PIT BOX: Michigan opens a doubleheader weekend for the ARCA Menards Series

A busy weekend for the ARCA Menards Series begins Friday evening with the Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway.

The two-mile complex made its first appearance on the ARCA calendar during the 1980 season before becoming a schedule staple during the 1990s. Plenty of talented drivers have conquered Michigan’s intimidating scope over the years, with the list including Jeff Purvis, Frank Kimmel, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs and defending champion Jesse Love.

Although restrictor plates are not used at Michigan, the draft has become a crucial fixture of ARCA Menards Series events at the facility in recent years. A trip to Michigan’s Victory Lane will require competitors to utilize patience on restarts and time out their runs so they can maintain pace with the lead pack.

The racing at Michigan will be a stark contrast to the second half of the weekend doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ one-mile dirt oval, but maximizing points and momentum through both races starts with a strong opening performance on one of the largest tracks across the ARCA Menards Series platform.

Tickets to the Henry Ford Health 200 are available here. Below is everything to know about Friday evening’s race.

Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway

Last year’s trip to Michigan International Speedway was the closest current ARCA Menards Series points leader Andres Perez came to obtaining his first victory.

Perez led a race-high 43 laps that evening and was positioning himself to make a run for the win when his engine expired inside the last 10 laps, relegating him to 17^th. Now with more experience and confidence on his side, Perez seeks redemption from 2023 so he can finally add an ARCA triumph to his resume.

Perez will have to deal with plenty of talented competitors to keep himself in contention on Friday evening. Among them is Connor Zilisch, a three-time ARCA Menards Series winner in 2024 who is now eligible to compete on intermediate tracks with Pinnacle Racing Group after turning 18 on July 22.

Joe Gibbs Racing, which visited Victory Lane at Elko Speedway two weeks ago with William Sawalich in a thrilling finish, will have NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Tanner Gray in its No. 18 on Friday. Gray picked up his maiden ARCA Menards Series win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and looks to deliver a third straight checkered flag for Gibbs’ operation.

Re-joining the ARCA Menards Series grid at Michigan will be Frankie Muniz in the No. 33 VYPER Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing. Michigan was the site of Muniz’s lone top five in 2023, a performance he seeks to improve upon in a Reaume car that has shown speed with Lawless Alan in three appearances.

Other notable names set to compete on Friday evening include Gus Dean, Jake Finch, Andy Jankowiak, Tim Richmond and Greg Van Alst, among others.

The complete entry list for the Henry Ford Health 200 will be released later this week.

RACING REFERENCE

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

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Henry Ford Health 200 is limited to 30 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations, and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap per the Timed Session qualifying procedure, plus provisionals. 

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pit stop procedure. There will be a scheduled cation at or near laps 35 or 70. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is 8.