1986 American Racing Series season

The 1986 American Racing Series Championship consisted of 10 races and was the inaugural season for the series. Fabrizio Barbazza won five races on his way to the championship.

Phoenix race 1
Held April 6 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kim Campbell won the pole. This was the first race for the series.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 5- Steve Millen
 * 2) 3- Cary Bren
 * 3) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 4) 8- Billy Boat
 * 5) 85- Jeff Andretti

Milwaukee race
Held June 8 at The Milwaukee Mile. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 20- Mike Groff
 * 2) 1- Jerrill Rice
 * 3) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 4) 5- Steve Millen
 * 5) 10- Stan Fox

Meadowlands race
Held June 29 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 2) 4- Tommy Byrne
 * 3) 2- Steve Bren
 * 4) 1- Jerrill Rice
 * 5) 14- Brad Murphey

Toronto race
Held July 20 at Exhibition Place. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 2) 20- Mike Groff
 * 3) 3- Cary Bren
 * 4) 9- John Graham
 * 5) 8- Sammy Swindell

Pocono race
Held August 16 at Pocono Raceway. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 2) 20- Mike Groff
 * 3) 59- Nick Fornoro Jr.
 * 4) 4- Tommy Byrne
 * 5) 7- Sammy Swindell

Mid-Ohio race
Held August 31 at The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Steve Millen won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 10- Steve Millen
 * 2) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 3) 15- Ross Cheever
 * 4) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 5) 8- Billy Boat

Elkhart Lake race
Held September 20 at Road America. Juan Manuel Fangio II won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 20- Mike Groff
 * 2) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 3) 9- Tommy Byrne
 * 4) 15- Ross Cheever
 * 5) 2- Gary Rubio

Laguna Seca race
Held October 12 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Tommy Byrne won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 2) 71- Steve Millen
 * 3) 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
 * 4) 84- Albert Naon Jr.
 * 5) 6- Dave Simpson

Phoenix race
Held October 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Andretti won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 2) 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
 * 3) 8- Billy Boat
 * 4) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 5) 4- Davy Jones

Miami race
Held November 9 at Tamiami Park. Fabrizio Barbazza won the pole.

Top Five Results
 * 1) 12- Fabrizio Barbazza
 * 2) 3- Juan Manuel Fangio II
 * 3) 85- Jeff Andretti
 * 4) 84- Albert Naon Jr.
 * 5) 71- Steve Millen

Driver
For every race the points were awarded: 20 points to the winner, 16 for runner-up, 14 for third place, 12 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place, 8 for sixth place, 6 seventh place, winding down to 1 points for 12th place. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (1 point).

Note:

Race 4 and 7 not all points were awarded (not enough competitors).

Complete Overview
R10=retired, but classified