PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series competitors prepare for intense action at Talladega

Since Talladega Superspeedway was first introduced to the ARCA Menards Series schedule, competitors have understood the challenges and risks the historic facility presents.

Talladega offers plenty of room for drivers to go three and four-wide while running full throttle around the 2.66-mile complex. The draft creates opportunities for small-budget operations to hold their own with elite teams, but one wrong move could potentially result in an accident that collects more than 10 cars.

Patience, strategy and luck are key elements crucial to conquering the high-speed chess match for which Talladega races are known. Many talented drivers have emerged victorious at Talladega in ARCA Menards Series competition over the past five decades, with that list including Davey Allison, Grant Adcox, Charlie Glotzbach, Tim Steele and Frank Kimmel, among others.

A stacked group of drivers, both new and experienced, seek to add their names to Talladega’s record book Saturday afternoon. With Talladega being the second and final drafting track on the ARCA Menards Series 2025 schedule, the on-track action is expected to be intense as competitors battle for every position on track.

Tickets to Saturday’s General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the third race on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series national calendar.

General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway

The last time the ARCA Menards Series visited Talladega, Jake Finch led every lap from the pole, a feat that had never happened in series history at the track.

Finch returns to Talladega this weekend with Venturini Motorsports looking to pick up where he left off; he’s part of a six-car lineup between Venturini and Nitro Motorsports that also features Patrick Staropoli, Lawless Alan, Isabella Robusto, Thad Moffitt and Amber Balcaen.

ARCA Menards Series points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen enters the General Tire 200 as the most recent drafting track winner thanks to his victory at Daytona International Speedway in February. Unlike he did at Daytona, Queen does not have a Pinnacle Racing Group teammate with him this weekend, which will require him to find assistance if he wants to sweep the drafting tracks in 2025.

One of the primary obstacles standing in the way of Queen, Finch and the rest of the field is the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota piloted by William Sawalich. Gibbs’ ARCA Menards Series operation is fresh off a dominant East Series triumph with Brent Crews at Rockingham Speedway and will look to guide Sawalich to his first drafting track win Saturday.

Social media star Garrett Mitchell, better known by his stage name Cleetus McFarland, is back with Rette Jones Racing for his second ARCA Menards Series start. McFarland is striving for a much better outing at Talladega after he was involved in two separate accidents at Daytona, which relegated him to 30^th in the results.

Other notable names heading to Talladega this weekend include Lavar Scott, Spencer Gallagher, Andy Jankowiak, Kole Raz, Jason Kitzmiller and Brayton Laster.

The complete entry list for the General Tire 200 will be available later this week.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 38 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: No qualifying. Positions 1-38 set by 2024 ARCA Menards Series car owner points plus up to two (2) additional starters by speed in group practice (positions 39-40).

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pit stop procedure. There will be a scheduled caution at or near Lap 38.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires for this event is 12 (purchased at track or from home). No adding or removing tires from pit box once race has started.