PIT BOX: West Series competitors head to Sonoma for first road-course race of 2025

For many decades, Sonoma Raceway has been a significant race for ARCA Menards Series West competitors every time the venue appears on the calendar.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, West Series drivers competed in a combination event with the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma once a year. Although the West Series now only has as a support event for the Cup Series weekend, the opportunity still exists for regulars to prove themselves against the upcoming generation of stars.

Seven of the last 10 West Series events at Sonoma have been won by a driver who has competed full-time in either the Cup Series or NASCAR Xfinity Series. The list of Sonoma West Series winners comprises names like Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe and Sam Mayer, who emerged victorious in last year’s race.

As has become tradition with the West Series event at Sonoma, Friday is set to be a battle between the championship contenders and drivers seeking to gain experience. With the top five in the standings only separated by 18 points, a strong run at Sonoma is crucial toward sustaining momentum in the West Series title hunt.

Tickets to the General Tire 200 at Sonoma Raceway can be purchased here. Below is everything to know ahead of the sixth race of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West season.

General Tire 200 at Sonoma Raceway

One year removed from their breakthrough ARCA Menards Series West victory with Sam Mayer, Sigma Performance Services seeks to make another trip to Victory Lane at Sonoma Raceway on Friday, this time with Tyler Reif behind the wheel.

Reif competed with SPS in a West Series race earlier this year at Phoenix Raceway, where he ran inside the top five for most of the evening before getting involved in a late-race restart crash. A three-time West Series winner, Reif followed SPS and Mayer to a second-place showing at Sonoma in 2024, which he looks to improve upon Friday evening.

Among the drivers Reif and SPS will have to fend off for a checkered flag will be William Sawalich, who is back in the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Sawalich possesses a West Series road-course victory on his resume at Portland International Raceway in 2024 and enters Sonoma with two top fives in his two appearances at the track.

Sawalich’s fellow NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor Christian Eckes will join him on the starting grid for Friday’s General Tire 150 behind the wheel of the No. 19 for Bill McAnally Racing. Eckes won eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with McAnally and will look to deliver another win for the storied program in his West Series debut.

One previous Sonoma winner is entered for Friday’s General Tire 200: Will Rodgers in the No. 88 for Mike Naake. Rodgers has not competed in a West Series event since the 2020 season but brings a plethora of road-course experience to Naake’s operation, which includes three ARCA Menards Series East wins between New Jersey Motorsports Park and Watkins Glen International.

Other drivers set to compete at Sonoma on Friday evening include Corey Day, Kaylee Bryson, Jack Wood, Alon Day, Dale Quarterley, Spencer Gallagher and Nick Joanides.

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

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous ARCA Menards Series West races at Sonoma
• ARCA Menards Series West drivers at Sonoma

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 32 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West rules, procedures, regulations, and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in Timed Session Qualifying.

RACE PIT STOP: Modified live pitting procedure, with the following two exceptions: Fuel may not be added prior to the completion of lap 20; Tire changes for emergency use only, any change must be approved by ARCA. There will be a Scheduled Caution at or near lap 32.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from-home tires) is 8. Any tire change must be approved by ARCA officials.