Special from Coldwater Daily Reporter - Coldwater High School graduate Gage Rodgers continues to chase his dreams of racing at the NASCAR level and will take that next step as Rodgers will be racing in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, driving the No. 68 Kimmel Racing Ford Fusion at Daytona International Speedway for his first ARCA start.
“It is an honor and a privilege to continue my partnership with Kimmel Racing and get my first ARCA attempt at Daytona,” said Rodgers. “Bill Kimmel and the team offer a tremendous amount of experience in ARCA competition. In addition, they are a blast to work with and Will Kimmel’s experience makes him an amazing mentor. I have been learning so much racing and working with the team. I am looking forward to any opportunity to get in the seat.”
Rodgers has spent 10 years racing Sprint Karts around the country with his last National Karting win taking place at Daytona International Speedway in 2014. The Michigan driver moved on to Asphalt Modifieds and later joined the Adkins Family Racing Team in Pro Late Model competition in the Southeast.
In 2022, Gage joined the Kimmel Team for the 2022 test and a number of races at Salem Speedway in Indiana. “Winning at Daytona in my kart was big for me, but the opportunity to come back 9 years later and race on the big track with the ARCA Menard’s Series with the Kimmel’s is a dream come true,” said Rodgers.
The team took on the 2023 Daytona test in the number 68 machine on January 13-14.
“The test went as planned, working on the set up on the car and doing single car runs day one. We were able to get Gage in the draft on day two, leading the line and getting into the middle for valuable drafting experience. I liked how the car was able to pull in the draft and we felt good about the test. We are excited to see what Gage and the team can do in the race,” said Bill Kimmel.
Rodgers, a 2022 graduate of Coldwater High School, is currently a freshman Supply Chain student at Central Michigan University.
Story - Troy Tennyson, Coldwater Daily Reporter
Photo - Rich Corbett / Gage Rodgers Facebook