details such as series names, television coverage, and venues will be finalized in the coming months.“We are continuing to gather feedback from teams,

competitors and industry stakeholders to ensure the next step in the series’ evolution provides a lasting and healthy competition platform for accomplished veterans battling rising stars at iconic short tracks and diverse speedways across the country,” NASCAR added in a statement.