By Vincent Delforge, Special to Kickin’ the Tires.
Created in 1954, the West Series will begin its 70th season this Friday, March 10, 2023 and already the fourth under the aegis of the ARCA. This race will be combined with the national ARCA Menards Series (Race No. 2).
The 2023 season will have 12 races, one more than last year, spread between March and November when we will return here to Phoenix Raceway for the final. This is not the first time the West Series season will have 12 races. It will be the 7th time in history. The first time in 1985 and the last in 2010, the year of the third and last championship won by Eric Holmes.
Phoenix Raceway, located in Avondale, AZ is hosting the opening race of the West Series championship for the 13th time. This will be the 51th race on this tri-oval one-mile located in the middle of the desert. The General Tire 150s will also mark the 1005th race since the series’ inception.
Everything will take place on the single day of Friday with a practice session (3-3:45 p.m. MT), a qualifying session at 4:00 pm and the start of the race at 6:00 pm (MT). Add two hours for the East Coast.
The race will be split into two segments with the midway break scheduled at or near the conclusionn of Lap 75. It will be broadcast live on FS2 / Fox Sports App and MRN / SiriusXM (XM channel 391/online channel 981) / ARCARacing.com.
More infos on the 2023 schedule and West Series team Chart here: www.kickinthetires.net/nascar/arca-menards-west-series-2023-team-chart/
Race procedures
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the General Tire 150 is limited to 32 plus provisional positions. This event will run under the 2023 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.
QUALIFYING: Starting position will be set by speeds in timed session, plus provisionals.
RACE PIT STOP: Oval break pit stop procedure. There will be a break at or near the conclusion of Lap 75.
The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Per ARCA Rulebook, maximum tire usage for this event (purchased plus from-home tires) is 12. Maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is six (6).
Hershel McGriff inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
The West Series which recently saw its illustrious driver Hershel McGriff, 95, be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 21, 2023. McGriff who was present in the very first race of the series in 1954 where he took pole position. A career ended in 2018 when he became the oldest driver, at 90, to take part in a West Series race in Tucson. In the meantime he has done 271 races, won 34 victories and above all the 1986 championship when he drove for another Oregon native Gary Smith.
In Memory Of Gary Smith
Ironically, a few days later, on February 27, 2023, Gary Smith left us at the age of 82 (August 23, 1940). It was at the end of the 1970s that he began to get involved in motorsport. Smith who had bought Gerald Craker’s West Series team in 1982. Between 1982 and 1987, with his friend Hershel McGriff, they will win 10 races as well as the 1986 championship.
The two men will continue from 1988 to 1991 as a partner (as well as with Bob Lipseia) before ending the adventure when he sold the team at the end of 1991. Gary Smith retired from the West Series for a few years before returning at the end of the 90s to occupy the role of NASCAR West Series technical director until the mid-2000s.
ARCA West at Phoenix
This will be the 51st race on this tri-oval one-mile located in the middle of the desert since 1977 and Cale Yarbourough’s victory.
As far as statistics are concerned, of the 50 races already contested in Phoenix Raceway we can highlight:
-Ken Schrader is the most successful pilot with four wins. Richard Petty, Greg Pursley and Ty Gibbs follows with three. In all, 38 different drivers have won at least one race.
-Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads the dance with 16 wins ahead of Ford (13), Toyota (10), Pontiac (6), Dodge (3) and Buick (2).
-Among the manufacturers, Chevrolet leads with 21 poles ahead of Ford (12), Toyota (7), Dodge (4), Pontiac (3) and Buick (3).
-The most successful team is Bill McAnally Racing with five wins. Petty Enterprises, Gene Price Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing follows with three wins each.
-Concerning the poles, Gene Price Motorsports and Duncan Racing are the most successful teams with four.
-The track record is owned by Sammy Smith at 135.491 mph (Kyle Busch Motorsports) achieved in 2022.
-The poleman has won the race 14 times.
-Ricky Rudd won the race in 1995 from 29th position on the starting grid, which is a record.
-As far as yellow flags are concerned, the record is 11 in 2010. The 2006 April race holds the record for the number of yellow flag laps with 59.
-Note that from 1988 to 1996 the Phoenix race was combined with the NASCAR Cup Series.
– Since 2020 and for the fourth consecutive time, the season-opening ARCA Menards West Series race has been a combined race with the national ARCA Menartds Series.
It’s time to review the entry list made up of 33 drivers including six newcomers here in Phoenix. I invite you to read Christian Koelle’s article (available here: XXX) for more information about the regular drivers of the ARCA national series. Here I will focus mainly on the West Series drivers.
The Drivers
No. 02 Leland Honeyman (Young’s Motorsports)
Honeyman has been driving for the Young’s Motorsports team since last year. Third in the East Series championship in 2022, he will make his debut in the West Series as well as at Phoenix Raceway.Andrew Abbott will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 03 Alex Clubb (Clubb Racing)
Clubb took part in the Phoenix race last year where he finished 21st in his own car. Nothing changes this year since he returns with the same car and still Brian Clubb as crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21st | 1 start, best result 21st |
No. 04 Ethan Nascimento (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports)
Ethan Nascimento, 15, arrives in the ARCA Menards Series after claiming four wins en route to the 2022 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series championship at Madera Speedway. The younger brother of Eric “Bubba” Nascimento, will be interesting to follow because he has a very quick adaptability and a good ability to drive in a wild pack.
This year, in addition to the SRL Pro Late Models Championship, he will race a few West Series races to learn with the goal of winning the championship next year.Mike Nascimento will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 05 Dave Smith (Shockwave Racing)
The Canadian veteran will have fun this year by playing the entire championship. He therefore becomes at 72 years old (he will be 73 on March 28) the oldest driver to try to obtain the title of rookie of the year in the West Series! For this he has entered into a logistic and technical alliance with Naake-Klauer Motorsports and will have at his side a new crew chief in the person of Brandon Carlson.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11th | 1 start, best result 20th |
No. 06 A.J. Moyer (Wayne Peterson Motorsports)
A.J Moyer will make his West Series and Phoenix debuts. He has been driving since 2021 from time to time for Wayne Peterson. The latter will also be the crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 2 Andres Perez de Lara (REV Racing)
Excellent last year in Phoenix where he had been a candidate for victory until the return of Sammy Smith on the leader’s lap at the end of the race, Perez de Lara left the bosom of David Gilliland to join Max Siegel and Rev Racing. With Jamie Jones as crew chief, we will have to keep an eye on the young Mexican who will turn 18 on April 2.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 1 start, best result 3rd |
No. 4 Eric Nascimento (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports)
His last West appearance was at Sonoma last year where he finished seventh. At 21, “Bubba” will do a partial season in 2023 with the family team. Here he will be driving the No. 4 with Ty Joiner as crew chief. This will be his second race in Phoenix. His first in 2021 ended in an accident for which he was not responsible. His car was used here last year by the Colombian Sebastian Arias and was completely reconditioned and improved during the off-season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5th (1x) | 1 start, best result: 32nd |
No. 6 Jack Wood (REV Racing)
After a single appearance in 2022 in Sonoma for the BMR team, here is Jack Wood again doing a freelance in the West Series, this time with the REV Racing team of Max Siegel. This will be his third race in Phoenix where his best result remains an 11th position in 2019 when he drove for the family team.
Hopefully it goes better for him than during his last two attempts here which ended in two crashes. Focusing on his Truck Series career for the past two years, he comes here for some seat time and to remind us that he is a very good driver. Its crew chief will be Steve Plattenberger.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 16 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4th | 2 starts, best result: 7th |
No. 7 Takuma Koga (Jerry Pitts Racing)
Koga will be playing his seventh consecutive full-time season, his third with Jerry Pitts Racing. At almost 46 years old (he will be on March 16), the Japanese is coming out of a positive 2022 season since he obtained two top-five, five top-ten and sixth position in the final standings.
He was able to do several test sessions during the offseason and hopes to start the year with a top 10 on a track in Phoenix that he knows very well but where he has never succeeded so far. Denny Moyer will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 101 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 5th (4x) | 10 starts, best result : 15th |
No. 10 Tim Monroe (Fast Track Racing)
Driver of the national ARCA Menards series, he will be his own crew chief within the Fast Track Racing team of Andy Hillenburg. Little chance of seeing him play the slightest role in this race. It is even likely to see him do a start and park. He had retired with brake problems last year here for his only career race in the West (combo race).
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33rd | 1 start, best result 33rd |
No. 11 Bryce Haugeberg (Fast Track Racing)
Two races at Phoenix in the West Series for Haugeberg, each time in the combined race between the West and the ARCA National Series. Both times it ended in retirement (crash and clutch). His crew chief will be Austin Nemire.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th | 2 starts, best result 25th |
No. 12 D.L. Wilson (Fast Track Racing)
Two races at Phoenix the last two years in the West Series for Wilson, each time in the combined race between the West and the ARCA National Series. Each time he finished far in the race standings with many laps behind the winner. Last year he was involved in no less than three yellow flags… His crew chief will be Dick Doheny.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20th | 2 starts, best result 20th |
No. 13 Todd Souza (Central Coast Racing)
A farewell tour for Todd Souza? Indeed he announced that 2023 would be his last season in the West Series, at least full time. Yet Todd is like good wine, the more the years pass the better it becomes. As proof, his 2022 season, his career best with five top-fives and 10 top-10s in 11 races.
All he needed was victory. A Victory Lane that he hopes to find again this year. With crew chief Michael Munoz, they could well damn the pawn to young drivers and finish his career in style with the champion’s trophy in his pocket. It should be noted that he is one of the most experienced driver in Phoenix with 13 starts and that during the last race here he had obtained a good fifth position.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 108 | 1 | 19 | 61 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 13 starts, best result : 5th |
No. 15 Sean Hingorani (Venturini Motorsports)
After a promising part-time debut last year with Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports, Hingorani signed Billy Venturini to a contract to compete full-time in the West and East Series. If he showed to be very fast in 2022, he was also very unlucky in the race. But the experience gained will be very useful to him this year. Venturini has partnered with Jerry Pitts Racing for the West Series. Billy Venturini will be his crew chief. His 23rd position obtained last year during the final in Phoenix should be greatly improved this year.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | 1 start, best result 23rd |
No. 16 Tanner Reif (Bill McAnally Racing)
The 2022 rookie of the year with Bob Bruncati Sunrise Ford Racing team found refuge at BMR this year. He will be one of the big favorites for the championship. Its crew chief will be John Camilleri. The latter won the championship in 2019 with Derek Kraus.
In the 2022 final in Phoenix, Tanner finished the race in 10th position, but he could have claimed better. The off-season tests went very well and a good result from the start in Phoenix would launch him perfectly towards his sole objective: to be champion.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 11 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1st (2x) | 2 starts, best result 10th |
No. 17 Landen Lewis (McGowan Motorsports with Cook Racing Technologies)
Arrived during the season at Bill McAnally Racing, it took him a few races to find the rhythm but he ended the season on a good note. Perhaps not enough to renew his contract with BMR but more than enough to regain his place with the team where he had made his debut in the West Series last year and with the success that we know since he had won his very first career race at Bakersfield.
Sixth last year in Phoenix, he will drive the #17 which finished eighth here in Phoenix at the start of the 2022 season with a driver who has just made the news by replacing Chase Elliott in the Cup Series, I named Josh Berry. Amber Slagle will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 1 race, best result 6th |
No. 18 William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)
New recruit for Joe Gibbs, Sawalich is announced as a new nugget like his predecessor in this car, Sammy Smith. He will make his official debut in an ARCA type car. The young driver has an impressive background in the lower categories and he should be a serious candidate. Indeed JGR is not used to choosing bad drivers… And he will have the best car at his disposal. He will discover the Phoenix Raceway and his crew chief will be Matt Ross. He will be a full time driver in the East Series this year.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 20 Jesse Love (Venturini Motorsports) Start 2nd – Fin 2nd
Do we still have to introduce Jesse Love? The 2020-2021 double West Series champion returns to a track where he has known so many joys. He only needs one win to be complete in Phoenix. With his crew chief Shannon Rursch, he came very close to victory here last November, finishing second in the race.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 22 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 1st (5x) | 5 starts, best result 2nd |
No. 22 Ryan Roulette (Triple R)
The driver from Minot, ND, returns to the West Series after a year of absence. This will be his third career race, all at Phoenix Raceway. The difference is that he now owns his car for his Triple R team. The three “R” stands for Ryan Roulette Racing. His crew chief will be Chris Greaney, with whom he already worked in 2021 when he drove the Performance P-1 Motorsports car.
His goal is to do the full season even if for now his budget only covers the costs for seven races. It should be noted that he will have the logistical assistance of Andrew Tuttle’s Last Chance Racing team, which has withdrawn from this race due to a delay in preparing its own car.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd | 2 starts, best result 22nd |
No. 25 Conner Jones (Venturini Motorsports)
Unhappy last year in November when he was the tragic victim of the collision between Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray when he was in the top five of the race. He will once again work with his crew chief Kevin Reed, Jr. Given the strength of the Venturini armada, he should play an important role in the fight for victory.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19th | 2 starts, best result 19th |
No. 27 Bobby Hillis, Jr. (Fearce Creature Racing)
After a difficult year 2022, in his personal and professional life which had taken him away from the circuits, Hillis returns to racing for a full season. He showed off his new chassis (from Levin Racing) right here during the final in Phoenix.
The big problems encountered were solved during the offseason and the veteran will reach the milestone of 100 career races this season. He is by far the most experienced driver in Phoenix as he will take part in his 20th race there. His crew chief will be Ralph Byers.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 91 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8th (1x) | 19 starts, best result : 11th |
No. 30 Frankie Muniz (Rette-Jones Racing)
He made his debut at Daytona in the national series, now he is ready to discover the Phoenix Raceway. With his crew chief Mark Rette, his objective will be above all to learn. If he surprised at Daytona, he will have to surprise us again here. Because between the Florida oval where you keep the accelerator at full throttle non-stop and a one-mile oval like Phoenix, there is a world of difference in driving.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 32 Christian Rose (AM Racing)
If there is one driver who has been unlucky in the past two years, it is Christian Rose. Too often the victim of mechanical problems that ruin great performances. By changing teams this year, he hopes to get rid of this cumbersome black cat… AM Racing having a car in the Xfinity Series with Brett Moffitt, the team therefore has the resources to allow Rose to finally find the path to success. Ryan London will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 2 starts, best result 21st |
No. 35 Greg Van Alst (Greg Van Alst Motorsports)
This is the perfect example of the driver who only has stats in the West Series thanks to the annual combined race between it and the ARCA National Series.
If last year he had a start and park, this year he will have to do the best possible to pursue his daydream started this year with a splendid victory at Daytona, his first in his career. And since he intends to do the entire 2023 championship, he will have to rise to the occasion. But when you have the right momentum, anything is possible. Jim Long will of course be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36th | 1 start, best result 36th |
No. 41 Tyler Reif (Lowden Jackson Motorsports)
Tanner’s younger brother was incredible last year on his West Series debut, battling for the top-five in his first race. And it is very logical that he is doing the full season this year. With his crew chief Ron Norman, they have high goals. The ROTY tittle of course but also winning one or the other race.
Just like Hingorani, he will also contest the ARCA East Championship in full. Their duel will be interesting to follow. Last year Tyler narrowly missed the top 10 in Phoenix for his very first career race on a one-mile oval. Certainly his team has never won a race so far but it has grown in size during the off-season and we will have to reckon with them.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | 1 start, best result 12th |
No. 45 Tony Cosentino (Tamayo Cosentino Racing)
With his new team of which he is co-owner with Enrique Tamayo, Cosentino has planned to do the full season in the national series. Thanks to this, we find him in the West Series in Phoenix where he already raced in 2019. This will be his fourth race in the West where his best result is a 15th position acquired in 2019 at Evegreen. 15th, like the position he obtained at the start of the season at Daytona.He will be his own crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15th | 1 start, best result 23rd |
No. 46 RJ Smotherman (Lowden Jackson Motorsports)
Smotherman surprised us last year for his debut with a car that is usually underperforming. He will do the season full time with a main goal, the ROTY tittle.
But RJ has ambitions and he will do anything to compete with his friend and teammate Tyler Reif. Which of the two will get a victory first? Rip Michaels will be his crew chief. An ignition problem had prevented him from getting a good result for his only race in Phoenix last season. He will also do several races in the East Series this year.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th | 1 start, best result 26th |
No. 48 Brad Smith (Brad Smith Motorsports)
The veteran of the national ARCA series with more than 400 starts (406) will be present in Phoenix for one of his traditional races at the back of the pack. At his own pace. This will be his third race in Phoenix where he has never seen the checkered flag. We wish him luck. His crew chief will be Rand Bitter like last year here.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26th | 2 starts, best result 26th |
No. 50 Trevor Huddleston (High Point Racing)
2023 marks the full-time come back of Trevor Huddleston and this time to the High Point Racing family team run by his father Tim Huddleston. But the team has acquired another status this year. At least on paper. It’s up to them to confirm. For what? Because they bought the cars and spare parts of the Bruncati Sunrise Ford Racing team.
As a reminder, Bob Bruncati has decided to stop competing in the West Series at the end of the 2022 season after having crushed the season with his pilots Jake Drew (champion) and Tanner Reif (vice-champion and ROTY). It is therefore with an ultra-competitive car that Trevor sets out to conquer the championship.
Even though he has already spent four full seasons with Bruncati Racing in the past, he will have Jeff Schrader as crew chief for the first time. The latter making the transition between Bruncati Racing and HPR since he had been with the team for several seasons and crew chief of Tanner Reif last year. Will 2023 be the year of Trevor?
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 53 | 2 | 19 | 45 | 2 | 1st (2x) | 4 starts, best result : 7th |
No. 55 Toni Breidinger (Venturini Motorsports)
Breidinger will do her fourth race in Phoenix where so far she has not been successful since her best result is the 15th position obtained last year. Cayden Lapcevich, former Pinty’s Series champion in 2016, has been crew chief for the team since this year. If she is usually fast on the big ovals, she always has more trouble on the smaller ovals like Phoenix.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15th | 3 starts, best result 15th |
No. 66 Jon Garrett (Fast Track Racing)
The Texan driver will make his debut in the West Series and in Phoenix. He started last year in the ARCA national series, concentrating so far only on large ovals or superspeedways. Mike Sroufe will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 0 | – | – | – | – | – | N/A |
No. 70 Kyle Keller (Jerry Pitts Racing)
Finally! Finally a full season for Kyle Keller. It’s deserved as he has shown race after race to be a constant candidate for the top-five, if not better. With Jerry Pitts as crew chief, he should quickly find his way to Victory Lane. His favorite area is short track but he has the ability to be fast everywhere. He uses No. 70 like last year in the combination race.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 10 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 4th (3x) | 2 starts, best result : 25th |
No. 88 Bradley Erickson (Naake-Klauer Motorsports)
And yet another young full-time driver candidate for the 2023 championship. Because yes, Bradley is still only 16 years old but he already has a lot of experience with the different Late Models division. For his part-time debut last year in West Series he showed to be very fast and progressed quickly.
As proof, his two seventh positions obtained in quick succession during the last two races of the season. And this seventh position in Phoenix was even a disappointment for him because he could have gotten the top-five. This young man has talent and ambition. The relationship with his crew chief Tony Caputo is excellent and this duo should quickly find the way to Victory lane.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th (2x) | 1 start, best result 7th |