ARAI HELMETS LOADS UP FOR NASCAR DAYTONA 500 AND BIKE WEEK RACING (Daytona, FL) Arai Helmets will field its biggest-ever group of NASCAR drivers and AMA Pro Racing motorcycle racers for both of the upcoming Daytona racing events: the Daytona 500 on February 26, and Bike Week racing a couple weeks later, March 15th to 17th. The company said its NASCAR driver lineup, that began with just a couple drivers choosing its helmet, has turned into “an avalanche of drivers,” according to Arai’s Jeff Weil. “We had a few of the top Sprint Cup guys like Jeff Gordon for a while, and we’ve won a couple 500s with Gordon and Jamie McMurray. Then, in just the last year or so, it’s gotten nuts.” Weil said Arai now has 11 Sprint Cup drivers, three in the Nationwide Series, and two in the Camping World Truck Series where Arai has the current champion, Austin Dillon, who moved to the Nationwide Series for 2012. On the Bike Week motorcycle side, Arai’s AMA Pro field is equally strong. It’s highlighted by two current road race champions, Josh Hayes in Superbike, and Danny Eslick in Daytona SportBike, plus perennial contenders and former champions like Blake Young, Martin Cardenas, and Jason DiSalvo. For the Daytona Short Track races, Arai’s very-deep field will be led by two more current champions: Jake Johnson, GNC national champion, and Michael Martin in Pro Singles. “Between these two powerhouse line-ups, Arai could have an amazing Daytona, even though we know full well that racing’s completely unpredictable,” Weil added. “Put this potential together with Arai’s claiming our fifth of the last seven Formula 1 world championships with Sebastian Vettel, and another IndyCar championship with Dario Franchitti, and you can’t blame us for being a little pumped up””especially for such a comparatively small helmet company.”