By Vincent Delforge, Special to Kickin’ the Tires
This Saturday, September 28, 2024, the ARCA Menards West Series returns to action after a month and a half break. The ninth race of the season, the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150, will be run on the .333 mile bullring at Madera Speedway located in Madera, CA.
Coincidentally, this will also be the ninth race in history on this short track that offered us a splendid spectacle last year for its return to the schedule after 14 years of absence. If Kaden Honeycutt won the race by leading all the laps, the changes of positions for the other places were incessant and often very muscular.
The battle for the 2024 championship will continue between Tyler Reif (Central Coast Racing No. 13), current leader of the drivers’ standings and 2023 champion Sean Hingorani (Jerry Pitts Racing No. 5). The two drivers are separated by only seven points. Hingorani won both races at Irwindale and finished second twice behind Tyler Reif, winner of the last two races this season.
Sean Hingorani, who will race with Jerry Pitts Racing for the fifth time this season, has raced twice in the ARCA Menards East Series with Venturini Motorsports since the last West Series race at Tri-City. He finished third at Milwaukee and 15th at Bristol last weekend. Tyler Reif also didn’t stay inactive with a nice sixth position at Bristol while he was racing for the first time with Sigma Performance Services. Needless to say, the two young drivers are hot and will continue their duel with intensity at Madera. Let’s note that fighting with intensity doesn’t prevent the two kids from being very clean and fairplay on the track, which ensures great races for spectators every time.
But they will have their work cut out for them with Jack Wood, Trevor Huddleston, Kyle Keller, Takuma Koga and the other regular West Series drivers.
We will note the return of the Nascimento family with brothers Eric and Ethan. There will also be the debut of two pilots with Rip Michels and Kyle Whisner. There will be 16 drivers at the start of the race.
This 0.333 mile oval built in 1972 will host the West Series for the ninth time. The first race in 1973 was won by Jack McCoy driving a Dodge entered by Ernie Conn. Madera made brief appearances on the West Series schedule in 1989 and again between 1995 and 1996 before returning for a one shot in 2003 and 2009. The last race here was held last year in October and was won by Kaden Honeycutt.
ARCA Menards West Series stats at Madera Speedway
-71st season in history.
-Race No. 1025 since the inception of the West Series in 1954.
-2024 race No. 9 of 12.
-This will be the 688th paved oval race in history.
-Race No. 9 at Madera Speedway since 1973.
| Year | Pole | Win | ||||||||
| Driver | Owner | Crew chief | # | Make | Driver | Owner | Crew chief | # | Make | |
| 1973 | Jack McCoy | Ernie Conn | Gary Nelson | 7 | Dodge | Jack McCoy | Ernie Conn | Gary Nelson | 7 | Dodge |
| 1989 | Bill Sedgwick | Wayne Spears | Leon Ruther | 75 | Chevrolet | Bill Sedgwick | Wayne Spears | Leon Ruther | 75 | Chevrolet |
| 1995 | Doug George | Eldon George / Tamara Turner | Rodney Haygood | 37 | Ford | Doug George | Eldon George / Tamara Turner | Rodney Haygood | 37 | Ford |
| 1996 #1 | Mark Krogh | Robert Krogh | Corrie Stott | 24 | Chevrolet | Butch Gilliland | Bill Stroppe | David Gilliland | 38 | Ford |
| 1996 #2 | Scott Gaylord | Geoff Burney | Tom Puskarich | 00 | Chevrolet | Lance Hooper | Lance Hooper / Raymond Claridge | Mike Steurer | 07 | Pontiac |
| 2003 | Mike Duncan | Mike Duncan | Bill Sedgwick | 9 | Chevrolet | Mike Duncan | Mike Duncan | Bill Sedgwick | 9 | Chevrolet |
| 2009 | Jason Bowles | Bob Bruncati | Bill Sedgwick | 6 | Ford | Eric Holmes | Bill McAnally | Ty Joiner | 20 | Toyota |
| 2023 | Eric Nascimento, Jr. | Eric Nascimento, Sr. | Ty Joiner | 4 | Chevrolet | Kaden Honeycutt | Steve McGowan | Sean Samuels | 17 | Chevrolet |
-Eight races and eight different winners.
-Eight races and eight different pole-sitters.
-Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads the dance with three wins ahead of Ford (2), Dodge (1), Pontiac (1) and Toyota (1).
-Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads the dance with five poles ahead of Ford (2) and Dodge (1).
-The poleman has won the race four times.
-Track record in 82.369 mph by Eric Nascimento, Jr. achieved in 2023.
-Butch Gilliland won the race in 1996 #1 from 14th position on the starting grid, which is a record for the worst starting position.
-As far as yellow flags are concerned, the record is 8 in 1989 and 2009. The 1996 #1 race holds the record for the number of yellow flag laps with 48. Conversely, with only one yellow flag and only 3 yellow flag laps, the 1973 race holds these records.
-The most leader changes occurred in 1995 and 2009 with 7. The 1973 and 1996 #2 races saw the pole sitter lead every lap.
-The largest starting field was in 1996 #2 with 21 cars.
-The smallest starting field was in 1989 and 1996 #1 with 16 cars.
-The driver with the most races is Jack Sellers (6).
-The drivers with the most top5 is Butch Gilliland (3).
-The driver with the most top10 are Scott Gaylord, Butch Gilliland, Jack Sellers and Rich Woodland, Jr. with 3.
-The drivers with the most laps is Jack Sellers (1110).
-The driver with the most laps lead is Lance Hooper (254).
The race will be 150 laps (49.950 miles) and all track activities will be concentrated on the single day of Saturday with the single practice from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. PT. The General Tire Pole Qualifying at 4:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. PT and finally the 150-laps race at 7:10 p.m. PT.
The Race Procedure
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 is limited to 22 starters plus provisionals. This event will be run under the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.
QUALIFYING: Two consecutive laps qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on 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: Pitting during any caution period in this event will be for making repairs and adjustments only, no tires can be changed unless approved by ARCA Officials. Positions will not be gained or lost among those pitting on the same lap unless under penalty or going a lap down on pit road.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from-home tires) is eight (8). Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is two (2) for emergency use only – any tire change must be approved by ARCA official.
The Drivers
No. 1 Robbie Kennealy (Kennealy Keller Motorsports)
Yes! What good news to learn of Robbie Kennealy’s return behind the wheel, he who following engine problems at Irwindale had not been able to demonstrate his talent either at Shasta where he had done a start and park with the No. 11 or during the last race at Tri-City where he had played a team member role for his teammate Danica Dart. He finds his No. 1 and John Keller as crew chief. He will be keen to make people forget his DNF from last year at Madera where he had been caught in the massive pileup against his will.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 11 (2 DNS) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5th | 1 start, best result 16th |
No. 3 Todd Souza (Central Coast Racing)
It was here in Madera that Souza achieved his best result of the 2023 season with a nice second position. And it was precisely during the last race at Tri-City that he achieved his best result this season with a fourth position. Suffice to say that the stars are in principle well aligned and should be favorable to the driver of the No. 3. Jason Dickenson will be his crew chief. Together they will have only one goal, victory or to finish behind his teammate Reif but especially in front of Hingorani and thus take valuable points from him in the championship.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 128 | 1 | 23 | 74 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 1 start, best result 2nd |
No. 4 Eric Nascimento, Jr. (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports)
Last year Bubba had achieved his first career pole and even if he had not been able to prevent Honeycutt from passing him at the start of the race, he had remained glued to his rear bumper until transmission problems made him lose positions during the numerous restarts. He returns this year with the firm intention of winning the race. His speed is without doubt and it is very sad not to have seen him more often this year in the West Series.
Indeed, he will only take part in his third race in 2024. The first since Sonoma in June. But what a pleasure to see Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports again in the West Series. Ty Joiner will be his crew chief. Ty Joiner who with one win (2009) and one pole (2023) is the active crew chief with the best stats here in Madera.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 22 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 2nd (1x) | 1 start, best result: 6th |
No. 5 Sean Hingorani (Jerry Pitts Racing)
First, first, second and second. These are Sean Hingorani’s last four results this season. Suffice to say that he is perpetually a candidate for victory. Last year at Madera he finished in fifth position, which in itself is an excellent result, but which was frustrating for the driver. Indeed, it was one of the rare races where he was not a contender for victory due to various reasons. No doubt that this year he will aim to park his Toyota No. 5 in Victory Lane. Dustin Ash will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 25 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 3 | 1st (6x) | 1 start, best result 5th |
No. 6 Henry Barton (Jerry Pitts Racing)
His only race so far of the season in Bakersfield with Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports last April ended prematurely due to vibration problems. However, he showed great speed in practice, running in the top-10. It is with pleasure that we see him again in the West Series, this time in a third car entered by Jerry Pitts Racing. Jerry Pitts himself will be his crew chief. Barton knows Madera Speedway well, having raced there many times in the Legends Tour, for example, with very good results.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20th | n/a |
No. 7 Takuma Koga (Jerry Pitts Racing)
Qualifying very well at Tri-City, the Japanese driver would quickly sink down the rankings due to lack of pace. He will be keen to find his way back to the top 10 this Saturday. Which he was unable to do last year at Madera following an accident for which he was in no way responsible. He was caught in a pileup during a restart on the 129th lap while he was ninth in the race. Koga likes this short track and we will have to keep an eye on him. Denny Moyer will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 122 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 5th (4x) | 1 start, best result 15th |
No.9 Mikey Killen (Jan’s Racing)
His first two career races during the doubleheader at Irwindale had been rich in lessons for Killen who returns this time with higher ambitions, to obtain his first top 10. He has done several Late Model races since July and this will be useful to him to be directly in the right pace in the race. His crew chief will be his father Michael Killen, Sr.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | n/a |
No. 12 Kyle Keller (Kennealy Keller Motorsports)
After two consecutive top 5s, there is no longer any doubt. Keller is in shape, fast and he is getting closer to his first career victory. Last year in Madera, he finished seventh. If at the time this result was welcomed with joy, this year, a seventh place would be considered a failure. If for the championship, the first place now seems out of reach, Keller is more than ever a candidate for the last position on the podium. Jack Wood, Trevor Huddleston and he are in fact only separated by 11 points. Brian Kizer will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 30 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 4th (3x) | 1 start, best result 7th |
No. 13 Tyler Reif (Central Coast Racing) Start: 2nd – Fin: 1st
Will he make it three by winning the Madera race? Reif is in great shape, his control and speed have been remarkable in the last two races. His only weak point, the management of the wear of his tires in the early races of the season is now a thing of the past. With his crew chief Michael Munoz, they found the right setups and are more than ever a candidate for the title of champion. Note that last year Tyler finished third in the race before being disqualified by the officials for driving too aggressively. He had indeed sent Huddleston into a spun in the last corner of the race.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 22 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 1st (3x) | 1 start, best result 11th |
No. 16 Jack Wood (Bill McAnally Racing)
Unlike the other drivers in the top five in the championship, Wood will discover the Madera track behind the wheel of a West Series car. Will he finally win a race this year? He is getting closer and closer and when bad luck leaves him alone, he is systematically at the front with his iconic No. 16 car from BMR. Team which already won a race here in 2009 with driver Eric Holmes and is eagerly awaiting its 100th victory in the West Series. Kevin Bellicourt will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 27 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 2nd | n/a |
No. 19 Eric Johnson, Jr. (Bill McAnally Racing)
Disappointment in Tri-City for rookie Johnson, Jr. who had a very good car but suffered a mechanical failure while he was heading for his best career result. But the young driver is progressing race after race. John Camilleri his crew chief and Chuck Jones his car chief are no strangers to this progression. Like his teammate Jack Wood, he will discover Madera Speedway with a heavy and powerful car from the West Series.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7th | n/a |
No. 21 Ethan Nascimento (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports)
What a pleasure to finally see the young and talented Ethan Nascimento back in the West Series. His last race was in Phoenix last November. His uncle Mike Nascimento will be his crew chief like last year. In 2023 at Madera he was the victim of the “big one” on lap 130. But he knows this short track well and we will have to count on him. Especially since 2024 is a good year for Ethan who has won many races in various categories.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 8 (+ 1 DNS) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8th | 1 start, best result : 14th |
No. 23 Jaron Giannini (Sigma Performance Services)
Giannini returns behind the wheel of the No. 23 SPS for the fourth time this season. He has shown great ability in his first three races with two top 10s including a fifth position in the second race at Irwindale. He continues his apprenticeship here in the West Series but with the experience already acquired and Chris Bray as crew chief, he will be one to keep an eye on.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5th | n/a |
No. 50 Trevor Huddleston (High Point Racing)
Curiously “slow” at Tri-City, Huddleston intends to make a big result at Madera. Without it, his last chances to aim for the 2024 championship title will definitely fly away. Last year he had lost a lot of points and his championship hopes at Madera. While he was heading towards a second position, he spun on the final corner following contact with Tyler Reif and finished only 10th in the race. Jeff Schrader, his crew chief, will do everything to give him an excellent car.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| 73 | 3 | 27 | 59 | 2 | 1st (3x) | 1 start, best result 10th |
No. 71 Rip Michels (Jan’s Racing)
Nick Joanides’ crew chief since the beginning of the season at Jan’s Racing, Rip Michels will make his debut as a driver in the West Series. Michels, who before being crew chief was a driver until 2016. And he was a good driver to boot. As proven by his NASCAR Southwest Series championship title in 2006. He knows Madera Speedway well, having raced there many times. His crew chief will be Mike Naake. The latter not engaging his own Naake-Klauer Motorsports team here in Madera.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
No. 77 Kyle Whisner (Performance P-1 Motorsports)
PP1M returns to the West Series after skipping the last two races. And it is with a new driver that the No. 77 will return to the track at Madera. It is Kyle Whisner, originally from Riverside, CA, who will make his debut. He knows the Madera Speedway having already raced there in the past such as the SRL S2 Tour in 2014 and this already with the PP1M team of Joe Nava. Tony Jackson will be the crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Madera |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Final notes.
-Following pneumonia at the end of August, Nick Joanides must continue his convalescence and therefore leaves the wheel of his No.71 to his crew chief Rip Michels.
-For the first time in 25 races, Canadian David Smith will not be present in the West Series with his team Shockwave Racing. Hoping to see the No. 05 again at the next race.
-The race will be broadcast live on FloRacing.