Connor Zilisch, driver of the #28 Chevrolet Performance-Silver Hare Development Chevrolet during the Henry Ford Health 200 for the ARCA Menards Series East at Michigan International Speedway on August 16, 2024 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Zack Silver/ARCA Racing)
(Photo: Zack Silver/ARCA Racing)

PIT BOX: Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich take the East Series championship fight to Milwaukee

After two races in three days one weekend ago, the ARCA Menards Series will join the ARCA Menards Series East for the running of the Sprecher 150 on Sunday afternoon at the Milwaukee Mile (1 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on FS1 and FloRacing).

The race serves as the penultimate round of the East Series season while also doubling as the 15th of 20 races for the ARCA Menards Series. It will be the 14th ARCA Menards Series race held at the Milwaukee Mile and the fourth event at the track for the East Series.

ARCA first traveled to the Milwaukee Mile in 1958, when Fred Lorenzen secured his first ARCA victory. The track hosted five ARCA events from 1958-60 but didn’t return until 1982, when Dean Roper found Victory Lane. The track has been a regular fixture on the schedule since 2021, when Ty Gibbs celebrated a win a the historic venue.

Tickets for Sunday’s Sprecher 150 at the Milwaukee Mile are available here. Below is everything you need to know about Sunday’s race.

William Sawalich
William Sawalich, driver of the No. 18 Starkey-Sound Gear Toyota, leads the field during the Sprecher 150 for the ARCA Menards Series at The Milwaukee Mile on August 27, 2023 in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Photo: Patrick McDermott/ARCA Racing)

Sprecher 150 at the Milwaukee Mile

Sprecher 150 Logo ColorIt’s been more than two months since someone not named William Sawalich or Connor Zilisch has won an ARCA Menards Series race.

With both drivers in the field for Sunday’s Sprecher 150 at the Milwaukee Mile, odds are that fact won’t be changing this weekend. The two drivers, who also happen to be leading the ARCA Menards Series East standings, should be considered the men to beat at the 1.015-mile oval.

Sawalich enters Sunday’s race as the defending event winner after leading 141 of 150 laps one season ago. However, Sawalich finds himself 22 points behind Zilisch in the battle for the East Series championship. In six head-to-head matchups this season spread across ARCA and the East Series, Zilisch has beaten Sawalich four times. In each of those four instances, Zilisch won the race.

Several drivers will be looking to end the dominant run of Sawalich and Zilisch, including ARCA Menards Series championship leader Andres Perez and his Rev Racing teammate Lavar Scott. Perez is coming off a disappointing day at the Springfield Mile, where an early mechanical issue dropped him from contention.

Marco Andretti returns to ARCA competition this weekend as part of a planned doubleheader weekend with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Gio Ruggiero will pilot Venturini Motorsports’ flagship No. 20 Toyota as a teammate to Kris Wright, Amber Balcaen, Toni Breidinger and Dean Thompson.

Other notable entries include Lawless Alan, Christian Rose, D.L. Wilson, Tyler Tomassi, Andrew Patterson and Zachary Tinkle, among others.

The full entry list for Sunday’s Sprecher 150 is available here.

William Sawalich and Jesse Love
William Sawalich, driver of the No. 18 Starkey-Sound Gear Toyota, and Jesse Love, driver 0f the No. 20 JBL Toyota, race during the Sprecher 150 for the ARCA Menards Series at The Milwaukee Mile on August 27, 2023 in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Photo: Patrick McDermott/ARCA Racing)

RACING REFERENCE

RACE FACTS

RACE Sprecher 150
PLACE Milwaukee Mile
LOCATION West Allis, Wisconsin
DATE Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024
TIME 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET
HOW TO WATCH FS1 / FloRacing
AUDIO MRN
TRACK LAYOUT 1.015-mile oval
LAPS 150
TICKETS Here

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Sprecher 150 is limited to 26 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations, and specifications.

QUALIFYING: By timed session. 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 75. 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 16. Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is eight (8).