Sean Hingorani is ready to prove himself once again in the West Series

At the end of 2024, Sean Hingorani was on top of his own world having just earned his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series West championship despite driving for four different teams.

Little did Hingorani know at the time, he would not climb into another car for more than a year after the 2024 West Series finale at Phoenix Raceway.

The whiplash from defending his West Series title to being out of racing all together was difficult for Hingorani to accept, but he remained optimistic another ride would materialize. That opportunity came in the form of Central Coast Racing’s No. 13 Toyota, a car Hingorani will pilot in Saturday’s West Series opener at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

Hingorani’s deal with Todd and Kelly Souza’s program is, for now, just for one race. If everything goes according to plan, he believes Saturday could be crucial toward getting his long-term NASCAR ambitions back on track.

“I want to thank Todd and Kelly Souza for this amazing opportunity,” Hingorani said. “I’m super excited to make a return to the [West] Series with such a great team. I know I can win, and I know the team can win, but we want to go prove what we can do together.”

Versatility and consistency defined Hingorani’s first stint on the West Series platform. During his maiden championship campaign, Hingorani endured growing pains with Venturini Motorsports but managed to tally four victories and seven top fives, which allowed him to pull away with a 36-point advantage in the final West Series standings.

The following year saw Hingorani bounce around between Venturini, Hattori Racing Enterprises, Sigma Performance Services and Jerry Pitts Racing, yet it proved to be a significant improvement over his first season. Hingorani only finished outside the top five once, all while earning three more wins that came while driving for Venturini.

Hingorani admitted the circumstances surrounding his second West Series championship were far from ideal, but he came away from that season feeling more confident in his race craft. With two West Series titles to his name, Hingorani expected to build upon his early success either in the national ARCA Menards Series or in NASCAR’s national series for 2025.

No such deal came together for Hingorani, who spent most of the year assisting his father with equipment financing. Hingorani never thought his unintended sabbatical from racing was anything more; he knew he needed to stay both physically and mentally prepared for when that next big chance came about.

“Gathering funding and sponsorship has been hard,” Hingorani said. “I’ve still been on my simulator and working out. Nothing has changed as far as my off-track activities, but I just haven’t been in the driver’s seat much. I drove [a] Legends car a couple times last year, and that was fun.

“It feels good to be back in a big car, though.”

Hingorani found his way back to the West Series through Michael Muñoz, a crew chief at Central Coast Racing. Muñoz contacted Hingorani about the opportunity to drive the program’s No. 13 at Kern, one Hingorani was eager to accept with the funding at his disposal.

Todd Souza witnessed Hingorani’s talent firsthand while competing against him and is thrilled to have him under his program’s banner. Souza feels Hingorani embodies all the characteristics he and Kelly want from their drivers, which is why he’s confident about the two finding Victory Lane together Saturday.

“[Hingorani’s] skill set is up there with the best out here,” Souza said. “Under pressure, he doesn’t choke, and he’s a consistent driver that hits his marks. He and I have never gotten together and have always had mutual respect for each other on the track. He respects other drivers and the equipment that he’s in.”

Another reason Souza is so optimistic heading into the season-opener is Hingorani’s track record at Kern. Two of his seven West Series victories came at the half-mile facility, the latter of which in 2024 saw Hingorani lead wire-to-wire from the pole.

Hingorani considers it appropriate that Kern is the track where he will make his return to the West Series. The past success Hingorani has enjoyed at the venue, combined with the strength and experience of Central Coast Racing, is fueling his motivation to re-establish the efficiency he once possessed in the West Series.

“[Kern Raceway] is somewhat close to home, so I’ve ran a good amount of races [there] in Super Late Models and Pro Late Models,” Hingorani said. “Nothing too crazy, but the track is a place I feel comfortable at. It suits my driving style, and it’s a place that works for me. I’m excited to get back there.

“I’m going to have a lot of friends and family out there for support, and I know the fans out at Kern go crazy, so I’m excited to see them.”

Winning Saturday will not be an easy feat for Hingorani as he faces a talented West Series field. The entry list comprises plenty of familiar opponents such as reigning West Series champion Trevor Huddleston along with talented young drivers like Jade Avedisian, Robbie Kennealy, Cole Denton and Taylor Mayhew.

Souza sees the 2026 West Series field as one of the most competitive in recent history, which will make Kern a good baseline for him to determine where the program stacks up. While he would love to commit to the full season, Souza is currently focused on ensuring Hingorani has everything needed to contend for a checkered flag Saturday.

The competition is not the only aspect about Saturday that Souza is focused on, as he believes tires will influence who ends up prevailing at the end. Tire conservation races have favored Souza’s team in the past, as Tanner Reif scored Central Coast Racing’s lone victory of 2025 at Tucson Speedway by saving his equipment during the first half.

If Hingorani can exercise patience at the beginning of Saturday’s season-opener regardless of where he qualifies, Souza knows he will be amongst the frontrunners when it comes time to determine a victor.

“You’re allotted eight tires for Saturday, four for practice, four for the race,” Souza said. “There’s no [option to change tires] at the halfway point, so people will definitely have to manage their tires throughout the race. If you set a pace that’s too fast to maintain the equipment, you’ll probably fade at the end.

“We’re going to try and save our stuff until the end, and hopefully with 20 or 30 laps to go, we’ll have a shot at winning.”

Hingorani is determined to put Souza’s No. 13 Toyota in Victory Lane however he can, especially since there is no guarantee he will race again for the program this year.

The search for more funding is still ongoing for Hingorani to continue competing after this weekend. A victory at Kern is something Hingorani knows can assist him in that effort, as he believes he is more than capable of adding a third West Series championship to his list of accolades.

For now, Hingorani is cherishing the chance to race in a full-bodied stock car once again. He added everything is in place for him to emerge victorious Saturday evening, but doing so will require Hingorani to apply all the knowledge and experience that previously guided him to the top of the West Series pedestal.

“I haven’t had an opportunity to drive a race car [recently],” Hingorani said. “To be able to get this opportunity and be back means the world to me. It’s my one shot to prove I’ve got what it takes to prove I can compete at that level.

“I want to show everyone that I belong in this series.”

Hingorani has showcased his talent in the West Series plenty of times before. A checkered flag Saturday may not guarantee Hingorani a full-time ride, but it would provide a confidence boost while solidifying him as one of the best West Series competitors during the 2020s.