NOTEBOOK: Jaron Giannini preparing for hectic West Series debut weekend at Irwindale

www.arcaracing.com July 3, 2024

Series debuts typically see rookie drivers prepare for one event on a given weekend.

Jaron Giannini is getting ready for two in three days.

The 2024 points leader at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will strap into an ARCA Menards Series West car for the first time on Independence Day at Irwindale Speedway before competing at the same track two days later. Giannini is making the trip to Irwindale one day after taking part in a Pro Late Model event at the LVMS Bullring.

Such a hectic schedule would be strenuous for any driver, but Giannini is keeping himself composed as he looks forward to putting together a strong weekend in the No. 23 Chevrolet for Sigma Performance Services.

“I’m feeling good,” Giannini said. “It should be fun, and I think I’ll do good with all the heat after 150 laps [on both nights]. This opportunity came about at Irwindale with Sigma Performance Services, and I’ve really been looking forward to it. I’ve spent a lot of time on the car making sure everything is perfect for this first time out.”

Jaron Giannini
Jaron Giannini enters his West Series debut as the points leader at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo: Two Four Speed)

Auto racing has long been a part of Giannini’s family with both his father and grandfather having turned plenty of competitive laps. He has spent the past couple of years developing race craft alongside his brother Brandon, who competes in Legends cars.

When he’s not racing, Giannini is busy working at the Sigma Performance shop. He has been trying to absorb as much information as possible in the days leading up to the doubleheader at Irwindale, where Giannini has raced at several times in a Modified and a Pro Late Model.

Giannini does not anticipate a prolonged learning curve with the West Series car, but he also understands how unorthodox Irwindale is compared to other facilities.

With four-wide racing being common at Irwindale, Giannini said it will be paramount to have a car strong enough to make passes on the bottom line to gain track position.

Having seen Sigma Performance go to Victory Lane at Sonoma Raceway with Sam Mayer behind the wheel, Giannini knows he can at least contend for top fives on both nights at Irwindale.

Despite this, Giannini intends to learn and keep his car in one piece so he can make a strong impression ahead of potential West Series starts in the future.

“If we do really good, we might think about doing some more,” Giannini said. “As of now, all we have now is Irwindale planned, but it’d be awesome to keep doing some more on the West. Hopefully we can get our car good [this weekend] to pass everyone on the bottom. You can make it work, but you’re going to have to bully your way through.

“When you get thrown to the wolves, you can’t be scared.”

Giannini’s first West Series appearance at Irwindale Speedway commences at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Thursday, with the second event occurring Saturday evening at the same time. Both races will be streamed live on FloRacing.

Mikey Killen
This weekend’s ARCA Menards Series West doubleheader at Irwindale Speedway will see Mikey Killen pay tribute to Sunrise Ford Racing in his series debut.

Mikey Killen throwing it back to Sunrise Ford Racing in West Series debut

One of the most iconic paint schemes in West Series history is returning to the track this weekend for the doubleheader at Irwindale.

In his West Series debut, Mikey Killen will honor long-time team owner Bob Bruncati by piloting the No. 9 Jan’s Towing Ford for Jan Qualkenbush, which will resemble the blue and orange cars that were synonymous with Bruncati’s Sunrise Ford Racing team during its existence.

Opened in 2000, Sunrise Ford Racing gradually became one of the most successful operations in West Series history. They won four championships in the series with Jason Bowles, Derek Thorn and Jake Drew, the latter of whom claimed a title in Sunrise Ford Racing’s final year of operation in 2022.

Killen will look to recapture some of the magic Sunrise Ford Racing possessed at Irwindale. The organization took home six Irwindale victories during their time in the West Series, which included a stretch in which Bowles took home three consecutive wins between 2008-09.

Having competed in Bruncati’s Jr. Spec Late Model Series, Killen hopes to deliver a proper tribute to one of West Coast stock car racing’s most influential figures with strong performances Thursday and Saturday.

Trevor Huddleston
Trevor Huddleston will look to add two more Irwindale Speedway victories to his resume this weekend. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/ARCA Racing)

Trevor Huddleston looks to claim two wins on home turf

The Independence Day doubleheader at Irwindale Speedway is a prolonged home game for West Series veteran Trevor Huddleston.

With the facility being operated by his father and past track champion Tim Huddleston, the younger Huddleston has plenty to be excited about as he looks to build some crucial momentum following an inconsistent start to 2024.

Aside from the family connections, Irwindale has always been a special facility for Huddleston. He earned his maiden West Series victory at the track in 2019 following a close finish with Tanner Gray, which he has since followed up with another Irwindale triumph that occurred last season.

Going into the weekend as the most recent West Series Irwindale winner provides confidence for Huddleston as he continues to seek his first win of the year. He nearly prevailed at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in April but lost out in a photo finish with Kole Raz.

With his family-owned operation displaying plenty of speed on short tracks, Huddleston will be a heavy favorite in both races as he looks to excel in front of his hometown crowd.

NOTES:

  • Defending West Series champion Sean Hingorani finds himself on his fourth different team of 2024 heading into Irwindale Speedway. This time, he’s back with Venturini Motorsports, which is fresh off a third with Hingorani in the ARCA Menards Series at Berlin Raceway.
  • Isabella Robusto will be part of the three-car Venturini Motorsports armada heading to Irwindale for two days of competition. Robusto has been solid in her three West Series starts to date; she has yet to record a finish outside of the top 10.
  • In his West Series debut at Irwindale in 2023, Robbie Kennealy put together an impressive showing by climbing to fifth after starting in the 13th. Kennealy has yet to record another top five in West Series competition but will look to replicate the consistency from his maiden start this weekend.
  • The only driver who is solely participating in Saturday’s West Series race at Irwindale is Danica Dart, driving a third Kennealy Keller Motorsports car. Dart’s lone West Series start was one to forget, as a Lap 1 crash at Phoenix Raceway in March brought her day to a premature end.