PIT BOX: Pacific Northwest Set For West Duel

Four races into his rookie campaign, and Jesse Love still hasn’t finished worse than runner-up.

The ARCA Menards Series West championship points leader will lead the series to a pair of Pacific Northwest tracks, as the series returns to racing this weekend with a doubleheader in Washington and Oregon. First up is the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 100 at Evergreen Speedway in Washington, on Friday (3 p.m. PT), before the series heads south approximately 375 miles to Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Oregon, for the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150 Saturday (6:30 p.m.)

Fans can watch both races live through Trackpass on NBC Gold.

ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 100 | ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Love has never raced at Evergreen nor Douglas. That hasn’t stopped the 15-year-old from Menlo Park, California, from getting up to speed with astonishing quickness at the previous venues he’s debuted at. He started with a runner-up finish to defending East champion Sam Mayer at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, split the road course doubleheader with Blaine Perkins at Utah Motorsports Campus, and out-dueled home track favorite Trevor Huddleston at California’s Irwindale Speedway.

Which brings his No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota to Evergreen. And Douglas.

Love leads Perkins by 17 points, while Love’s Bill McAnally Racing teammate Gracie Trotter is 27 points out of first. Defending Evergreen race winner Huddleston is fourth (-30) and veteran Todd Souza is fifth (-33).

Evergreen has been a staple of the West Series since 1964, and BMR drivers have won seven times there. Bob Bruncati’s Sunrise Ford, however, has had the more recent success with wins in the last two visits: Derek Thorn in 2018 en route to his title, and Huddleston last year.

The 55-year-old Souza is having a resurgent season among the field of youngsters. He was sixth (Evergreen) and seventh (Douglas) in the Pacific Northwest last year, and has a string of eight top 10s dating back to last year. It’s a run that started with a runner-up finish in the No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota at Idaho’s Meridian Speedway last September.

As well as BMR has run at Evergreen, they’ve been even more dominant on the .375-mile oval fairgrounds racetrack in Roseburg. Outside of All American Speedway in Roseville, California, Douglas County could be considered BMR’s second home: Bill McAnally and his promotional staff have staged the 13 series events held at Douglas County since 2002; His race team won 10 of those races, including eight of the past nine.

RACING REFERENCE: Previous West races at Evergreen| West Drivers at Evergreen| Previous West races at Douglas | West Drivers at Douglas | 2020 ARCA Menards Series West Standings

RACE FACTS

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST | RACE EVENT GUIDE

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 100 is limited to 20, including provisional positions. The first 16 cars in the field will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in the qualifying session for the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 100. The remaining 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: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in the qualifying session.

RACE PIT STOP: Pitting during this event will be for making repairs and adjustments only, no tires or fuel can be changed or added.

The ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 100 will be 100 laps (62.5 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segment with no breaks.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: eight (8) tires for practice and to begin the race.

RACE FACTS

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST | RACE EVENT GUIDE

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150 is limited to 20, including provisional positions. The first 16 cars in the field will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in the qualifying session for the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150. The remaining 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: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in the qualifying session.

RACE PIT STOP: Pitting during this event will be for making repairs and adjustments only, no tires or fuel can be changed or added.

The ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150 will be 150 laps (56.25 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segment with no breaks.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: eight (8) tires for practice and to begin the race.