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ARCA/CRA SpeedFest Winner Connor Okrzesik to Make ARCA Menards Series Debut at Five Flags

The only way 2019 could get off to a better start for Mobile, Alabama’s Connor Okrzesik is to hit the lottery.

The 17-year-old started the season by beating Kyle Busch to the line for the win in the ARCA/CRA Super Series SpeedFest 200 at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Georgia. He was then invited to the inaugural Super Select Super Late Model All Star Race, and now he has filed an entry to make his first ARCA Menards Series start on March 9 in the ARCA Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions at Five Flags Speedway.

While many of the ARCA competitors have some experience at Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway, none have turned the laps Okrzesik has over the last three years.

“Really a great opportunity to make my first ARCA Menards Series start at a track I have so much experience at. I’ve got thousands of laps at Pensacola which should give me an advantage,” said Okrzesik.

Okrzesik has been a regular competitor at the track in the Pro Late Model and Super Late Model divisions over the last three seasons posting third and fourth place finishes in the 2018 Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby respectively.

Okrzesik has already tested his ARCA equipment at Five Flags.

“There is a huge difference between the ARCA car and our late model. Even though we have a lot of experience at Five Flags we are planning on testing again before the race, we’re not leaving anything to chance,” added Okrzesik.

After his first ARCA start, the Alabama high school student is expected to have a healthy mix of Late Model racing with plans to attempt five or six ARCA Menards Series races in 2019 while working towards a full time ARCA schedule in 2020.

The ARCA Menards Series takes to the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on Saturday, March 9. Practice starts at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT; General Tire Pole Qualifying is set for 4:30 pm ET/3:30 pm CT; and the ARCA Pensacola 200 is set to go green at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT and will be televised live on MAVTV. ARCARacing.com will have live timing & scoring, live chat, and live track updates throughout all on track sessions free for ARCA for Me members. New members may register for free at ARCARacing.com/login.