ARCA Official dies.

Former driver and serving ARCA official Alfred (Al) Beale, Sr died suddenly last Thursday morning, December 23rd after falling ill at his home in Toledo, Ohio.

The 69 year-old Toledo native was a renowned, championship-calibre open wheel and stock car driver in the Toledo area and went on to success in the IMCA, USAC and ARCA ranks before retiring and serving as an ARCA official.

Among his notable racing accomplishments were winning the first race ever held at Toledo Speedway in 1960 as well as winning the first-ever Toledo Speedway track championship in 1960. He also won track championships at Toledo Raceway Park on both the quarter-mile and half-mile tracks.

In addition, he earned track titles at Fremont Speedway and Mansfield Speedway in Ohio and Jackson Speedway in Missouri. Throughout his racing career, he won more than 200 feature event races at the aforementioned tracks as well as Eldora Speedway, Millstream Speedway, Sandusky Speedway and Wauseon Speedway in his native state and Adrian Speedway in Missouri to name a few.

Most recently, he served as an ARCA RE/MAX Series racing official, having worked the final event of the 2004 season at Talladega Superspeedway in October. He became known and respected in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for his depth of racing knowledge and experience and his upbeat attitude.

A retired member of the Local 33 Sheet Metal Union, he was also a graduate of Whitmer High School in Toledo where he played varsity basketball. He was also a loving father, grandfather and friend to many and will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.