PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series drivers trade high banks for tight corners at Berlin Raceway

After three consecutive races on intermediate tracks, the ARCA Menards Series returns to a short track this weekend at Berlin Raceway for the running of the Berlin ARCA 2oo (7 p.m. ET on FS1).

A staple of Midwest short track racing culture since the 1950s, many of the ARCA Menards Series best drivers have showcased their talent around Berlin’s 7/16-mile layout. The list of winners at Berlin includes Iggy Katona, Ramo Stott, Bob Keselowski, Frank Kimmel, Tim Steele and Grant Enfinger, among others.

Many aspects about Berlin separate it from other short tracks that are on the ARCA Menards Series calendar. Along with having no backstretch wall, Berlin’s straightaways are curved, which requires competitors to constantly work the steering wheel as they figure out how to gain track position around the historic oval.

Berlin kicks off a crucial stretch that will see the ARCA Menards Series tackle tracks a mile or less in five of the next six events. With the racing expected to be close and frenetic, championship contenders will need to keep their cars intact if they wish to start the short track stint on a positive note.

Tickets to the Berlin ARCA 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the seventh race for the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season.

Berlin ARCA 200 at Berlin Raceway

Already with three victories to his name in 2025, Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen returns to his short track roots with plenty of momentum on his side.

Queen’s efficiency at his home track, Virginia’s Langley Speedway, was crucial towards kickstarting his current career path, as he won three consecutive titles there from 2020 to ’22. A victory in Queen’s inaugural visit to Berlin Raceway would be his first on a short track this year, with all his prior triumphs coming at facilities 1.5-miles or more in length.

Standing in the way of another checkered flag for Queen will be the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, piloted this week by ARCA Menards Series East regular Max Reaves. All three of Reaves’ East Series starts so far ended with a trip to Victory Lane, but his ARCA Menards Series debut features one of the toughest fields he has competed against on the platform so far.

Expectations are high for Reaves as he takes the wheel of a car that led 195 laps in last year’s Berlin ARCA 200 with William Sawalich behind the wheel. Despite the No. 18’s dominance in the East Series, Gibbs only has one victory in the ARCA Menards Series this year, which came at Phoenix Raceway with Brent Crews at the wheel.

Rev Racing led the other five laps in last year’s ARCA Menards Series race at Berlin with eventual champion Andres Perez. Lavar Scott, who represents Rev’s lone entry this weekend, is looking to finally claim his maiden ARCA victory and close the gap on Queen’s small advantage in the point standings.

Other names set to compete at Berlin on Saturday include series regular Jason Kitzmiller, Thad Moffitt and Isabella Robusto as well as Mason Mitchell, Treyten Lapcevich, Willie Mullins, Mandy Chick and Becca Monopoli.

The complete entry list for the Berlin ARCA 200 will be released later this week.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 26 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. No adjustments or repairs may be made on the car after taking the green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: Break pit stop procedure. Breaks at or near the conclusion of laps 75 and 125. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum number of tires allowed for use = 14 (purchased at track plus from-home tires).