| Randy Van Zant | |
| Nationality: |  American |
| Birth Date: | 11 August 1957 |
| Birth Place: | Brookville, Ohio |
| Total Arca Races: | 63 |
| Years In Arca: | 9 |
| Best Arca Pos: | 20th (2003) |
| First Arca Race: | 1998 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (Salem) |
| Last Arca Race: | 2006 Sara Lee/GFS Marketplace 200 (Berlin) |
| Arca Wins: | 0 |
| Arca Top Tens: | 14 |
| Arca Poles: | 0 |
| Updated: | March 27, 2024 |
Randy Van Zant (born August 11, 1957) is an American former professional stock car racing driver who has previously competed in the ARCA Re/Max Series.
Van Zant's interest in racing began when he was frequently around a family friend's USAC sprint car racing team as a child. His career would not being however until 1986, where he formed a street stock team, and won track championships between 1987 and 1988. Other members of the crew also drove in street stock competition in car that were built by Van Zant, and the team accomplished five track championships.[1] Van Zant moved to late models in 1989, and he ran on and off races for Haupt up until 1997.[1]
In 1998, Van Zant made his ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series debut at Salem Speedway, driving the No. 32 Pontiac for Jerry Haupt, where he started in 22nd and finished in ninth place, albeit five laps down behind race winner Frank Kimmel. He then made four more starts across the year, finishing in the top-twenty in all races. In 1999, he ran eleven races, finishing in the top-ten twice with a best finish of ninth at Kil-Kare Speedway, and finished runner-up in the rookie of the year standings behind Ron Cox. From 2000 to 2001, he only finished in the top-ten one in sixteen starts, a sixth place at Memphis Motorsports Park in 2001.
In 2002, Van Zant and Haupt planned on running all short-track events, and potentially up to four superspeedway races,[1] although they only ran the short-track events, getting a best finish of fourth in his first start of the year at Salem. He then earned two top-five finishes the following year in 2003, a fourth place at Winchester Speedway and a fifth at Salem, and finished twentieth in points despite running only nine races that year.
In 2004, Van Zant attempted to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Mansfield Motorsports Park, driving the No. 83 Ford for fellow ARCA competitor Greg Sarff, but ultimately failed to qualify due to qualifying being cancelled. He also made only six ARCA races that year, getting a best finish of sixth at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt track. In 2005, Van Zant left Haupt to run five races between entries fielded by Bobby Gerhart Racing, James Hylton Motorsports, and Darrell Basham Racing, and got a best finish of tenth in his final race of the year at Salem. It was also during this year that he attempted to make two races in the Hooters Pro Cup Series, failing to qualify for both events at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Kil-Kare.[2] Van Zant then attempted only three ARCA races in 2006, finishing tenth at Winchester, failing to qualify at Toledo Speedway, and finishing thirteenth at Berlin Raceway. The Berlin event is his most recent event as a driver, as he has not competed in the series since then.[3]
Van Zant graduated from Trotwood-Madison High School in 1975, and is the father of three children.[1]
(key) (
Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)(key) (
Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)