PIT BOX: All roads lead to Sonoma Raceway for West Series competitors

A busy two-week stretch for the ARCA Menards Series West continues Friday when Sonoma Raceway welcomes the series for the 45th time for the running of the General Tire 200 (3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

The West Series made its debut at Sonoma in 1969, when six-time champion Ray Elder and two-time champion Jack McCoy collected victories in that year’s pair of events. The series didn’t return to Sonoma until 1978, when Jim Insolo won the first of his three consecutive races at the California road course.

In the 1980s and 1990s, several West Series combination events with the NASCAR Cup Series were held at Sonoma, with drivers like Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Ernie Irvan, Davey Allison, Geoff Bodine, Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin collecting wins. Other notable West Series victors at Sonoma include Hershel McGriff, Butch Gilliland, Kevin Harvick, Brian Vickers, Joey Logano, David Gilliland, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe and, most recently, Ryan Preece.

Tickets to Friday’s General Tire 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the fourth race of the 2024 West Series season.

General Tire 200 at Sonoma Raceway

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The annual West Series race at Sonoma has a long tradition of interloping NASCAR national series drivers visiting Victory Lane.

It’s so common, in fact, that it’s uncommon for a full-time West Series competitor to win at Sonoma. Of the last 10 West Series races at the track, six of the winners were drivers also competing full time in one of the three NASCAR national divisions.

One of those was Noah Gragson, who won 2019 West Series race at Sonoma in controversial fashion when series officials determined Ryan Preece jumped the final restart. Gragson, a five-time West Series winner, will return to the series to chase another trophy at Sonoma aboard the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing.

Also chasing a trophy and some added Sonoma experience will be two other national series competitors, Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer. Jones will once again pilot the No. 42 for Cook Racing Technologies; Mayer will take the wheel of the No. 23 for Sigma Performance Services.

William Sawalich, fresh off his win one week ago at Portland International Raceway, will look to sweep the road-course races on the West Series schedule with a win Friday at Sonoma. Venturini Motorsports will be well represented with three entries in Brent Crews, Isabella Robusto and Gio Ruggiero.

Marco Andretti, a winner in IndyCar competition at Sonoma, will again be in the field in the second Cook Racing Technologies entry. Sean Hingorani will be back in Jerry Pitts Racing’s No. 5, with Caleb Shrader set to pilot the No. 6 out of the Pitts camp once again.

Other notable entries include West Series points leader Tyler Reif, Trevor Huddleston, Dale Quarterley, Jack Wood, Todd Souza and Kyle Keller, among others.

The complete entry list for the General Tire 200 is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the General Tire 200 is limited to 32 starters plus provisionals. This event will run under the 2024 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.

RACE PIT STOP: There will be a scheduled caution at or near Lap 32. Pitting during any caution period in this event will be for adding fuel (no fuel may be added prior to lap 20), 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.

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, any change must be approved by ARCA officials.