PIT BOX: A busy week for the ARCA Menards Series begins Friday at Watkins Glen

For just the fourth time, Watkins Glen International will welcome the ARCA Menards Series this Friday (6 p.m. ET on FS1/Fox Sports App) for the running of the General Tire 100 at The Glen.

ARCA made its inaugural visit to Watkins Glen in 2001, when road racing expert John Finger bested Blaise Alexander and Frank Kimmel to earn his only ARCA Menards Series triumph in what turned out to be his only series start.

The series didn’t return to Watkins Glen until 2021, when Corey Heim proved his road-racing prowess against Austin Hill and Ty Gibbs. Last year, Brandon Jones led only one lap, but it was the lap that mattered the most after taking the lead on the final circuit when leaders Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray made contact battling for the victory.

This week’s General Tire 100 at The Glen is the first race of a Friday-Sunday doubleheader for the ARCA Menards Series this weekend. The Tour also will run the Dutch Boy 100 on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday. Including Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series West race at Washington’s Evergreen Speedway, the ARCA platform has a tripleheader weekend on deck.

Tickets for Friday’s General Tire 100 at the Glen can be purchased here. Below is everything to know about the event.

General Tire 100 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

For the second time this season, Jesse Love is looking to make history by joining an elite ARCA Menards Series club. Aboard his No. 20 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, Love has won the last three series events and will attempt to win his fourth consecutive race Friday at Watkins Glen.

Love will face a strong field of entries that will be attempting to deny him that honor. Included among them is NASCAR Cup Series star Corey LaJoie, who will be making his first ARCA Menards Series start since 2013 aboard the No. 63 Chevrolet fielded by Paris Wixon Racing.

Love will also be challenged by his own Venturini Motorsports teammates. Brent Crews will be making his ARCA Menards Series debut in the No. 15 Toyota while Kris Wright returns to the team aboard the No. 25 Toyota. Jake Finch is set to pilot the No. 55 Toyota.

MORE WATKINS GLEN: Buy Tickets | Event Schedule

William Sawalich, who denied Love the opportunity to win four consecutive races earlier this year at Berlin Raceway, will once again pilot the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Jack Wood also returns aboard the No. 6 Chevrolet alongside Rev Racing teammate Andres Perez de Lara, who will pilot his usual No. 2 Chevrolet. Frankie Muniz is also scheduled to compete in the No. 30 for Rette Jones Racing and NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor will be in action aboard the No. 02 for Young’s Motorsports.

Also entered are road-racing veteran Dale Quarterley, Andy Jankowiak, Bob Schacht and Christian Rose, among others.

The full entry list for Friday’s General Tire 100 at the Glen is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA races at Watkins Glen
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Watkins Glen

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the General Tire 100 at the Glen is limited to 30 starters plus provisionals. This event will run under the 2023 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting lineup determined by each car’s fastest lap per the Timed Session qualifying procedure. All cars must make a qualifying attempt and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: Break pit stop procedure. Break at or near the conclusion of lap 21. All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to last 10 laps of 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, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from-home tires) is 12 plus wets. Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is eight (8), plus wets. In the event of wet conditions, General Tire SC wet radial tires may be used on all four corners.