PIT BOX: A homecoming awaits young West Series stars at Madera Speedway

Only two races remain in the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West season, and one of those events takes place Saturday, Oct. 21, when the series returns to California’s Madera Speedway for the first time since 2009.

The 51FIFTY Jr Homecoming ARCA 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame will be just the eighth series event at the 0.333-mile venue dating back to 1973. Jack McCoy, the winningest driver in West Series history, won the inaugural race at the track on May 5, 1973.

Bill Sedgwick won the next race at Madera for the West Series, which took place in 1989. Three races were held at Madera in 1995 and 1996, with Doug George, Butch Gilliland and Lance Hooper collecting checkered flags. Mike Duncan won the next event for the series in 2003, with Eric Holmes winning the most recent West Series stop at the track in 2009.

Tickets for the 51FIFTY Jr Homecoming ARCA 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know about Saturday’s race.

51FIFTY Jr. Homecoming ARCA 150 at Madera Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

In recent years, Madera Speedway’s Jr. Late Model division has helped prepare a number of talented racers for a future on the ARCA platform.

That’s why Saturday’s race is appropriately named the 51FIFTY Jr. Homecoming ARCA 150 since many of the drivers competing in the event are previous graduates of the Madera Jr. Late Model program.

Headlining that list is West Series championship leader Sean Hingorani, who is a two-time winner in the Jr. Late Model division at Madera. With only two races left in the season, Hingorani is within striking distance of clinching the series championship.

Tyler and Tanner Reif, both West Series regulars this year, are also winners in the Jr. Late Model class at Madera. Both are again entered this Saturday, with Tyler Reif piloting the No. 13 Ford for Todd Souza and Tanner Reif back in the No. 16 Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing.

RELATED: Watch the 51FIFTY Jr Homecoming ARCA 150 on FloRacing

In addition, three Madera Speedway Jr. Late Model division champions are among those entered in Saturday’s race as of Tuesday morning. They include 2019 champion Joey Iest, 2020 champion Bradley Erickson and 2021 champion Brody Armtrout, who is making his series debut in the No. 77 Toyota owned by Joe Nava.

The battle for the ARCA Menards Series West ownership championship remains tight, as the No. 17 fielded by Cook Racing Technologies holds a nine-point advantage on Venturini Motorsports’ No. 15 driven by Hingorani. Kaden Honeycutt will again drive the No. 17 in the hopes of adding more points to the team’s slim advantage.

The complete entry list for the 51FIFTY Jr. Homecoming ARCA 150 can be found here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series West races at Madera
• ARCA Menards Series West drivers at Madera

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the 51FIFTY Jr Homecoming ARCA 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame 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: Two consecutive qualifying laps. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after taking the green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify

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 8. Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is two (2) for emergency use only – any tire change must be approved by ARCA officials.