PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series West title fight picks up steam at Evergreen Speedway

The stars and cars of the ARCA Menards Series West head to one of the longest tenured tracks on the series schedule this Saturday night as Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington welcomes the series for the running of the NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 (6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

The history of the West Series at Evergreen dates back to 1964, when Dick Bown captured the inaugural checkered flag at the track. Through the years, a number of the West Series’ best drivers have earned trips to Victory Lane at Evergreen. Saturday’s race marks the 62nd visit by the series to the 5/8-mile track.

They include six-time West Series champion Ray Elder and two-time West Series champion Jack McCoy, each of whom have a record five victories at Evergreen. Six-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner Chad Little is a three-time West Series winner at Evergreen, as is Ron Eaton.

Other notable West Series winners at Evergreen include Daytona 500 winners Bill Elliott, Geoff Bodine and Derrick Cope, as well as West Series veterans like Brendan Gaughan, Butch Gilliland, David Mayhew, Bill Amick, Dick Bown and Bill Sedgwick. Current NASCAR Cup Series driver Todd Gilliland also has a victory in West Series competition at Evergreen.

Tickets for Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 can be purchased here. Below is everything to know about the event.

NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 at Evergreen Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The battle for the ARCA Menards Series West championship between Landen Lewis and Sean Hingorani is heating up with five races remaining in the 2023 season.

Lewis, the driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet for car owner Steve McGowan, enters Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 with a narrow, seven-point advantage on Hingorani, the driver of the No. 15 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports.

Both drivers will look to find an advantage during Saturday’s race at Evergreen, but they’ll be faced with a strong group of competitors looking to make statements of their own.

MORE EVERGREEN: Buy Tickets | Watch on FloRacing

Phoenix Raceway winner Tyler Reif will be back in the No. 13 Ford for Central Coast Racing as a teammate to Todd Souza. Reif announced last week he’ll finish the season with Central Coast Racing after starting the year driving for Lowden-Jackson Motorsports.

Also in action will be Irwindale winner Trevor Huddleston, who sits third in the West Series standings and isn’t out of the title fight just yet. Tanner Reif will again pilot the No. 16 Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing, and defending West Series champion Jake Drew is scheduled to return to the No. 41 Ford for Lowden-Jackson Motorsports.

Other notable entries include Bradley Erickson, Kole Raz, Kyle Keller and Eric Johnson Jr., among others.

The full entry list for Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the NAPA Auto Parts ARCA 150 is limited to 22 starters plus provisionals. This event will run under the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

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

RACE PIT STOP: Break pitting procedure. Break at or near the conclusion of lap 75. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box after race has started. 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.)

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from-home tires) is 12. Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is four (4).