Stephen Nasse during the ARCA Menards Series Skips Western Outfitters 175 at New Smyrna Speedway on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 in New Smyrna, Fla.  (Photo by Matt Stamey)
Stephen Nasse is looking for redemption as he returns to Five Flags Speedway for Saturday's ARCA Menards Series East race. (Matt Stamey/ARCA Racing)

PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series East Rolls Into Five Flags

Sam Mayer saw one win streak end in Phoenix with radiator issues, but the defending East champion will look to keep another win streak going as the ARCA Menards Series East resumes action this weekend at Five Flags Speedway.

The Pensacola, Florida, short track has long been known as the host of the annual December Super Late Model showcase, the Snowball Derby. The ARCA Menards Series East has history of its own at the half-mile on Florida’s western panhandle and is primed to make more with the Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions.


PENSACOLA 200 presented by INSPECTRA THERMAL SOLUTIONS at 5 FLAGS SPEEDWAY

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The last two East races, Sam Mayer has wound up in Victory Lane.

He wrapped up the 2019 title at Dover International Speedway with a win, and opened the new era of the ARCA Menards Series East at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway in February by taking the checkered flag.

Pensacola 200Mayer’s luck finally turned south when mechanical issues took him out of the running of the past weekend’s ARCA Menards Series event at Phoenix Raceway, but the No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet will undoubtedly be strong again this weekend.

BUY TICKETS | RACE DAY PROGRAM

The last time Stephen Nasse was at 5 Flags Speedway, he was celebrating the win at the Snowball Derby and then leaving empty handed after failing the post-race technical inspection. The 24-year-old from Pinellas Park, Florida, has run the Derby nine times, had a strong sixth-place showing in the East  opener at New Smyrna.

Ty Gibbs came up short to Mayer at New Smyrna and again to Chandler Smith at Phoenix, and will go to Five Flags looking to improve on a runner-up finish in the 2019 ARCA Menards Series race there.

Corey Heim, Bret Holmes and Connor Okrzesik also collected top 10 finshes at 5 Flags last year.

RACING REFERENCE: Previous East races at Pensacola

RACE FACTS

RACE

PENSACOLA 200 presented by INSPECTRA THERMAL SOLUTIONS

PLACE

5 Flags Speedway

DATE

Saturday, March 14, 2020

TIME

7 p.m. CT

TELEVISION

TrackPass on NBC Gold (live), 7 p.m. CT; NBCSN, Monday, March 23, 6 p.m.

TRACK LAYOUT

half-mile paved oval

EVENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 14 — Garage opens: 9 a.m. CT; Practice: 1-1:45 p.m.; Practice: 2-2:45 p.m.; Qualifying: 5 p.m.; Driver autograph session: 5:45 p.m.; Driver introductions: 6:45 p.m. Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions: 7 p.m.

TWITTER

@5FlagsSpeedway, @ARCA_Racing, @NASCARRoots

HASHTAG

#Pensacola200, #ARCAMenards

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions is limited to 26, including provisional positions. The first 22 drivers will secure starting positions based on qualifying for the Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. This event will be run under the 2020 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive laps qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after taking the green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to last 10 laps of an event. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started. Modified live pit stop procedure in place for this event. A maximum four (4) crew members may service car and a maximum of two (2) tires may be changed on any pitstop.

The Pensacola 200 presented by Inspectra Thermal Solutions will be 200 laps (100 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segment.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) tires for practice plus an additional eight (8) for qualifying and race for a total of twelve (12) tires.