PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series heads full throttle into Michigan for Henry Ford Health 200

The next stop for the ARCA Menards Series is right next door to the heart of the United States automotive industry with Friday’s Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway.

Long known for its high speeds and wide racing surface since the track opened in 1968, Michigan hosted the ARCA Menards Series for the first time in 1980 with two events won by Joe Ruttman and Billie Harvey. The series did not return to Michigan until 1990, with the track having hosted at least one ARCA event a year since then.

Veterans and young drivers alike have managed to visit Michigan’s Victory Lane in an ARCA Menards Series event. Among the most notable to do so include 10-time champion Frank Kimmel, along with Jeff Purvis, Tim Steele, Bob Keselowski, Parker Kligerman, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher and Nick Sanchez, who won last year.

With no previous winners entered in this weekend’s Henry Ford Health 200, a new name will be added to a storied history of racing at Michigan that has long seen drivers and teams push their equipment to the absolute limit.

Tickets for Friday’s Henry Ford Health 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything to know about the event.

Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The last time Venturini Motorsports won an ARCA Menards Series event at Michigan International Speedway came in 2019 with Michael Self behind the wheel.

Venturini will have a great chance to break that drought Friday with a four-car armada led by ARCA Menards Series points leader Jesse Love, who is set to make his first appearance at the two-mile facility.

Love has built a substantial lead in the standings with an efficient 2023 that has seen him win 50 percent of the ARCA Menards Series events so far. Should Love visit Victory Lane this weekend, it would serve as his eighth career win at eight different tracks.

Joining love in the Venturini Motorsports lineup for Michigan will be Kris Wright in the No. 55 F.N.B. Corporation Toyota; he’s returning to the ARCA Menards Series after starting the year with Young’s Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Veteran Gus Dean and rookie Jake Finch round out the Venturini drivers for the weekend.

Other drivers set to compete in Friday’s Henry Ford Health 200 include Frankie Muniz, Andres Perez de Lara, Connor Mosack, Cody Coughlin, Andy Jankowiak, Jason Kitzmiller and Caleb Costner.

The complete entry list for the Henry Ford Health 200 will be released later this week.

MORE MICHIGAN: Buy Tickets | Event Schedule

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Henry Ford Health 200 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 lap recorded per the Timed Session qualifying procedure, plus provisionals.

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pit stop procedure. There will be a scheduled caution at or near Lap 35 and Lap 70. All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to the last 10 laps of the race. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started. (Learn about all of ARCA’s pit stop procedures here.)

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA rulebook, the maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is eight (8).