01/22/2020
RFMS Racing owner, Don Fike, recently announced that he will not continue to race in the ARCA Menards Series in the 2020 season. Fike has decided to sell his race team and step away from ownership.
Fike, who has been involved in racing for over 50 years, says that it has been a very difficult decision for him. “I almost sold the team after the 2017 season. I had a bicycle accident that year, which ultimately made my Parkinson’s symptoms worsen. My doctor and I talked about reducing my stress, so I decided to stop racing. My wife and some of my closest friends could tell how miserable I was with my decision to sell, so they talked me into doing it another year or two. But it’s time now. As much as I love racing, I just don’t need the extra responsibility anymore.”
Fike made a great run of his racing career. For 52 years, he has either raced, worked on, sponsored or owned race cars. He developed his life-long passion during his college years, when he put together his first stock car. He competed in a six cylinder at local tracks in Illinois such as the Mazon Speedbowl, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. Fike continued with his late model driving career for many years, and then he developed RFMS Racing in 1996. RFMS Racing was one of the elite open-wheel operators in the United States Auto Club (USAC Racing) - racing Midgets and Silver Crown cars throughout the country. RFMS racing has enjoyed considerable success with over 60 wins across the following series: NAMARS, UMARA, USAC Silver Crown, USAC National Midget, BADGER, Infiniti Pro, World Midget Championship, POWRi, and the ARCA RACING SERIES.
When asked what some of his biggest accomplishments were, Fike stated, “I am very proud of finishing 4th in driver points and 7th in owner points in the ARCA Menards Series in 2019. ARCA was such a competitive series, we learned a lot, and it was a fun change of pace from the open wheel stuff. One of the things I am most proud of in my career though is our USAC National Midget Championship in 2012 against some very tough competition. I will also always remember our Springfield wins in the USAC Silver Crown Car and the ARCA car with my son, AJ. We were proud to win at that home track in both series. The most important thing though is all the friends I have made doing this. I really have some of my closest friends and best memories from being involved in racing.”
Don also plans to continue his Racing for Others Program, where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are able to attend a race. “We take them to the track, give them t-shirts, a meal, have drivers stop by and sign autographs. They have a great time, and it is something that they wouldn’t normally be able to do. We cover all the expenses, and put them up in a suite and everything. It has become one of things I look forward to the most.”
RFMS Racing and Don Fike would like thank all of the fans, sponsors, crew members, vendors, competitors and friends for their support over the years, as none of his career would have been possible without each and every one of them.
