PIT BOX: West Series kicks off 73rd season at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway with stacked field

The 73rd season of competition for the ARCA Menards Series West launches this Saturday night with the Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

Saturday marks the 18th race for the West Series at the track located in Bakersfield, California. It is also the fourth time the series has kicked off a season at the half-mile asphalt oval.

Trevor Huddleston swept the events at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway last year on his way to his first West Series championship. He’s one of 10 drivers to earn West Series victories at the track, among them being four-time winner Derek Kraus, Sean Hingorani, Todd Gilliland, Greg Pursley, Kole Raz, Landen Lewis, Taylor Gray, Dalton Sargeant and Dylan Lupton.

Tickets for the Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the opening race of the 2026 ARCA Menards Series West season.

Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway

One season ago, Trevor Huddleston kicked off his ARCA Menards Series West championship campaign with a thrilling victory in the opening race of the year at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

At the wheel of his family-owned No. 50 Ford, Huddleston led 144 of 150 laps, but had to hold off a late charge from Kyle Keller to score the first of four wins during the 2025 campaign. On Saturday night, Huddleston looks to launch his title defense in similar fashion during the Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Huddleston will face ample challengers during the opening race of the season such as the returning Hailie Deegan. Taking the wheel of Bill McAnally Racing’s potent No. 16 Chevrolet, Deegan will make her first West Series appearance since 2019 as she chases her first championship.

Speaking of returns, two-time West Series champion Sean Hingorani is also back in the driver’s seat after a year away. He will pilot Todd and Kelly Souza’s No. 13 Toyota with the goal of earning his third victory at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Robbie Kennealy, the reigning ARCA Menards Series West Rookie of the Year, is back with Jan Qualkenbush’s program to pursue his first championship.

Several competitors are also be making their West Series debuts on Saturday night. They include Taylor Mayhew, son of West Series race winner David Mayhew, former Rev Racing driver Jaiden Reyna, NASCAR Mexico Series competitor Alonso Salinas, Toby Blanton, Mia Lovell, Mason Massey and Cole Denton.

Other notable entrants include Eric Johnson Jr., Julian DaCosta, Jade Avedisian, Joey Iest and Andrew Chapman.

The full entry list for Saturday’s Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

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

RACE FACTS:

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: Field limited to 22 starters, plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2026 ARCA Menards Series West rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap per the Timed Session qualifying procedure. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after passing pre-qualifying inspection. All cars must make a qualifying attempt; all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: Break pitting procedure. Break at/or near the conclusion of Lap 75. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from home tires) is 8 for the entire race day event. Any tire change, during the race, including the break, for emergency use only, must be approved by ARCA.