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5 Flags Looming For East Championship Contenders

ARCA Racing March 4, 2020

Sam Mayer may be focused on Phoenix Raceway this week, but his attention will need to shift pretty quickly back east.

The second race of the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East schedule is slated for Saturday, March 14, with the Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions at Five Flags Speedway. The high-banked half-mile Florida oval is where Mayer will resume his chase to become the first driver since Andy Santerre to win back-to-back East titles.

Santerre won four straight from 2002-05 under the former NASCAR Busch North banner.

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Mayer, 16, finished 15th in the ARCA Menards Series race at 5 Flags last year after qualifying 14th and encountering fuel pressure issues.

The Franklin, Wisconsin, driver will face plenty of competition next week.

Ty Gibbs, 17, was second at 5 Flags last year, and finished third this year at New Smyrna.

Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez finished fourth in the opener at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, while teammate Chase Cabre was ninth. Cabre was runner-up to Mayer in the 2019 championship.

Max McLaughlin, who finished fifth in points last season, opened the season with a 10th-place finish after qualifying second. Mason Diaz, running his season with Venturini Motorsports, and rookie Daniel Dye, with Ben Kennedy Racing, will look to Pensacola to bounce back after rough opening night finishes.

The Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions will stream live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold at 7 p.m. CT, and air on NBCSN on Monday, March 23 at 5 p.m. CT.

In addition to the ARCA Menards Series East race, Saturday’s action will also include the track’s Vore’s Compact Touring Series, Outlaw, and Pure Stock divisions.

For more information on the event, visit www.5flagsspeedway.com or www.trackenterprises.com.  Reserved advance sale tickets are available by calling Five Flags Speedway at 850-941-4343.  Tickets will also be available on raceday.