By Vincent Delforge, Special to Kickin’ the Tires
The ARCA Menards West Series finale took place at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, AZ on Friday November 8. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100, the twelfth and final race of the 2024 season, ended with Connor Zilisch and Pinnacle Racing Group’s first career victory.
But it was Sean Hingorani who was the big winner of this 71st season in the history of the West Series by obtaining his second consecutive championship. He had a complicated season, frequenting four different teams to complete the season. But he was able to beat Tyler Reif for the second consecutive year. Reif who offers the owners’ championship to Central Coast Racing, the team of Kelly and Todd Souza. Michael Munoz is the crew chief of the year, Eric Johnson, Jr. wins the rookie of the year title for Bill McAnally Racing and Toyota won the manufacturer standings.
For the complete race review : www.kickinthetires.net/nascar/arca-menards-series-west-2024-phoenix-ii-race-review/
Complete race results: www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2024-12/AW/
The final top-five in the championship being the following: Sean Hingorani (653), Tyler Reif (634), Trevor Huddleston (606), Jack Wood (584) and Kyle Keller (562).
Driver & owner point standings: www.racing-reference.info/standings/2024/AW/
See you right here at Phoenix Raceway in March 2025 for the start of the 72nd season in the history of the West Series.
As after each race we are going to detail the statistics for each driver, embellished with the reactions collected from many of them, drivers, owners and crew chiefs.
ARCA West quick stats at Phoenix
-71st season in history.
-Race No. 1028 since the inception of the West Series in 1954.
-2024 race No. 12 of 12.
-691st paved oval race in history.
-54th race at Phoenix Raceway since 1977.
-17th win for Chevrolet at Phoenix. Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads the dance with 17 wins ahead of Ford (14), Toyota (12), Pontiac (6), Dodge (3) and Buick (2). The all-time most successful manufacturer is Ford with 292 wins..
-251th win for Chevrolet in West Series. The all-time most successful manufacturer is Ford with 292 wins.
-First win for owner Mark Webb.
-Win No. 1 for Pinnacle Racing Group. The all-time most successful owners in history are Bill McAnally (99), Fred Elder (45), Bob Bruncati (42) and Ernie Conn (41). The all-time most successful teams in history are Bill McAnally Racing (99), McCoy Racing (54), The Racing Farmers (47), Bruncati Racing (42) and Gene Price Motorsports (26).
-First win for owner Mark Webb and Pinnacle Racing Group at Phoenix. -Bill McAnally Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are the most victorious teams in Phoenix with five wins each. Petty Enterprises and Gene Price Motorsports follows with three wins each. The all-time most successful owners in history are Bill McAnally (99), Fred Elder (45), Bob Bruncati (42) and Ernie Conn (41).
-First career win for Connor Zilisch (first career start) and first at Phoenix.
-Connor Zilisch is the 212th winner in West Series history.
-Connor Zilisch is the 27th driver in history to win the race in his first career start.
-Connor Zilisch is the 39th different race winner at Phoenix.
-Ken Schrader is the most successful driver at Phoenix with four wins. Richard Petty, Greg Pursley and Ty Gibbs follows with three. In all, 39 different drivers have won at least one race at Phoenix.
-16 times in 54 races the polesitter wins at Phoenix.
-Joe Gibbs Racing is the most successful team in Phoenix with five poles ahead of Gene Price Motorsports, and Duncan Racing with four poles each. The most successful team in history is Bill McAnally Racing with 79 poles. The most successful owner in history is Bill McAnally with 52 poles.
-10th pole for Toyota at Phoenix. Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads the dance with 21 poles ahead of Ford (12), Toyota (10), Buick (3), Dodge (3) and Pontiac (3). Note, two times in 2004 and 2021 the qualifying was cancelled due to rain.
-81th pole for Toyota in West Series. The all-time most successful manufacturer is Chevrolet with 260.
-Fourth career pole position for William Sawalich (8th career start), the second of 2024, both at Phoenix.
-Fourth consecutive pole position in four races at Phoenix for William Sawalich, a record.
-Second year in a row Joe Gibbs racing sweep the pole in both Phoenix races.
-Ricky Rudd won the race in 1995 from 29th position on the starting grid, which is a record.
-The track record is owned by Sammy Smith for Kyle Busch Motorsports at 135.491 mph achieved in 2022 (November race).
-As far as yellow flags are concerned, the record is 13 in 2023 (March race). The 2023 March race holds the record for the number of yellow flag laps with 78.
-Note that from 1988 to 1996 the Phoenix race was combined with the NASCAR Cup Series.
-The most leader changes occurred in 1993 with 20. The least leader change is zero, three times in 2012, 2014 and 2021 #2.
-The largest starting field was in 1996 and 1996 with 44 cars.
-The smallest starting field was in 2003 #2 with 22 cars.
-The driver with the most races is Brett Thomspon (24).
-The driver with the most wins is Ken Schrader (4)
-The driver with the most poles are Mike Duncan, Greg Pursley and William Sawalich with 4.
-The drivers with the most top5 is Greg Pursley (8).
-The driver with the most top10 are Greg Pursley and Brett Thompson with 10.
-The drivers with the most laps is Ken Schrader (3614).
-The driver with the most laps lead is Mark Martin (448).
-12 times the race has been extended by an overtime (2003-01, 2005-03, 2007-02, 2009-03, 2010-02, 2014-01, 2014-14, 2015-13, 2019-14, 2022-01, 2022-11 and 2023-01).
-The race was shortened one time due to rain (2024-01)
-First career attempt in West Series for (1 driver): Connor Zilisch
-First career start in West Series for (1 driver): Connor Zilisch
-First career attempt at Phoenix in West Series for (5 drivers): Brent Crews, Alex Malycke, Rip Michels, Kole Raz and Connor Zilisch
-First career start at Phoenix in West Series for (5 drivers): Brent Crews, Alex Malycke, Rip Michels, Kole Raz and Connor Zilisch
-Best career result in West Series for Connor Zilisch (1st) and Alex Malycke (19th)
-First career Top-10 result in West Series for: Connor Zilisch (1st)
-First career Top-5 result in West Series for: Connor Zilisch (1st)
-Fourth win for the No. 28 in history. The first at Phoenix. The first since Gary Collins at Tucson, AZ in 1997.
-19th pole for the No. 18 in history. The fifth at Phoenix.
-First career win for crew chief Shane Huffman. The first at Phoenix.
-Fourth career pole for crew chief Matt Ross. And Fourth at Phoenix. All with William Sawalich as a driver.
-Eric Johnson, Jr. gets the title of rookie of the year. This is the 8th time that Bill McAnally Racing gets this award.
-Sean Hingorani is back to back champion. This is the 15th time in history a driver won at least two consecutive championships. The first time since Jesse Love (2020-2021) The record is held by Ray Elder with four consecutive crowns (1969-1972).
-Sean Hingorani won the championship having ridden for four different teams (Jerry Pitts Raing (6 races) ; Venturini Motorsports (4 races) ; Sigma Performance Services (1 race) and Hattori Racing Enterprises (1 race). Is a record. By the past, five times a driver won the tittle with two different teams (Chuck Bown (1976) ; Jimmy Insolo (1978) ; Roy Smith (1980 and 1982) and Eric Holmes (2006)).
-Sean Hingorani collaborated with six different crew chiefs in twelve races, which is also a record in the history of the West Series.
-Toyota won the manufacturer standings.
-Finally for lovers of statistics, know that the first three of the 2024 championship, Sean Hingorani, Tyler Reif and Trevor Huddleston, are the same and in the same order as last year. A first since 1967 and 1968 with Scotty Cain champion ahead of Ray Elder and Jim Cook.
The Drivers
No. 0 Tony Huffman (Fierce Creature Racing) Start: 24th – Fin: 24th Suspension
There it is!!! Tony Huffman has officially completed his first lap in a West Series race. In his three previous appearances he had each time retired either during the pace laps (2 times) or by entering the pitlane at the end of the first lap of the race but without passing the start/finish line (at Sonoma). So three races and officially three times zero laps recorded. This time he will have done a full lap since the entrance to the pitlane is not in turn 3 as is most often the case on ovals but at the exit of turn 2. Okay, we’re joking but Huffman drove the team’s backup car at the last minute. The team had its two cars in the hauler and since another team had withdrawn, it was the opportunity to take the vacant place on the starting grid.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 (3 DNS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21st | 1 start, best result 24th |
No. 05 David Smith (Shockwave Racing) Start: 20th – Fin: 18th (relieved lap 10 by Joey Iest)
Complicated end of season for our friendly veteran. Not in shape, he received help from Joey Iest during Thursday’s practice. In the race, he stopped at his pit box during the first yellow flag and handed over the wheel to Joey Iest on the 10th lap. Iest did a great job driving at a good pace. But the two laps lost to make the driver change will not be made up. For Iest, who is often the hauler driver for Shockwave Racing, it was the first race in West since the 2023 season finale.
“Thats a wrap for the year. Phoenix did go as planned. I decided I wasn’t 100% so I turned the car over to Joey Iest. He ran real strong to make up laps lost in driver change. Anyway as usual I have the best support going. Hands down!” Smith said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10th (2x) | 5 starts, best result 17th |
No. 2 Sebastian Arias (REV Racing) Start: 15th – Fin: 16th
Last year during the final, here at Phoenix, the Colombian had a good pace and obtained a nice 10th position. This year, probably due to a lack of seat time he was not able to repeat this performance and finished far from the top 10. But it was the entire REV Racing team that was curiously below its usual level. Let us recall that REV Racing finished this year in the first two positions of the driver ranking of the ARCA national series.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 11 (+1 DNS) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8th (2x) | 5 starts, best result: 10th |
No. 3 Todd Souza (Central Coast Racing) Start: 17th – Fin: 14th
Surprising lack of pace for Souza on a track that he knows by heart. He can however rejoice in obtaining with his wife Kelly, his first owners championship with his teammate Tyler Reif. Note that with four free passes obtained during the year, Todd receives the “trophy” of the driver having had the most in 2024! Not sure that it will please him but it will at least have the merit of making him smile.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 131 | 1 | 23 | 74 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 17 starts, best result : 5th |
No. 4 Eric Nascimento, Jr. (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports) Start: 16th – Fin: 21st Vibration
This bad luck is incomprehensible. With such a high-performing and consistent team in Pro and Super Late Models for example. In the West Series, either everything goes well and ends with top-fives or better or it’s a disaster with countless mechanical problems. However, there is everything in the team, highly qualified people like crew chief Ty Joiner without forgetting the talent and speed of Bubba Nascimento. We are disappointed for them because they deserve so much better as they have already proven many times.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 26 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 2nd (2x) | 4 starts, best result: 14th |
No. 6 Lavar Scott (REV Racing) Start: 9th – fin: 12th
With REV Racing oddly below its usual level of performance, there was no miracle for Lavar Scott. Despite a free pass at the final yellow flag, he finished last on the leader’s lap in a modest 12th place for the 2024 ARCA National Series runner-up.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10th | 3 starts, best result 10th |
No. 7 Takuma Koga (Jerry Pitts Racing) Start: 18th – Fin: 19th
Tight car in all turns at Phoenix as almost all year. This wears out the tires prematurely and causes the pace to drop on long runs. This race is therefore like the 2024 season, frustrating for the likeable Japanese. But as always he keeps the faith and never gives up.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 126 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 5th (4x) | 14 starts, best result : 15th |
No. 9 Kyle Keller (Jan’s Racing) Start: 13th – Fin: 10th
Once again Kyle has driven a smart race and brought back an additional top 10 this season. Fourth consecutive time he has done all the laps of the Phoenix race. He was able to finish in the top 10 with the three teams he has been with this season (with KKM and CCR). He really deserves to come back in 2025 to fight for the championship.
“P10 to finish my ARCA West season. Was able to finish 5th in points this season! Thank you Jan Qualkenbush and the entire Jan’s Racing team for an awesome hot rod! Excited for next year! Thank you KKM Driver Development for starting my season off strong just wasn’t able to get our family owned car fixed after Madera so had some awesome people give me the chance to continue my season. Thank you to Central Coast Racing for giving me a chance at Roseville when I was out for the year and then of course Jans Racing team. Thank you to all my sponsors and my awesome crew and to all people who have helped me all year long!” Keller said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 34 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 0 | 4th (3x) | 6 starts, best result : 5th |
No. 13 Tyler Reif (Central Coast Racing) Start: 4th – Fin: 8th
Everything had started well. Tyler was ahead of Hingorani on the starting grid. But from the first lap of the race, he lost positions one by one until he was stuck for a good part of the race around 10th position. His usual aggressiveness during restarts allowed him to gain two positions during the last restart and cross the finish line in eighth position. But Hingorani finished ahead of him and won the championship. For the second year in a row, Tyler was vice-champion. But he nevertheless offered CCR its first owners’ championship. Hopefully he will return in 2025 with the team to finish the job and bring home the champion’s trophy.
“And that’s a wrap on the 2024 ARCA West season! So proud of this team, three poles and two wins our first year together! We got the owners championship and fell a little short of the drivers championship . From not being on the radar to winning a championship and races, I can’t thank this small family team enough for what we have accomplished!” Reif said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 26 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 1st (3x) | 5 starts, best result 1st |
No. 15 Sean Hingorani (Venturini Motorsports) Start: 5th – Fin: 3rd
A bit like his rival Tyler Reif, Hingorani’s start to the race was a bit sluggish. He lost a few positions in the first laps. He was seventh at the halfway point. The adjustments the team made were the right ones because he moved up quickly into the top 5 and stayed in fourth position for about twenty laps. During the last restart, he got the better of his teammate Ruggiero and finished on the podium in third position. More than enough to get his second consecutive championship. For more details, I invite you to look at the stats available at the beginning of this article to appreciate even more what Sean has achieved this season.
“It’s been a long season with a lot of different people that have helped me get to this point. I want to thank Venturini Motorsports for everything they’ve done for me, [along with] Jerry Pitts Racing and Sigma Performance Services. It was harder this year acclimating every week to a different team, but I can’t thank [everyone] enough. Two tries and two times, it’s really special.” Hingorani said. The 2025 season for Hingorani is not yet determined.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 29 | 7 | 18 | 19 | 4 | 1st (7x) | 5 starts, best result 3rd (2x) |
No. 16 Jack Wood (Bill McAnally Racing) Start: 3rd – Fin: 11th
Qualifying well, Wood started the race by maintaining his position on the virtual podium. But little by little his tires will get too hot and this will contribute to making the car difficult to turn. Eighth at the halfway point of the race, the adjustments and the two fresh right-side tires will not improve the situation. Too tight in all corners. He crosses the finish line in a disappointing eleventh position.
“We had a tough day, but proud of everyone on our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet. Everybody at BMR put in a ton of effort to the West car this year, and I’m proud to drive for these guys every week. We were too tight the first half the West race and lost track position with those long green flag runs. We have some good notes to go back on when we come back and we’ll start getting ready for next year when we get home.” Wood said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 31 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 2nd | 6 starts, best result 4th |
No. 18 William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) Start: 1st – Fin: 2nd
Poleman for the fourth consecutive time in Phoenix, which is an absolute record, Sawalich will be overtaken by Zilish from the first lap. He will yo-yo behind him. Losing up to three seconds before closing in just before the halfway point. He manages to cross the line in the lead during the restart on lap 54 but not for long. It will be the same scenario during the second segment. Sawalich first loses time on Zilisch before gradually reducing the gap. He will try everything during the last restart but Zilisch was really too strong in Phoenix. No third consecutive victory in Phoenix for the JGR driver. They fought all year for the East Series championship that Sawalich won. We can therefore consider this race as Zilisch’s revenge. Sawalich who will be in the Xfinity Series next year with Joe Gibbs Racing.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1st (3x) | 4 starts, best result : 1st (2x) |
No. 19 Eric Johnson, Jr. (Bill McAnally Racing) Start: 11th – Fin: 15th
Johnson, Jr. ended the season in anonymity following contact with the outside wall of turn 2 at the start of the second lap. His car had no grip as soon as he left the hauler on Thursday for practice. He would remain in the middle of the standings for the rest of the race and despite adjustments during the midway break, the car would remain tight until the end. However, he won the title of rookie of the year. He had progressed throughout the season. Victim of bad luck with various mechanical problems during several races, he finished his first full season in sixth position in the championship.
“It wasn’t the finished that we wanted today. Unfortunately, we couldn’t shake the issues we had in practice all weekend. It was a hard pill to swallow to finish out the season but, still so grateful for my team and everything they have done this season.” Johnson, Jr. said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 4th | 2 starts, best result 15th |
No. 20 Giovanni Ruggiero (Venturini Motorsports) Start: 6th – Fin: 4th
Before being overtaken by his teammate Hingorani during the last restart, Ruggiero was the best of the “others”, that is to say that apart from Zilisch and Sawalich, he clearly had the upper hand over the rest of the pack. He therefore spent almost the entire race in third position. Finally fourth, he will have been one of the great revelations of this 2024 season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | 2 starts, best result 2nd |
No. 21 Alex Malycke (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports) Start: 21st – Fin: 22nd Electrical
Having received help from Ethan Nascimento during practice to check that the car was behaving properly, Malycke will be nowhere during the few laps he will do in the race. Driving almost three seconds slower per lap than the best. After the retirement (Start and park) of the two FCR cars, he was dead last. In addition, he will be the victim of an electrical problem and will have to park his car definitively in the garage on the 15th lap.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19th | 1 start, best result 22nd |
No. 22 Brent Crews (Venturini Motorsports) Start: 7th – Fin: 5th
Another very convincing race for Crews who will settle very quickly in fifth position and stay there until the finish regardless of the facts of the race. He got the better of some drivers and will also lose positions to other drivers like his teammate Hingorani.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 1 start, best result 5th |
No. 23 Kaden Honeycutt (Sigma Performance Services) Start: 8th – Fin: 6th
For his only race of the season in the West Series, the one who had set the pack on fire during the last four races of last season, was able to successfully complete the mission that Joe Farrè, the owner of SPS, had entrusted to him, namely to finish in the top 10 at least. Mission accomplished with a good sixth position. He could even claim better since he spent a good part of the race in the top 5. Fourth at the halfway point. His stats remain excellent since he obtained his fifth top 10 in his career in as many races contested.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1st (2x) | 2 starts, best result 6th |
No. 25 Marco Andretti (Venturini Motorsports) Start: 14th – Fin: 17th
21st last March with Cook Racing Technologies, Andretti will have another race in the anonymity of the middle of the pack with the powerful Venturini Motorsports. Clearly the least performing of the team drivers, he is already one lap behind the leaders at the halfway point in 13th position. He benefits from the free pass but loses any chance of a good performance when he makes a mistake in turn 2 on lap 91, causing the third yellow flag. He spends time in his pit box to repair and will finish 17th, two laps behind the winner.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th | 2 starts, best result 17th |
No. 27 Bobby Hillis, Jr. (Fierce Creature Racing) Start: 23rd – Fin: 23rd Suspension
Hillis, Jr. had warned that he was coming to do a start and park and it was therefore quite logical that he parked his Chevrolet in the garage at the end of the second lap. This chassis with a lot of big Gremlins in the suspension had already caused problems here in Phoenix at the beginning of the season. This is probably the last time that it was used in a race.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 103 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8th (1x) | 23 starts, best result : 11th |
No. 28 Connor Zilisch (Pinnacle Racing Group) Start: 2nd – Fin: 1st
Zilisch was simply dazzling. For his first race in Phoenix and in the West Series, he was the best all the time except for two laps. The first during the qualifying session where he finished second behind Sawalich and the second during the restart on lap 54, again because of Sawalich. But having led 99 of the 100 laps and having set the fastest lap in the race, he deserved to do burnouts before going to collect the checkered flag. It was the first time he used this chassis and it will be highly coveted in March 2025 for the next race here in Phoenix. Who will be lucky enough to be able to drive it? It could be Zilisch again to increase his seat time, he who will drive full-time next year in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports.
“We’ve struggled in the past at tracks like this such as [as The Milwaukee Mile]. This is a brand new car we haven’t run this year before. I’m so proud of all these guys, because when we struggled at a track, they work so hard to bring me a fast car the next time we go to a track. It’s been an awesome year with this team and it’s great to cap it off with a win.” Zilisch said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1st | 1 start, best result 1st |
No. 50 Trevor Huddleston (High Point Racing) Start: 19th – Fin: 13th
Like last year, Huddleston finished in third place in the championship. What a shame that he had a complicated start to the season due to technical problems at Phoenix and Sonoma because his end of the season was incredible with two victories in Madera and Roseville. His race in Phoenix was very complicated and this was even before arriving at the circuit. Indeed, the region where HPR has its workshops was affected by the fires raging in California. The team was able to save its equipment but was not able to prepare as it would have liked for this last race. It was even in the infield that the team finished assembling its car. Starting from the back following unapproved adjustments, Huddleston will go to the checkered flag but without being able to play the top 10. He will be one of the big favorites in 2025 for the championship.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 77 | 5 | 30 | 62 | 3 | 1st (5x) | 8 starts, best result : 7th |
No. 55 Jake Finch (Venturini Motorsports) Start: 12th – Fin: 7th
Qualifying in the middle of the pack, Finch and his team decided to start from the back following unapproved adjustments. But they were right because the No. 55 gained speed and stability. Having moved up to 12th position at the halfway point, the team made new adjustments during the break and this would further improve the car’s performance. Finch finally crossed the finish line in seventh position. That makes four Venturini Motorsports cars out of five in the top 7.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3rd | 2 starts, best result 7th |
No. 71 Rip Michels (Jan’s Racing) Start: 22nd – Fin: 20th
Michels is not going to have an easy race. His left rear tire bursts in turn 2 on the eighth lap, causing him to spun. Fortunately, he doesn’t touch anything and can restart by himself. But he will lose a lot of time in his pit box. He will then never manage to get under 29 seconds per lap when the leaders were running in 27 or 28 seconds. He loses a fourth lap on the leaders during the long run under green flag in the second segment. Finally 20th, he did not do badly with a car that had lost all grip following the incident.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8th | 1 start, best result 20th |
No. 72 Jonathan Reaume (Reaume Brothers Racing) WITHDRAW
No photos of the car have been circulated.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
No. 76 Kole Raz (AM Racing) Start: 10th –Fin: 9th
First race with AM Racing and again a solid race by Kole Raz. Sixth at halfway, he still holds this position during the last restart on the 96th lap but he was pushed off the right trajectory by several of his opponents. He finally finished ninth while he had the top 5 in his sights. But what talent this young driver has. He must have the opportunity to do a full season in 2025 because he has the makings of a champion!
“I had an incredible time with everyone at AM Racing for our first race together at Phoenix Raceway. We had a strong No. 76 Cyclum Truck Stops Ford Mustang that got us into the mix with the top five at the end of the first half. We freed up too much for the second half and hurt ourselves to have a shot within the strong top-five group. Had a solid restart at the end battling for fifth and unfortunately got shuffled up the race track and lost all of our track position we gained the previous 95 laps. Our result definitely doesn’t show the speed we had this past weekend. It was nice to have a car that was as versatile as it was to be able to march our way forward throughout the runs. I truly hope to have another opportunity with Ryan “Pickle” London and everyone at AM Racing in the future.” Raz said.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 7 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1st | 1 start, best result 9th |
See you right here at Phoenix Raceway in March 2025 for the start of the 72nd season in the history of the West Series. In the meantime, we will be offering you many articles and interviews concerning the West Series here on Kickin’ the Tires.