By Nicholas Dettmann

Contributing Writer

It’s not too early to think about racing in 2016 is it? Of course not.

The ARCA Racing Series recently announced its 2016 schedule and on it is the return of Madison International Speedway.

“We feel honored to have ARCA back at Madison International Speedway,” said Gregg McKarns, owner of Madison Inernational Speedway, in a statement. “The previous shows have treated our fans to some great battles amongst the up and comers of our sport.”

Madison and ARCA have a history that spans more than five decades, starting with the first race in 1970. That race was won by two-time ARCA champion Ramo Stott. Tom Bowsher won the race in 1971 and Bruce Gould was the 1972 winner.

Then it’d be almost 40 years before the series returned to the half-mile oval south of Madison in 2011. That race was won by Alex Bowman. Chris Buescher won the 2012 event, Kyle Benjamin in 2013 and Justin Boston in 2014.

Bowman is a former ARCA Rookie of the Year and recently completed his second season with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Buescher won this season’s NASCAR XFINITY Series championship.

Benjamin became the series’ youngest winner in 2013, and Boston, the 2013 series Rookie of the Year, competed in nine Camping World Truck Series races this season. He had four top-10 finishes.

Boston also competed in a XFINITY race and finished ninth.

“We expect another thriller on Father’s Day,” McKarns said.  “Our goal is to make this an annual event that Midwest race fans mark on the calendar each season, with live pit stops and the pageantry brought by the ARCA Series. This is a premier event at a premier facility.”

The 2016 ARCA Series schedule is:

• Feb. 13: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida.
• April 9: Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville, Tennessee
• April 24: Salem Speedway, Salem, Indiana
• May 22: Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Ohio
• May 28: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
• June 3: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
• June 10: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
• June 19: Madison International Speedway, Oregon, Wisconsin
• June 26: Winchester Speedway, Winchester, Indiana
• July 7: Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
• July 22: Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg, Indiana
• July 29: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
• Aug. 6: Berlin Raceway, Marne, Michigan
• Aug. 21: Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois
• Sept. 4: DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, DuQuoin,Illinois
• Sept. 10: Salem Speedway, Salem, Indiana
• Sept. 15: Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Illinois
• Sept. 23: Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Kentucky
• Oct. 14: Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas

Follow Nicholas on Twitter: @dettmann_wbdn