PIT BOX: America’s Home for Racing awaits ARCA Menards Series stars for a Friday show

After a two-week break from the track, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season resumes Friday evening with the running of the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET on FS1/Fox Sports App).

Friday’s event marks the 25th time the ARCA Menards Series has visited the popular 1.5-mile speedway located in the heart of racing country. The series first visited Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964. Curtis Turner, one of the men who helped build the track, led 104 of 134 laps to secure the victory.

ARCA didn’t return to Charlotte again until 1996, when Tim Steele won his first of four ARCA Menards Series events at the track. Charlotte remained a regular stop for ARCA until 2004, but the series returned again in 2018 and has visited the track on a regular basis since.

In addition to Turner and Steele, drivers who have visited Victory Lane in ARCA competition at Charlotte include Frank Kimmel, Adam Petty, Kirk Shelmerdine, Ryan Newman, Kerry Earnhardt, Ty Majeski, Ty Gibbs and, most recently, Brandon Jones.

Tickets to Friday’s General Tire 150 are available here. Below is everything to know about the event.

General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Riding a wave of momentum from two consecutive victories, ARCA Menards Series championship leader Jesse Love leads the way to Charlotte Motor Speedway this Friday for the General Tire 150.

It will be Love’s first start at Charlotte as he looks to continue his string of success that started with a victory at Talladega Superspeedway in April and continued at Kansas Speedway earlier this month aboard the No. 20 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports.

He’ll be facing stiff competition in the form of several Toyota drivers, including his Venturini Motorsports teammates Dean Thompson, Gus Dean and Toni Breidinger. They’ll be joined by Connor Mosack, who is back for his third start of the year in the No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Taylor Gray, who will make his third start of the year and second for TRICON Garage.

A surprise entrant comes in the form of 2015 ARCA Menards Series champion Grant Enfinger, who is scheduled to drive the No. 97 Chevrolet for team owner Codie Rohrbaugh. It will be Enfinger’s first ARCA platform start since the 2022 season finale at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway.

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Frankie Muniz, who is two points behind Love in the ARCA Menards Series standings, will look to regain the championship lead with a strong performance Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing.

Andres Perez de Lara and Jack Wood will again represent Rev Racing, with Perez de Lara wheeling the No. 2 and Wood back at the wheel of the No. 6. Sean Corr also returns for his third start of the year in his own No. 8. Caleb Costner also returns to action aboard the No. 93 Chevrolet after last competing at Talladega.

Other notable entries include Daytona winner Greg Van Alst, Cody Coughlin, Christian Rose, Tony Cosentino and Jon Garrett, among others.

The complete entry list for Friday’s General Tire 150 is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA races at Charlotte
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Charlotte

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the General Tire 150 is limited to 30 starters plus provisionals. This event will run under the 2023 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations, and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap per the Timed Session qualifying procedure, plus provisionals.

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pit stop procedure. There will be a Competition Caution at or near Lap 50. All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to last 10 laps of race. (Learn about all of ARCA’s pit stop procedures here.)

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event is eight (8).