PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series East season roars to life Saturday at Five Flags Speedway

Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida welcomes back the stars and cars of the ARCA Menards Series East this Saturday for the running of the Pensacola 150 (8:35 p.m. ET/7:35 p.m. CT on FloRacing), the opening race of the 2024 season.

Saturday’s race marks the start of the 38th season of East Series competition; it doubles as the seventh race in East Series history at the half-mile asphalt oval.

The East Series made its debut at Five Flags in 2013, when current NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy collected his first of two East Series victories. Two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes, two-time East Series champion Sam Mayer, two-time East Series champion Sammy Smith and defending East Series champion William Sawalich are also winners at Five Flags Speedway.

Tickets for the Pensacola 150 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know for Saturday’s race at Five Flags Speedway.

Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

William Sawalich, fresh off his first ARCA platform victory of the 2024 campaign two weeks ago at Phoenix Raceway, will begin pursuit of his second straight ARCA Menards Series East championship Saturday at Five Flags.

Sawalich returns to Five Flags as the defending race winner. One year ago, he dominated on his way to his first ARCA platform victory. This year, Sawalich already has a win under his belt and will look to earn his second triumph in the opening race of the season for the East Series.

A number of top drivers will be looking to deny Sawalich a return trip to Victory Lane at Five Flags, including veteran Super Late Model competitor Bubba Pollard. The Georgia native will be making his East Series debut in James Finch’s No. 1 Chevrolet as part of a busy weekend that will see him compete in three events in two days at Five Flags.

Gio Ruggiero, who gave Sawalich a run for his money two weeks ago at Phoenix before ultimately finishing second, will begin his East Series campaign aboard the No. 20 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. Another threat to Sawalich comes in the form of Connor Zilisch, who will make his East Series debut aboard the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet.

Hunter Wright, the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Pro Late Model champion at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway in February, will make his ARCA platform debut aboard the No. 95 Toyota owned by Mark Noble.

Other notable entries include Jake Finch, Presley Sorah, Zachary Tinkle, Colton Collins and Tyler Scofield, among others.

The complete entry list for the Pensacola 150 will be available later this week.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series East races at Five Flags
• ARCA Menards Series East drivers at Five Flags

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Pensacola 150 is limited to 22 starters plus provisionals. This event will run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive laps qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on the car after taking green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, 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. All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to last 10 laps of race.

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).