The 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards was the 60th season of the ARCA Racing Series. The season began on February 18 with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 and ended on October 19 with the Kansas ARCA 150. Chris Buescher won the championship over Frank Kimmel by 75 points after a heated battle. Alex Bowman was named Rookie of the Year after battling Brennan Poole all season.

The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR, and hosts events at a variety of track types including superspeedways, road courses, and dirt tracks. It also provides hobby drivers a chance to experience racing at large tracks used in the three national touring series in NASCAR. The series has had a longstanding relationship with NASCAR, including using former NASCAR Cup Series cars, hosting events in the same race weekend such as Daytona Speedweeks, and naming an award after NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. However, the series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27, 2018.