PIT BOX: Championship Race Heads To Rocky Mountains

Jesse Love and Blaine Perkins have gone back-and-forth through the first six races.

But one slip up, and their teammates will look to pounce and break up what as been a two-driver domination of Victory Lane. They’ll get their next chance with Saturday night’s ENEOS 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Colorado National Speedway.

The ARCA Menards Series West championship will go for Round 7 Saturday night at an historic short-track for the West series. The .375-mile short track outside of Denver has hosted 17 races since 1995.

Fans can watch the race live through Trackpass on NBC Gold.

ENEOS 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Love and Perkins have combined to win five of the first six races, the only anomaly being the opener at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which was won by interloper Sam Mayer.

Perkins’ sweep of the Pacific Northwest doubleheader pulled him within one point of Love, whose No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his rookie campaign. Save for a late-race off-course excursion on the road course in Utah that turned a strong run into an 11th-place finish, Perkins’ No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Four Star Fruits hasn’t finished worse than fourth.

If you’re looking for a spoiler, Gracie Trotter fits the bill.

Love’s teammate with Bill McAnally Racing, Trotter has top five finishes in all four ovals as a rookie. She rebounded from a fifth-place at Washington’s Evergreen Speedway to finish runner-up to Perkins at Douglas County Speedway in Oregon. Trotter will look to match Hailie Deegan, who took BMR to Victory Lane at Colorado last year.

Since Eric Holmes’ win in 2008, BMR has won seven times at Colorado. Bob Bruncati’s Sunrise Ford has won three of the last seven races at the track, and Perkins’ Sunrise teammate Trevor Huddleston has finishes of third and ninth the last two races there. BMR went 1-2 in 2016 and 1-2-3 in 2017, before Sunrise swept the top 3 spots in 2018.

Last year, Deegan bumped teammate Kraus on the last lap of an overtime finish to steal the win away, and the bullring could produce more fireworks Saturday.

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

RACE FACTS

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST | RACE EVENT GUIDE

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the ENEOS 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts 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 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts. 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 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts 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.