By Vincent Delforge, Special to kickinthetires.net
The ARCA Menards West Series finale, the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100, was largely dominated by Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Sammy Smith. But he wasn’t the only one to burn his tires after the checkered flag. There was also Jake Drew, the 2022 champion.
The 2022 championship ends with a double for the Bruncati Sunrise Ford Racing team. Indeed the team led by Bob Bruncati also saw its second driver, Tanner Reif, finish second in the championship while winning the honorary title of Rookie of the Year.
However Bob Bruncati announced that he was closing the doors of his team in the West Series. End of an adventure started in 2004 and punctuated by four championships, seven ROTYs, 42 victories, 45 poles,… But we will soon come back in detail to this incredible adventure on Kickin The Tires.
The Phoenix race review is available: www.kickinthetires.net/nascar/arca-series/arca-menards-west-series-phoenix-race-review/
Complete race results: www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2022-11/AW/
Driver & owner points standings: www.racing-reference.info/standings/2022/AW/
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
-Race number 1004 since the inception of the West Series in 1954.
-2022 race number 11 of 11.
-Race number 50 at Las Vegas Bullring since 1977.
–Win No. 10 for Toyota at Phoenix. Chevrolet leads the dance with 16 wins ahead of Ford (13), Toyota (10), Pontiac (6), Dodge (3) and Buick (2).
-75h win for Toyota in West Series
-First win for owner Kyle Busch.
-Win No.1 for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) team. The all-time most successful owners in history are Bill McAnally (99), Fred Elder (45), Bob Bruncati (42) and Ernie Conn (41).
–Win No. 1 for KBM at Phoenix. 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.
-First career win for Sammy Smith (3rd career start).
-14th time in 50 races the poleman wins at Phoenix.
-Second career pole position for Sammy Smith, the second of the season and second at Phoenix.
-Second pole for KBM at Phoenix. Gene Price Motorsports and Duncan Racing are the most successful teams with four.
-Second pole for KBM in West Series
-Best career result result for Sammy Smith (1st), Landon Pembelton (4th), Parker Chase (8th), Tyler Reif (12th), Zach Herrin (18th), Katie Hettinger (19th), Carson Hocevar (29th).
-Best season result for Sammy Smith (1st), Landon Pembelton (4th), Parker Chase (8th), Tyler Reif (12th), Zach Herrin (18th), Katie Hettinger (19th), Carson Hocevar (29th).
-14th win for the No. 18 in history.
-15th pole for the No. 18 in history.
-Third career win for crew chief Mark McFarland, the third at Phoenix.
-Fourth career pole for crew chief Mark McFarland, the fourth at Phoenix.
-69th pole for Toyota in West Series.
-67th paved oval race in history.
-New qualifying track record by Sammy Smith at 135.491 mph (previous by Ty Gibbs for Joe Gibbs Racing at 135.064 mph achieved in 2021).
The Drivers
No. 01 Zack Herrin (Fast Track Racing) Start 25th – Fin 18th
First studious race for the driver representing the LGBTQ+ community. After doing 52 laps in the practice/qualifying session, he would do most of the race in the top 20. Gaining a few positions according to retirements to point to a good 14th position about ten laps from the finish. But during the two overtimes, he was going to lose a few places and finally finish in 18th position on the leader’s lap.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18th | 1 start, best result 18th |
No. 02 Katie Hettinger (Young’s Motorsports) Start 20th – Fin 19th
A race largely thwarted by a persistent problem with its right front suspension. The team will take advantage of the many yellow flags to patch up the car. The lost lap will be recovered by a free pass about twenty laps from the end.
But the end of the race will again be disturbed by that damn right front suspension as Katie explains: “The plan was to spend the first 50 laps running around cars, and figuring out how to run the dog leg on the apron. When we pitted at the lap 50 break, we found an issue with the right front suspension. This caused us to pit a couple times under yellow and unfortunately go a lap down. We then spent most of the race trying to get the lap back.
“We finally did at the end and restarted 17th with 2 laps to go. On the restart someone a few cars up in our lane missed a shift and bottled us all up, resulting in another yellow. On the final restart, the front suspension issue finally gave way and I had to nurse the car home the last two laps, but was able to bring it home P19 with a clean car, and we were all happy with that.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19th | 1 start, best result 19th |
No. 04 Sean Hingorani (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports) Start 9th – Fin 23rd crash
Definitely Hingorani really had no luck in these five races this year. Always fast as demonstrated by his good qualifying (9th here), he suffered an engine problem on his new car right from the practice. Problem solved for the race which was going correctly even if it had fallen back to the 15th position. Unfortunately he was going to meet in the end of the race on his way the car in distress of Christian Rose. Right rear wheel broken in the impact… and another abandonment.
But Sean keeps the positive and is already focused on next year: “I loved the fast track at Phoenix. We qualified well even though we had some motor issues and only got to do about ten practice laps. We felt good going into the race. I feel like we were running pretty strong. We’re definitely getting better at figuring out how to manage the car. Unfortunately we got collected again. A bunch of bad luck but good experience. Definitely looking forward to ‘23.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | 1 start, best result 23rd |
No. 05 Dave Smith (Shockwave Racing) Start 27th – Fin 20th
A cautious race for the Canadian driver who however lacked the pace to hope for better than a top20. He was going to hang in the dog leg on the 44th lap with Bridget Burgess. Started in spun, he fortunately did not touch the inside wall and could resume the race. In the second segment he lost a second lap to the leaders but finished the race in 20th position, the target set at the start.
Smith sums up his run like this: “The Shockwave Toyota was wicked fast on the long run. It was unfortunate we got tagged on the dogleg by a slower car that put us down a lap. From then on the game was “stick and stay and make it pay!” Yes. Big tracks and ARCA protocols are a big adjustment. We get yelled at a lot. Great test run. We build Simulators that encompass most tracks. Couldn’t have been without it a Phoenix. »
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11th | 1 start, best result 20th |
No. 1 Jake Finch (Phoenix Racing) Start 6th – Fin 9th
For his second race in West, the son of James was going to be very fast. Among the fastest except of course Sammyt Smith. After an inconsequential contact at the start of the race with the other Jake, the 2022 champion Drew, he was going to be in a long fight for the top-five with the Venturini and DGR pilots, see the third position. He was going to make some mistakes in the last 20 laps because of a tight car coming out of the corner. The last overtime was even going to cost him dearly since he was ejected from the top-five and crossed the finish line in ninth position.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6th | 1 start, best result 9th |
No. 4 Sebastian Arias (Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports) Start 23rd – Fin 16th
Like his teammate Hingorani, the first day in Phoenix, that of the practice/qualifying session, was not easy for the young Colombian. If the team was able to solve the electrical problem for the start of the race, Sebastian was going to do a spun on the 26th lap and restart dead last. His ascent was methodical to the top 15, but contact with Christian Rose and… his teammate was to tarnish his end of the race six laps from the finish. Benefiting from the free pass, he consoled himself by finishing in the leader’s lap.
Arias explains his race in detail: “So we started p23. Had some electrical issues with the car on Thursday. Which only allowed me practicing for 5 minutes. Didn’t have the chance to work on the car or feel the car for the race . My whole mindset for the race was to move forward and gain as many spots as we could. My car started very loose which caused me to lose it around lap 20, came in fixed that.
“After that was game on. Started moving forward from last place. With 10 laps to go I got squeezed into the dirty part of the track going three wide, I was In the middle. Which made us hit another car and the wall. But we managed to finish the race P16 , on the lead lap. I wish we had more laps. I had the consistency to be a least 12 or 13 position.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 (+1 DNS) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8th (2x) | 3 starts, best result 16th |
No. 6 Jake Drew (Bruncati Racing) Start 15th – Fin 13th
Much has already been said about the 2022 championship won by Jake Drew. But here are two additional proofs, if any more were needed, that he is an immense champion. Which ones? He is humble and the icing on the cake always admits his mistakes. Mistakes he has not made many this year.
Let Drew explain his race: “With knowing all I had to do was take the green to become champion, I really wanted to take the opportunity to have a stress free day again and just take it all in and learn. The race in my eyes was a roller coaster being as far up as 3rd and as far back as outside the top 15 I believe. A 13th place results was not at all what I expected but a tight car and some mistakes of mine at the end pushed us down.
“I had so much relief at the end of the race. I got to do my first burnout, I celebrated with my team, family, and fans. I felt I was leaving a dream that I never thought would come true and I can’t give enough thanks to Bob Bruncati and his amazing family for giving drivers like me the opportunity to live their dreams. I’m privileged to deliver Bob a championship in his farewell season and honored to be just a small part in his legacy in the West series.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 20 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 1st (4x) | 4 starts, best result : 5th |
No. 7 Takuma Koga (Jerry Pitts Racing) Start 22nd – Fin 15th
Discreet race for Koga but effective as he finished 15th, equaling his best result obtained in the past in Phoenix. For that he benefited from the free pass halfway through the race, but managed to have a good pace in the second segment.
That said, the most important thing is that Koga is ending the 2022 season, his career best, while already announcing that he will be back next year: “I’m glad I managed to lead lap 15th finish. I’m really looking forward to the next season!.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 101 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 5th (4x) | 10 starts, best result : 15th |
No. 9 Tanner Reif (Bruncati Racing) Start 13th – Fin 10th
Objective achieved for Tanner in Phoenix as he consolidates his second position in the championship by beating once again Cole Moore. In addition, he obtains the title of ROTY, a great reward for the one who will have been one of the revelations of the 2022 season, all series combined. He ended the season with a hard-fought top 10, once again demonstrating his ability to increase his level of play while always remaining very clean on the track. He will be the big favorite for the championship in 2023.
“And that’s a wrap! Second place in Points and Rookie of the year picking up two wins and two poles. Not bad for my first year! Congrats Jake Drew on the championship! I’ve learned so much this year and I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people. Can’t wait to see where my future takes me! Thanks to everyone who helped me this year. So glad I could be part of the team for the final year of Sunrise Ford Racing and Bob Bruncati. Glad we could end it on such a good note.” Tanner says.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 11 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1st (2x) | 2 starts, best result 10th |
No. 11 Chris Lowden (Lowden Jackson Motorsports) Start 30th – Fin 30th DNS
Incredibly, although he did not start, Lowden achieved his best result in Phoenix with a 30th position, against 31st at the start of the year. Too bad for him that he could not take part in the final.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th (2x) | 2 starts, best result : 30th |
No. 13 Todd Souza (Central Coast Racing) Start 16th – Fin 5th
What a great result for Souza and CCR with a fifth position. He will have fought for the top 10 throughout the race and will take full advantage of the second overtime to gain two additional positions and obtain his first top-five in Phoenix. The Ford prepared with the technical support of DGR was simply a formidable machine. With 10 top-10s in 11 races and the third position in the championship, 2022 is the best career season for the veteran. And thanks to this revival, he who at the start of the year announced that he was doing his last full season, now confirms that he will return in 2023 with the firm intention of winning his first championship!
Kelly Souza, his wife and owner telling us: “Fifth place in a national race and wrapped up the season tied for third in the final points standings. Yes it was a great day. So proud of my team and incredibly happy for my husband. We are a single car team running amongst giants. Our team is one of the most special ones out there and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I only wish I got one photo with us all! Special thank you to David Gilliland Racing – DGR and Tab Boyd. We are grateful for your help and friendship! See ya all in ‘23!”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 108 | 1 | 19 | 61 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 13 starts, best result : 5th |
No. 15 Parker Chase (Venturini Motorsports) Start 11th – Fin 8th
A good top-10 for Chase who was able to glimpse victory at some point following problems and penalties for Jesse Love and Sammy Smith and accidents for Taylor Gray and Conner Jones. Yes, but his end of the race was laborious and his fight with Jake Finch will leave its mark. However, he obtained his best result in his career for his third race in Phoenix.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8th | 3 starts, best result : 8th |
No. 16 Landen Lewis (Bill McAnally Racing) Start 14th – Fin 6th
This sixth position is a good result but Lewis was for a good part of the race a candidate for the top-five or even better despite a poor qualifying session. However, a good last restart and he ended the season on a high note.
And Bill McAnally hints at a future with Lewis as he tells us: “Landen Lewis grew his confidence and knowledge great learning race for him look forward to take him back in the spring. The last two Restarts were great good gains.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 1 race, best result 6th |
No. 17 Buddy Shepherd (McGowan Motorsports with Cook Racing Technologies) Start 10th – Fin 11th
Shepherd was consistent throughout the race, remaining around 10th position. He barely misses the top-10 but it remains a good race, full of maturity for him who was discovering Phoenix. One thing is certain, after a successful return to Las Vegas, we all hope to see Shepherd again next year for a full-time season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3rd | 1 start, best result 11th |
No. 18 Sammy Smith (Kyle Busch Motorsports) Start 1st – Fin 1st
Disgusting his opponents as he was faster than them throughout the two days in Phoenix. Faster in qualifying with a new track record, he could have put a lap on his nearest rival if there hadn’t been so many yellow flags. The only stain on his performance, his lack of acceptance that the first position does not belong to him exclusively. His penalty for deliberately bumping Taylor Gray who had just passed him was deserved.
Honestly Smith didn’t need that to win. His ascent once the free pass was obtained was meteoric! Going from 20th position to first in just six laps! This race was a reflection of his season, exceptionally successful. He had by far the best car, all ARCA series combined and he knew how to take advantage of it. A big congratulations.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1st | 3 starts, best result 1st |
No. 20 Jesse Love (Venturini Motorsports) Start 2nd – Fin 2nd
Second in qualifying, second in the race… He couldn’t do anything against Smith. Like him, he lost a lap (here for a problem during his pit stop halfway through the race) and like him, he made a good comeback after obtaining the free pass. But still a tone below his opponent. But the two-time 2020-21 West champion finally gets his first top-five in Phoenix.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 22 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 1st (5x) | 5 starts, best result 2nd |
No. 21 RJ Smotherman (Lowden Jackson Motorsports with Holleran-Wood Racing) Start 26th – Fin 26th Ignition
Definitely since his seventh position at Roseville, Smotherman’s other races were hampered by mechanical problems and even a penalty following a bad restart here at Phoenix. Really a shame because after obtaining the free pass at mid-race, he had a better pace.
“Bad luck struck again in Phoenix. Made solid ground this weekend was up to 17th before we got a pass through for going below the start finish line then had something electrical go wrong causing us another DNF. We will be back stronger for next year.
“Thanks to Chris Lowden for giving me these awesome opportunities, Stoneys Rockin Country, Wulfunstien Construction, Affordable Autos, Snowden’s Landscape, Axe Exterminators, Tony, Matt, Dave, Christopher, Monica at Jackson Racecars, my dad, mom, Dylin, grandma and grandpa, Isaac, Don Zoll Jr., Sean and everyone else who helps us out on this deal.” Smotherman says.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th | 1 start, best result 26th |
No. 25 Conner Jones (Venturini Motorsports) Start 5th – Fin 28th crash
Here is a pilot who does not like the phrase “being in the wrong place at the wrong time”. And yet that sums up his race perfectly. Fast and a candidate for at least a top-five, he was going to be pinned against the wall at turn 3 by Taylor Gray after the latter was spun by Sammy Smith at the start of the second segment of the race. What more can I say than disappointment.
| 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) Start 29th – Fin 22nd
With his brand new car, acquired a few days before the final, Hillis had warned that the Phoenix race would serve as a test session for next season, which he will do full time. Cautious at the start of the race, he spun off 13 laps from the finish with dying tyres. Involved in a chain reaction during the second overtime, he crossed the finish line like a relief!
Hillis explains his race in detail: “We were there basically just to shake the car down, find any bugs, and prepare for next year. Definitely found a few bugs! Both springs in the front were too heavy and therefore the nose wasn’t dropping on corner entry.
“Because of that the car wasn’t using all of the front tires. The inside 3 1/2 inches of the left front was completely unused and part of the sticker was still there. The outside edge was into the cords. The right front was only used in the middle and both of the outside 2 inches was unused. Because the front end wasn’t working properly the rest of the set-up was junk. Every time I tried to pick up the pace, whether it was low middle or high, the car was extremely loose and there was no lateral bite.
“Spun out twice because of that but managed not to hit anything or be hit. Thought we were going to get out of there clean despite everything and with a top twenty finish. Was not to be! Restart with only two to go and someone turned someone a few rows in front of me. Chain reaction as everyone checked up as they were running into each other.
“For me I had just shifted into 4th and was full throttle as it happened. Got into the guy in front of me and then hit the wall. Car is somewhat wounded but not too bad. Parked it because there were cords showing on the outside edge of the left front because of the nose not working properly. Finished 22nd I think. Going to change out the springs, fix the body damage, and possibly go test at Bakersfield to test. We’ll be ready for Phoenix in March!”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 91 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8th (1x) | 19 starts, best result : 11th |
No. 40 Carson Hocevar (Niece Motorsports) Start 7th – Fin 29th Track bar / crash
Coming just to get more seat time in Phoenix to prepare for his Camping World Truck Series race, Hocevar showed he had good speed by qualifying in seventh place. After losing a few positions at the start, he was starting to pick up the pace when he lost the back of his Chevrolet on Turn 2 and was about to crash into the outside wall. Back in the pitlane to find that the damage was too great, which was synonymous with abandonment.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29th | 1 start, best result 29th |
No. 41 Tyler Reif (Lowden Jackson Motorsports) start 24th – Fin 12th
Great performance from Tyler who methodically climbed to the gates of the top-10 despite qualifying at the back of the pack. This twelfth position promises for the future. Because he was discovering Phoenix and unlike the top-10 drivers, he is in a very small team which, like him, learns at each race.
Tyler saying: “What a experience at Phoenix. Struggled all day in practice ending up P24 in qualifying changed the car setup after practice and she was fast for the race! Drove it all the way up to 10th and got a bad call under a caution setting me back a couple positions, we ended the night of in 12th. Super excited for next year with this team! Big thanks to Tony Jackson for thrashing and getting this car working good!”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | 1 start, best result 12th |
No. 42 Christian Rose (Cook Racing Technologies) Start 18th – Fin 21st crash
When things are wrong, they are wrong. The Phoenix race was like Christian Rose’s 2022 season, an ordeal… What bad luck for this driver… Virtually no race without a technical problem or an accident(s). And here Rose drank the chalice to the dregs.. Involved in four of the 10 yellow flags… Many drivers regret having crossed his path in Phoenix… He must be happy that 2022 is over, which will allow him to focus 100% on next season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7th | 2 starts, best result 21st |
No. 51 Andres Perez de Lara (David Gilliland Racing) Start 3rd – Fin 3rd
As during his debut in Las Vegas, the young Mexican made a very good copy. Faster in qualifying than his teammate and last winner in Phoenix last March Taylor Gray, he started the race sluggishly, losing several positions. Eighth a few laps before the halfway mark, he started the second segment perfectly and was in contention for victory and held first position with authority once Sammy Smith was relegated one lap down.
But if there is one driver who must hate the free pass rule, it is him. .. Because once Smith is back in the leader lap, he won’t be able to do anything to prevent him from winning.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2nd | 1 start, best result 3rd |
No. 54 Joey Iest (Naake-Klauer Motorsports) Start 17th – Fin 24th Crash
Joey Iest did not have much luck in 2022. Qualified in the middle of the pack, he had climbed back to the top 10 a first time before falling back slightly at the start of the second segment. As he regained positions he will be hooked by Kyle Keller who had just left in spun following contact with Christian Rose.
Nowhere to go for Joey who was on the inside line of Turn 4. Retirement… “Tight on the short runs and got faster on the long runs…”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 24 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 5 starts, best result : 12th |
No. 55 Landon Pembelton (Venturini Motorsports) Start 12th – Fin 4th
Correct race even if a little below his teammates in terms of race pace. But he took full advantage of the fights during the second overtime to enter the top-five. He did the job and finished best driver behind the trio of untouchables.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4th | 1 start, best result 4th |
No. 70 Kyle Keller (Jerry Pitts Racing) Start 19th – Fin 25th Crash
The 2022 season had started with an accident in March here in Phoenix, which would prevent him from making the season full time. And bad luck for Keller, it also ends in an accident. Left in spun following a contact with Christian Rose, the second shock with Joey Iest was violent. Fortunately, no injuries. Too bad because he was racing smart. Phoenix will not have succeeded for him. Meanwhile, his return with Jerry Pitts will have demonstrated one thing, Kyle is very fast, especially on short tracks.
Keller saying: “Had a learning experience day at Phoenix Raceway! I can’t thank Craig Keough and Star Nursery for coming on board for this weekend had a great car from the whole Jerry Pitts and KKR team! Stinks on the finish but hey that’s racing! Thank you to all my sponsors and crew!”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 10 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 4th (3x) | 2 starts, best result : 25th |
No. 71 Taylor Gray (David Gilliland Racing) Start 4th – Fin 27th Crash
Big disappointment for Gray who could make the sweep in Phoenix this year. As explained above, he was pushed by Sammy Smith. The accident destroying the entire rear of his Ford Mustang. Without it, he was still in contention for victory. His 13th start in the West Series will not have brought him luck.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 13 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1st (5x) | 5 starts, best result 1st |
No. 81 TBA (Kyle Busch Motorsports) WITHDRAW
No. 83 Jalen Mack (Mack Motorsports) WITHDRAW
No. 84 Bradley Erickson (Naake-Klauer Motorsports) Start 8th – Fin 7th
Excellent race from rookie Erickson who confirms his good performance in Las Vegas by obtaining his second seventh consecutive position. And in addition he discovered Phoenix. He will have done the whole race in the top 10. Speed, control and good management of restarts. Was it really a rookie who was driving the No. 84? We can ask ourselves the question. With him Mike Naake has found an excellent driver and he will be one to watch closely in 2023.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7th (2x) | 1 start, best result 7th |
No. 88 Bridget Burgess (BMI Racing) Start 28th – Fin 17th
Nice race from Bridget in an aggressive pack! There were many contacts. After benefiting from the free pass on the 94th lap, she gained positions and found herself 14th. The second overtime was going to cost her three positions but her overall performance given the microscopic size of her team compared to those fighting for victory remains a quality performance.
Note that she became the female driver with the most starts in Phoenix in the history of the West Series with five. Unfortunately, BMI’s adventure in the West Series could end there… To be continued.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 31 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7th (2x) | 5 starts, best result : 17th |
No. 99 Cole Moore (Bill McAnally Racing) Start 21st – Fin 14th
Poorly qualified, Moore started the race with a car that was difficult to handle in all corners… Out of the game due to this ineffective basic setup, he and his team were unable to correct the situation despite major adjustments during the midway break. Moore finishing the race anonymously in 14th position. It was therefore without being able to compete with him that he had to concede second place in the championship to Tanner Reif.
Bill McAnally closing with: “Cole and the team missed the setup and he had his hand full, Phoenix isn’t a track to have a car that the driver isn’t 100% confident in.”
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Phoenix |
| 28 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 4 starts, best result : 10th |
The 2022 season of the ARCA Menards West Series is over. Rest assured, we will keep you informed throughout the off-season of new arrivals. In addition, some historical articles will enhance the off months.
Thank you to all the drivers, owners, crew members,… who answered our questions throughout the year. We’re just trying here to bring to all the fans the stories big or small that have made the West Series such a great adventure for 69 years.
See you in March 2023 for the 70th season!