PIT BOX: Another full field of ARCA Menards Series, West Series stars ready to take on Phoenix Raceway

The battle to become the 71st champion in the history of the ARCA Menards Series West gets underway Friday as the stars of the West Series join the ARCA Menards Series regulars for the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1).

The event marks the 52nd time the West Series has competed at Phoenix; it doubles as the ARCA Menards (national) Series’ fifth visit to the one-mile tri-oval in Avondale, Arizona.

The West Series made its debut at Phoenix in 1977, when NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough earned a trip to Victory Lane. Many familiar names have since earned West Series victories at the track, including Richard Petty, Neil Bonnett, Bobby Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Davey Allison, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, Cole Custer and Ryan Blaney, among others.

In ARCA Menards Series competition at Phoenix, Chandler Smith, Ty Gibbs, Taylor Gray and Tyler Reif have secured victories. Reif is the most recent ARCA Menards Series victor at Phoenix after winning the combination race last spring.

Tickets for the General Tire 150 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know for Friday’s ARCA race at Phoenix.

General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

One year ago, Tyler Reif scored one of the biggest upsets in ARCA Menards Series history when he drove to victory in the General Tire 150 at Phoenix.

Reif, a West Series regular, bested a strong field of drivers to earn his maiden victory driving for Chris Lowden. Fast-forward to 2024, and Reif is back, this time driving for Todd Souza and Central Coast Racing.

The pairing, which united for the first time midway through the 2023 season, will look to replicate what Reif accomplished last year. To do that, he’ll have to outlast another full field of strong competitors from across the United States.

Leading the charge will likely be William Sawalich, the reigning ARCA Menards Series East champion and the most recent West Series winner at Phoenix last November. Sawalich dominated the spring race at Phoenix last year before he was involved in a late accident. The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will look to open his ARCA season in winning form Friday.

Greg Van Alst, who finished third at Daytona International Speedway last month, leads the charge for the ARCA Menards Series regulars at Phoenix. Rev Racing will once again field entries for Andres Perez and Lavar Scott, and Venturini Motorsports will have entries for full-season competitors Toni Breidinger, Amber Balcaen and Kris Wright.

Gio Ruggiero, the champion of the ASA Southern Super Series and ASA/CRA Super Series super late model tours, will make his ARCA Menards Series national debut in the No. 20 for Venturini Motorsports. Marco Andretti will again be in action aboard the No. 17 for team owner Bruce Cook, and Connor Mosack will drive the No. 28 Chevrolet fielded by the Pinnacle Racing Group.

Grant Enfinger, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series champion, returns to the ARCA platform in the No. 23 Chevrolet owned by Joe Farre. Sean Hingorani, the defending West Series champion, will also be in action aboard the No. 61 Toyota owned by championship-winning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owner Shigeaki Hattori.

Four drivers will be making their ARCA platform debuts Friday evening. They include Isabella Robusto, who will pilot the No. 55 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. She’s joined by West Series regular Danica Dart, Joe Farre and Garrett Zacharias.

Other familiar names on the entry list include Christian Rose, Andy Jankowiak, Jack Wood, Trevor Huddleston, Eric Johnson Jr., Robbie Kennealy and Takuma Koga.

The complete entry list for the General Tire 150 can be found here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA platform races at Phoenix
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at Phoenix
• ARCA Menards Series West drivers at Phoenix

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the General Tire 150 is limited to 32 starters plus provisionals for a maximum starting field of 40. This event will run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting lineup set by speeds in Timed Session qualifying, plus provisionals. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after entering pit road to qualify. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

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 once race has started.

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 eight (8).