Season 2: ARCA + Craftsman Trucks
For a balanced progression, Season 2 is an excellent point to run ARCA and Craftsman together, especially if the ARCA championship was not won in Season 1. The ARCA program is already mature, while the Truck program starts almost from scratch and requires two vehicles.
A practical Season 2 objective is to win the ARCA championship with the developed Level 5 program while building the Truck team strongly enough to try to qualify for The Chase.
Starting Truck Sponsor
A documented starting Craftsman sponsor paid $2,970 per race. Its incentive structure was:
- Easy: $150 for finishing 33rd or better.
- Normal: $505 for finishing 30th or better.
- Hard: $1,485 for finishing 27th or better.
Use these values as a practical reference for the early Truck economy. Sponsor paths can vary with Career progression, so the important strategy is to choose the highest incentive that remains realistically achievable at your calibrated race pace.
Starting the Two-Truck Program
The Truck Series immediately creates more repair pressure because two vehicles must be maintained. Do not fill every available staff slot at once. After unlocking the additional Mechanic capacity, hire only one extra Basic Mechanic initially. In the tested progression, this hire cost $14,000 and added 50 WP.
For the first part of the season, one additional Mechanic is normally enough. Repair the Truck that races next, then use any remaining WP to begin preparing the second vehicle. This keeps the program functional without committing too much Money to staff before the need exists.
Early Truck Development
Bring both Trucks toward about Level 3 across all Parts before chasing expensive late-tier upgrades. The program becomes much more stable once both vehicles have a dependable baseline, and this is the right point to begin investing more aggressively in staff and long-term Facilities.
The ARCA car can remain at Level 5 with minimal additional spending. Money generated there should primarily support the Truck program rather than continuing to improve an already mature lower-series operation.
HR Department Before Manager Department
After both Trucks are stable, prioritize Create HR Department for $25,000 before Create Manager Department. The HR upgrade improves several areas of the operation at once by unlocking better applicants.
One of the first hires after HR should be the stronger Agent. It costs $9,000 and provides a 25% Money bonus, replacing the previous 10% Agent. Because the additional income applies to future earnings, activating this upgrade relatively early is especially valuable in an expensive two-vehicle series.
The same HR progression also allows two Basic 40 WP Mechanics to be replaced by two Pro 60 WP Mechanics for a combined hiring cost of $17,750. Upgrade to the 10% WP Crew Chief for $8,500 when normal repairs and Rebuilds begin pushing the existing WP pool to its limit.
Manager Department and Level 6 Preparation
Once the HR upgrades and key staff are in place, Create Manager Department becomes the next major financial investment. The Facility costs $35,000, and the Manager costs another $5,000 for a +10% Money bonus.
After the income structure is established, and when you need Level 6 parts, build a cash reserve of approximately $75,000 before spending $30,000 on Partner With Supply Companies. Level 6 Parts cost more than $40,000 even at the lower end, so buying the Facility as soon as you reach exactly $30,000 can leave the team unable to use the unlock.
Dover: Balance vs. First Chase Strategy
Dover can show the same unusually weak race AI behavior documented elsewhere in the guide. For strict balance, a temporary increase of approximately +5 AI can make the weekend more consistent with surrounding events.
For the first Truck Chase attempt, however, there is a valid strategic reason to leave Dover at the normal Career baseline. A strong result there can provide valuable championship points and income, improving the chances of winning The Chase in the first Truck season. The choice depends on whether your priority is strict AI balance or maximizing the championship opportunity. Keep in mind, however, that Craftsman will be your bank for the next season so you have another chance to win the Craftsman chase.