PIT BOX: West Series field hoping to take the bull by the horns in Las Vegas

For the 12th time in ARCA Menards Series West history, the series will visit The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Friday night for the running of the Star Nursery 150 (7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

The series made its inaugural trip to the track in 1994, when it was called Las Vegas Speedway Park. Four-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. was the winner of the inaugural series event at the track, with Ernie Cope claiming the 1995 visit.

A brief hiatus followed, but the West Series returned in 2001 for a three-year run at The Bullring that saw Mark Reed, Austin Cameron and Jim Inglebright earn trips to Victory Lane. Greg Pursley swept a pair of races at the track in 2011 and 2012, and the series didn’t return again until 2020, when Sam Mayer raced to victory. Gracie Trotter (2020) and Taylor Gray (2021 and 2022) have won subsequent visits by the West Series to The Bullring.

Tickets for the Star Nursery 150 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know about Friday’s race.

Star Nursery 150 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

With only three races remaining in the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West season, Sean Hingorani is closing in on his first championship aboard the Venturini Motorsports No. 15 Toyota.

He’ll chase his fifth victory of the season Friday night at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but a full field of entrants will be on hand to try and prevent him from earning yet another West Series victory.

They include the series’ most recent winner, Kaden Honeycutt, who will be back in the No. 17 for Cook Racing Technologies.

Honeycutt, who took over the No. 17 from Landen Lewis at All American Speedway in Roseville, California, will try and give Cook Racing Technologies a shot at the West Series owners championship with another victory Friday.

RELATED: Watch the Star Nursery 150 live on FloRacing

Several new or returning faces are also among those entered in Friday’s event. They include Dylan Cappello, a veteran asphalt Modified racer from Arizona who currently works for Front Row Motorsports’ NASCAR Craftman Truck Series team as a race engineer. He’ll pilot the No. 88 Ford for Mike Naake.

Dustin Ash, a multi-time track champion at The Bullring, is set to make his first West Series start since 2020.

Greg Potts, a competitor in the defunct NASCAR Southwest Series, will make his West Series debut for Nascimento Motorsports.

California’s Monty Tipton will also make his West Series debut in a car owned by Robbie Kennealy, who will also be racing in his own No. 1.

Mariah Boudrieau is also slated to make her return to West Series competition for the first time since 2021.

Other notable entries include Trevor Huddleston, brothers Tanner and Tyler Reif, Bradley Erickson, R.J. Smotherman, Kyle Keller and Eric Rhead, among others.

The complete entry list for the Star Nursery 150 will be released later this week.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series West races at The Bullring
• ARCA Menards Series West drivers at The Bullring

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Star Nursery 150 is limited to 22 starters plus provisionals. This event will be 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 in timed session qualifying (Impound).

RACE PIT STOP: Pitting during any caution period in this event will be for making repairs and adjustments only, no tires can be changed unless approved by ARCA Officials. Positions will not be gained or lost among those pitting on the same lap unless penalty or going a lap down on pit road. (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 eight (8). Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is two (2) for emergency use only as approved by ARCA officials.