PIT BOX: Annual visit to Indianapolis Raceway Park on the docket for ARCA and East Series teams

After a multi-week break for ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East teams, both divisions will be back in action this Friday evening for the Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (5:30 p.m. ET on FS1).

In 1971, the ARCA Menards Series made its inaugural stop at IRP, which saw Ramo Stott secure the 21st victory of his ARCA career. The series would race sporadically at IRP in the 1970s and 1980s, with drivers like Ralph Latham, Bruce Gould, Bob Schacht and NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison visiting Victory Lane at the track.

Following an absence that spanned for over 20 years, ARCA returned to IRP in 2011 and has remained a consistent part of the track’s schedule ever since. Drivers who have won at IRP during that timespan include Ty Dillon, Travis Braden, Frank Kimmel, Brandon Jones, Chase Briscoe, Christian Eckes, Chandler Smith and 2023 winner Jesse Love.

Tickets to Friday’s Circle City 200 are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the third ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series combo event of the 2024 season.

Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

The battle for the ARCA Menards Series East championship remains tight as the series rejoins the ARCA Menards Series for Friday’s Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Connor Zilisch, who has three East Series wins this year during his debut season, holds a 17-point advantage on defending series champion William Sawalich with three races remaining on the East Series schedule.

Sawalich, in theory, holds the advantage on Zilisch this weekend at IRP largely due to experience. Sawalich competed last year at IRP, starting second and finishing fourth. Friday’s Circle City 200 will be Zilisch’s first start at the challenging .686-mile oval.

Both will be looking to claim the checkered flag on Friday evening at IRP, but they’ll be challenged by several strong competitors all seeking a victory of their own.

They include a five-car Venturini Motorsports stable that consists of Five Flags Speedway East Series winner Gio Ruggiero, Dean Thompson, Kris Wright, Amber Balcaen and Toni Breidinger. Andres Perez, the ARCA Menards Series championship leader, will be in the field alongside his Rev Racing teammate Lavar Scott.

Marco Andretti returns in Bruce Cook’s No. 17 Chevrolet along with Lawless Alan, who will again pilot the No. 33 Ford for Josh Reaume. Greg Van Alst is fielding two cars, one for himself and a second for rookie Isaac Johnson.

MAN Motorsports has two cars entered on Friday for Andrew Patterson and the debuting Jackson McLerran. City Garage Motorsports, a new ARCA team owned by Stuart Weiss, will debut at IRP with driver Becca Monopoli at the wheel. CW Motorsports will also bring two cars to IRP, with D.L. Wilson joined by the debuting Tyler Tomassi.

Other notable entries include Christian Rose, Zachary Tinkle, Presley Sorah, Brayton Laster, Michael Maples and Jayson Alexander, among others.

The full entry list for Friday’s event is available here.

RACING REFERENCE

• Previous ARCA Menards Series races at IRP
• ARCA Menards Series drivers at IRP

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Circle City 200 is limited to 26 starters plus provisionals. The events will be 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 pit stop procedure. Break at or near lap 100. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire use at track (total, “from home” plus purchased at track) for the event is 12. Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is eight.