1986 American Racing Series season
# 1986 American Racing Series season

The 1986 American Racing Series Championship consisted of 10 races and was the inaugural season for the series. Fabrizio Barbazza won five races on his way to the championship.

## Calendar

| Race No | Track | State | Date | Laps | Distance | Time | Speed | Winner | Pole Position | Most Leading Laps | Fastest Race Lap |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Phoenix | Arizona | April 6, 1986 | 76 | 1.6093=122.3068 km | 0'37:58.23 | 193.266 km/h | Steve Millen | Kim Campbell | Kim Campbell | ? |
| 2 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | June 8, 1986 | 75 | 1.6607976=124.55982 km | 0'38:56.19 | 191.943 km/h | Mike Groff | Jeff Andretti | Mike Groff | ? |
| 3 | Meadowlands | New Jersey | June 29, 1986 | 44 | 2.7229356=119.809166 km | 0'51:44.117 | 136.515 km/h | Fabrizio Barbazza | Fabrizio Barbazza | Fabrizio Barbazza | ? |
| 4 | Toronto | Canada | July 20, 1986 | 42 | 2.8709912=120.58163 km | 0'47:54.656 | 151.007 km/h | Fabrizio Barbazza | Fabrizio Barbazza | Fabrizio Barbazza | ? |
| 5 | Pocono | Pennsylvania | August 16, 1986 | 40 | 4.02325=160.93 km | 0'40:52.11 | 236.265 km/h | Jeff Andretti | Jeff Andretti | Mike Groff | ? |
| 6 | Lexington | Ohio | August 31, 1986 | 31 | 3.86232=119.73192 km | 0'44:41.550 | 160.741 km/h | Steve Millen | Steve Millen | Steve Millen | ? |
| 7 | Elkhart Lake | Wisconsin | September 20, 1986 | 19 | 6.4372=122.3068 km | 0'41:23.38 | 177.300 km/h | Mike Groff | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Mike Groff | ? |
| 8 | Monterey | California | October 12, 1986 | 40 | 3.05767=120.3068 km | 0'41:17.328 | 174.827 km/h | Fabrizio Barbazza | Tommy Byrne | Steve Millen | ? |
| 9 | Phoenix | Arizona | October 19, 1986 | 75 | 1.6093=120.6975 km | 0'37:11.24 | 194.740 km/h | Fabrizio Barbazza | Jeff Andretti | Fabrizio Barbazza | ? |
| 10 | Miami | Florida | November 9, 1986 | 22 | 2.8709912=63.1618064 km | 0'25:54.98 | 146.229 km/h | Fabrizio Barbazza | Fabrizio Barbazza | Juan Manuel Fangio II | ? |

## Race summaries

### Phoenix race 1

Held April 6 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kim Campbell won the pole. This was the first race for the series.

Top Five Results

* 5- Steve Millen
* 3- Cary Bren
* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 8- Billy Boat
* 85- Jeff Andretti

### Milwaukee race

Held June 8 at The Milwaukee Mile. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 20- Mike Groff
* 1- Jerrill Rice
* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 5- Steve Millen
* 10- Stan Fox

### Meadowlands race

Held June 29 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 4- Tommy Byrne
* 2- Steve Bren
* 1- Jerrill Rice
* 14- Brad Murphey

### Toronto race

Held July 20 at Exhibition Place. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 20- Mike Groff
* 3- Cary Bren
* 9- John Graham
* 8- Sammy Swindell

### Pocono race

Held August 16 at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 20- Mike Groff
* 59- Nick Fornoro Jr.
* 4- Tommy Byrne
* 7- Sammy Swindell

### Mid-Ohio race

Held August 31 at The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Steve Millen won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 10- Steve Millen
* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 15- Ross Cheever
* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 8- Billy Boat

### Elkhart Lake race

Held September 20 at Road America. Juan Manuel Fangio II won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 20- Mike Groff
* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 9- Tommy Byrne
* 15- Ross Cheever
* 2- Gary Rubio

### Laguna Seca race

Held October 12 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Tommy Byrne won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 71- Steve Millen
* 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 84- Albert Naon Jr.
* 6- Dave Simpson

### Phoenix race

Held October 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 8- Billy Boat
* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 4- Davy Jones

### Miami race

Held November 9 at Tamiami Park. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results

* 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
* 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 85- Jeff Andretti
* 84- Albert Naon Jr.
* 71- Steve Millen

## Final points standings

### Driver

For every race the points were awarded: 20 points to the winner, 16 for runner-up, 14 for third place, 12 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place, 8 for sixth place, 6 seventh place, winding down to 1 points for 12th place. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (1 point).

| Place | Name | Country | Team | Total Points | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Fabrizio Barbazza | Italy | Arciero Racing | 145 | 14 | - | 22 | 22 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
| 2 | Jeff Andretti | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 107 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 16 | - | 13 | 14 |
| 3 | Mike Groff | United States | Groff Motorsports | 89 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 16 | 17 | - | 21 | 6 | 6 | - |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Truesports | 85 | 20 | 12 | 4 | - | - | | | | | |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | ? | 85 | | | | | | 22 | - | | | |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Hemelgarn Racing | 85 | | | | | | | | 17 | - | 10 |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 69 | - | - | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | ? | 69 | | | | | | 5 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| 6 | Billy Boat | United States | Marsh Holt Racing | 67 | 12 | 2 | 6 | - | 5 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 5 |
| 7 | Tommy Byrne | Ireland | Agapiou Racing | 62 | - | 5 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 1 | - | 8 |
| 8 | Sam Swindell | United States | ? | 40 | 6 | - | - | 10 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sam Swindell | United States | Cahill Brothers Racing | 40 | | | | | 10 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | Cary Bren | United States | ? | 38 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | Jerrill Rice | United States | ? | 37 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 37 | - | 6 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Duration Racing | 37 | | | | | | | | 12 | - | 12 |
| 12 | Brad Murphey | United States | Louis Motorsports | 33 | - | - | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 3 | 4 | - |
| 13 | Nick Fornoro Jr. | United States | ? | 30 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - |
| 14 | Ross Cheever | United States | Brian Stewart Racing | 26 | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | | | | |
| 14 | Ross Cheever | United States | Agapiou Racing | 26 | | | | | | | 12 | - | - | - |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 23 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | ? | 23 | | 10 | - | - | | | | | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Cahill Brothers Racing | 23 | | | | | 1 | - | - | - | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Agapiou Racing | 23 | | | | | | | | | 8 | - |
| 16 | Steve Bren | United States | ? | 17 | - | 1 | 14 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Dave Simpson | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| 18 | Kim Campbell | United States | Motorsports Racing | 12 | 4 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Scott Wood | United States | Agapiou Racing | 12 | - | 4 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | John Graham | Canada | Agapiou Racing | 12 | - | - | - | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 21 | Jim Busby Jr. | United States | ? | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 3 | - |
| 22 | Gary Rubio | United States | ? | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - |
| | Davy Jones | United States | Agapiou Racing | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | - |
| 24 | Desiré Wilson | South Africa | ? | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Ian Ashley | United Kingdom | Agapiou Racing | 8 | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 26 | Rich Rutherford | United States | ? | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 26 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Ian Gordon Racing | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 27 | Guido Daccò | Italy | Agapiou Racing | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 |
| 28 | Jan Thoelke | West Germany | Agapiou Racing | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - |
| 29 | Jack Miller | United States | Agapiou Racing | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| | Bobby Fix | United States | ? | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |

Note:

Race 4 and 7 not all points were awarded (not enough competitors).

## Complete Overview

| first column of every race | 10 | = grid position |
| - | - | - |
| second column of every race | 10 | = race result |

R10=retired, but classified

| Place | Name | Country | Team | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Fabrizio Barbazza | Italy | Arciero Racing | 2 | 3 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | R10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | R7 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Jeff Andretti | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | R10 | 2 | R10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 8 | R14 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 3 | Mike Groff | United States | Groff Motorsports | 9 | R12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | R12 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | R13 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | - | - |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Truesports | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 9 | - | - | - | - | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | ? | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | - | - | | | | | | |
| 4 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Hemelgarn Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | - | - | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | Ralph Sanchez Racing | - | - | - | - | 3 | R11 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | ? | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 8 | 1 | R11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | Billy Boat | United States | Marsh Holt Racing | 11 | 4 | 6 | R11 | 12 | 7 | - | - | 13 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 7 | R6 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| 7 | Tommy Byrne | Ireland | Agapiou Racing | - | - | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | R8 | 3 | 4 | 8 | R12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | R13 | - | - | 5 | 6 |
| 8 | Sam Swindell | United States | ? | 7 | 7 | - | - | - | - | 10 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sam Swindell | United States | Cahill Brothers Racing | | | | | | | | | 10 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | R9 | 10 | R12 | 7 | R11 | 7 | 12 |
| 9 | Cary Bren | United States | ? | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 5 | R8 | 8 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | Jerrill Rice | United States | ? | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 7 | R9 | 7 | R13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | - | - | 11 | 7 | 10 | R14 | - | - | 11 | R11 | 7 | R11 | 5 | R10 | | | | | | |
| | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Duration Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 4 | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| 12 | Brad Murphey | United States | Louis Motorsports | - | - | - | - | 13 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 9 | - | - | 14 | 10 | 12 | 9 | - | - |
| 13 | Nick Fornoro Jr. | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 9 | R8 | 15 | 11 | 11 | R12 | - | - |
| 14 | Ross Cheever | United States | Brian Stewart Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Ross Cheever | United States | Agapiou Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 4 | 3 | R15 | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Ralph Sanchez Racing | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | ? | | | 9 | 5 | - | - | - | - | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Cahill Brothers Racing | | | | | | | | | 8 | R12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | | | | |
| 15 | Stan Fox | United States | Agapiou Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 6 | - | - |
| 16 | Steve Bren | United States | ? | 13 | R14 | 2 | R12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | R11 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Dave Simpson | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
| 18 | Kim Campbell | United States | Motorsports Racing | 1 | R11 | 8 | 6 | 9 | R13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Scott Wood | United States | Agapiou Racing | - | - | 12 | 9 | 14 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | John Graham | Canada | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 21 | Jim Busby Jr. | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 6 | 6 | R10 | - | - |
| 22 | Gary Rubio | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Davy Jones | United States | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - |
| 24 | Desiré Wilson | South Africa | ? | 10 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Ian Ashley | United Kingdom | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 26 | Rich Rutherford | United States | ? | 12 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | |
| 26 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Ian Gordon Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 9 |
| 27 | Guido Daccò | Italy | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 7 |
| 28 | Jan Thoelke | West Germany | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
| 29 | Jack Miller | United States | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | R10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Bobby Fix | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 10 |
| - | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | United States | ? | 14 | R13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | Ken Johnson | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | R14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
