PIT BOX: Irwindale doubleheader on deck for West Series across Independence Day weekend

The fireworks will be on display both on and off the race track this week as the ARCA Menards Series West season resumes with two races in three days at California’s Irwindale Speedway.

The busy week opens Thursday, July 4 with the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame (7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET on FloRacing). After a day off Friday, the West Series returns to action Saturday for the running of the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts (7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

Irwindale has played host to the West Series 34 times dating back to 1999, when Steve Portenga won the first West Series race of his career. Familiar names like Austin Cameron, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Bowles, Greg Pursley, Todd Gilliland, Trevor Huddleston, Jesse Love, Tanner Reif, Jake Drew and Sean Hingorani are among those who have visited Victory Lane.

Tickets for Thursday’s West Series event are available here, and tickets to Saturday’s event are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the fifth and sixth races of the 2024 West Series season.

NAPA Auto Parts 150 & West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150

After bouncing around three different teams in the first four West Series races, Sean Hingorani has reunited with Venturini Motorsports as he continues pursuit of his second straight West Series championship.

Hingorani drove for Venturini Motorsports last season in the West Series, winning four times on his way to his first title. He departed the team at the end of 2023 and this season has driven race cars owned by Joe Farre, Shigeaki Hattori and Jerry Pitts.

Despite driving for three different team owners so far this year, Hingorani ranks second in the West Series standings behind Tyler Reif. He also won at Irwindale last year with Venturini, which could be a good omen as he continues his pursuit of the 2024 West Series crown.

Venturini Motorsports will bring three cars to both Irwindale events this week, with Jake Finch and Isabella Robusto joining Hingorani. The aforementioned Reif will lead the charge for Central Coast Racing alongside team owner and teammate Todd Souza.

Jaron Giannini, the points leader at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the headlining Pro Late Model class, will make his West Series debut aboard Farre’s No. 23 Chevrolet that won the most recent series event at Sonoma Raceway with Sam Mayer at the wheel.

Michael Killen, a familiar face in Irwindale’s Spec Late Model class, will also make his West Series debut. He’ll drive the No. 9 Ford owned by Jan Qualkenbush, who will also field the No. 71 for regular driver Nick Joanides.

Bill McAnally Racing will field its normal entries for Jack Wood and Eric Johnson Jr. Kennealy Keller Motorsports will field two entries Thursday for Robbie Kennealy and Kyle Keller, with Danica Dart joining the team in a third car for Saturday’s event. Kole Raz, a winner at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway earlier this year, will be back in Jerry Pitts’ No. 5.

One team will field the same car for two different drivers on Thursday and Saturday. Rick Goodale, a retired police officer from Maryland, will drive the No. 31 Rise Motorsports Chevrolet in Thursday’s event. Team owner Tim Goulet will take over driving duties for Saturday’s race.

Full entry lists for both races can be found here: Thursday | Saturday.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting fields for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 and the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 are limited to 22 starters plus provisionals. The events will be run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West 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: Pitting is restricted to repairs, adding fuel, adjustments, and emergency tire changes only. Pitting is not required. Any tire changes must be approved by ARCA.

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 four (4), for emergency use only.