By Vincent Delforge, Special to Kickin’ the Tires
This Saturday, July 27, we are moving into the second half of the 2024 ARCA Menards West Series season. The Shasta 150 seventh race of the year contested at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, CA.
This 0.375 mile oval is an old acquaintance of the West Series. Indeed between 1967 and 2023, the short track was visited 15 times. Only the 2015 and 2023 races was contested on the current 0.375 mile oval. The first 13 races were contested on the old 0.333 mile layout.
A clash of dates with the ARCA Menards Series national series, which runs this Saturday, July 27 in Salem, OR, has forced Venturini Motorsports to make a logistical choice. With the team focusing on the Salem race, it will not be present in California, forcing Sean Hingorani to find a backup solution to continue his 2024 quest for a second consecutive West Series crown. Hingorani who is reunited with Jerry Pitts Racing as was the case earlier in the season on the two road races in Portland, OR and Sonoma, CA.
Will Hingorani, who won the race last year, make it two? It would be an achievement if he won the race, as he would be the first driver since Bobby Allison in 1980 (Portland in August with owner Ron Esau and Mesa Marin in November with owner Charles Williamson) to win races for two different teams in the same year. It is therefore statistically a very rare thing in the modern history of the West Series (post 1972).
To do so, he will have to beat the twelve other drivers entered. Indeed, there are only 13 registered. The smallest starting field in the West Series tied with the Portland road race in September 2022. The reason is the absence of Performance P1 Motorsports (car No. 77) for family reasons concerning the family of owner Joe Nava.
Another absence is Fierce Creature Racing, the team of owner/driver Bobby Hillis, Jr. (Cars No. 0 and No. 27) which is skipping the bullring races and will return for the Bakersfield and Phoenix races at the end of the season. Lowden-Jackson Motorsports (car No. 41) is also not making the trip from Nevada due to lack of budget. As for Naake-Klauer Motorsports (car No. 88), the team is focusing on an important race of its other program in TransAm in the TA2 category.
But on a .375 mile bullring, with very tight turns, the show will be there even with 13 cars.
Note the presence of Derek Copeland who will be at the wheel of No. 80. He had already tried the shot last year but was unable to take the start due to engine problems.
ARCA Menards West Series stats at Shasta Speedway.
-71st season in history.
-Race No. 1023 since the inception of the West Series in 1954.
-2024 race No. 7 of 12.
This will be the 16th race since 1967.
As far as statistics are concerned, of the 15 races already contested in Shasta Speedway we can highlight:
Manufacturer
Win: Chevrolet (4), Pontiac (3), Oldsmobile (3), Ford (2), Toyota (2) and Buick (1)
Pole: Chevrolet (6), Buick (3), Ford (3), Pontiac (2), Oldsmobile (1)
Race car number
Win: #78 (3), #01 (2), #73 (2), #7 (1), #15 (1), #37 (1), #45 (1), #48 (1), #75 (1), #95 (1), #99 (1)
Pole: #01 (3), #73 (3), #98 (3), #7 (1), #10 (1), #17 (1), #20 (1), #45 (1), #50 (1)
Owner
Win: Gerald Cracker (2), Lois Williams (2), Marshall Chesrown (1), Bill Clinton (1), Ron Eaton (1), George Jefferson (1), Bill McAnally (1), Bill Schmitt (1), Jim Schmitt (1), Wayne Spears (1), Bill Venturini (1), Jim Walker (1), Jack Williams (1)
Pole: Gerald Cracker (4), John Kieper (2), Bill Schmitt (2), Bill Clinton (1), Tom Craigen (1), Ron Eaton (1), Tim Huddleston (1), Steve McGowan (1), Bill Morehart (1), Charles Williamson (1)
Driver
Win: Jim Robinson (3), Jimmy Insolo (2), Bill Schmitt (2), Scotty Cain (1), Rick Carelli (1), Derrike Cope (1), Ron Eaton (1), Chris Eggleston (1), Sean Hingorani (1), Bill Sedgwick (1), Jim Walker (1)
Pole: Bill Schmitt (3), Chuck Bown (2), Jim Bown (2), Ron Eaton (2), Scotty Cain (1), Rick Carelli (1), Trevor Huddleston (1), Jimmy Insolo (1), Dirk Stephens (1), Tim Williamson (1)
Crew chief
Win: Jim Schmitt (4), Jim Gibson (3), Leon Ruther (2), Roger Bracken (1), Joe Garone/David Ifft (1), Rick Harper (1), Jackie Johnson (1), Chris Kingvogel (1), Kevin Reed, Jr. (1)
Pole: Jackie Johnson (2), Richard Kieper (2), Dick Bown (1), Bill Clinton (1), Tom Craigen (1), Chris Kingvogel (1), Corey LaJoie (1), Lloyd McCleary (1), Bill Morehart (1), Leon Ruther (1), Jim Schmitt (1), Jeff Schrader (1), Charles Williamson (1)
-Jim Robinson is the most successful driver at Irwindale with three wins. In all, 11 different drivers have won at least one race.
-The track record (for the 0.375 layout) is owned by David Mayhew at 85.050 mph achieved in 2015.
-The poleman has won the race 4 times.
-Jim Robinson won the race in 1982 from 9th position on the starting grid, which is a record.
-As far as yellow flags are concerned, the record is eight in 1992. The 1992 race holds the record for the number of yellow flag laps with 47.
– The 1976 and 1977 races holds the record for the fewest caution with zero.
-The most leader changes occurred in 1992 with 6. The fewest leader change is zero in 1967.
-The largest starting field was in July 1978 (race #1) with 26 cars.
-The smallest starting field was in 1967 with 12 cars.
The race will be 150 laps (56.250 miles) and all track activities will be concentrated on the single day of Saturday with the single practice from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. PT. The General Tire Pole Qualifying at 6 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. PT and finally the 150-laps race at 8:45 p.m. PT.
The Race Procedure
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Shasta 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: Starting position will be set by each car’s fastest recorded lap in General Tire Pole Qualifying (single car/two laps).
RACE PIT STOP: Pitting during any caution period in this event will be for adding fuel, 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 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 change must be approved by an ARCA official.
Among the thirteen drivers, four will discover the Shasta Speedway.
The Drivers
No. 05 David Smith (Shockwave Racing)
After two 15th positions during the doubleheader on the Irwindale Speedway, the Canadian intends to get his second top-10 in his career. To do this, he will first try to finish the race without incident. Last year he was 15th out of 17 cars. With his crew chief Brandon Carlson, they have a great opportunity to score their first top-10 of the season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10th | 1 start, best result : 15th |
No. 1 Robbie Kennealy (Kennealy Keller Motorsports)
The major engine problem that forced Kennealy to withdraw from both races at Irwindale is still having negative effects and Robbie announces that he will have to do a start and park at Shasta. Too bad. Let’s hope that the situation improves for Saturday. The low number of entries could encourage KKM to do more laps or to return to the track in the event of other competitors withdrawing in order to try to pick up a few precious points in the owners’ standings. Robbie will discover the track with a West Series car. John Keller will be the crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 10 (2 DNS) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5th | n/a |
No. 3 Todd Souza (Central Coast Racing)
Tenth last year, it was here that Todd gave up his seat in his iconic No. 13 to Tyler Reif. With the No. 3, he has finally had two satisfying races at Irwindale. Jason Dickenson, his crew chief, is counting on helping Todd get his first top-five of the season.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 126 | 1 | 22 | 72 | 0 | 1st (1x) | 1 start, best result : 10th |
No. 5 Sean Hingorani (Jerry Pitts Racing)
Winner last year here with Venturini Motorsports, Hingorani is back at Jerry Pitts Racing for this Californian race. He had already driven for the team earlier in the season on the two road races. The team is performing well here as proven by the third position obtained last year by Kole Raz with the Toyota flanked by the No. 5. Dustin Ash will be the crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 23 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 1st (6x) | 1 start, best result : 1st |
No. 7 Takuma Koga (Jerry Pitts Racing)
The long green flag of 112 laps last year had sealed the hopes of a good result for the Japanese who lost too much time due to not having a competitive enough pace. He had even been beaten by Souza during the final sprint for tenth position. He intends to do better this year especially since he likes bullrings. Denny Moyer will of course be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 112 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 5th (4x) | 1 start, best result : 11th |
No. 12 Kyle Keller (Kennealy Keller Motorsports)
A good sixth position last year rewarded Keller’s efforts, who rode for his own family team. This year with KKM he has not yet obtained a podium but his consistency in the top-10 allows him to be in fifth position in the championship. Brian Kizer will be his crew chief. Together they intend to unlock their victory counter.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 28 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 4th (3x) | 1 start, best result : 6th |
No. 13 Tyler Reif (Central Coast Racing)
For his debut in the No. 13 CCR last year, Tyler had shown that he could play the leading roles right from the start. But a shock problem would relegate him out of the top-10. He lost the championship lead in the last race at Irwindale to Hingorani but the youngest of the Reif brothers intends to get his property back by obtaining his first victory of the season. For this, the experienced crew chief Michael Munoz will be of invaluable help to him.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 20 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 1st | 1 start, best result : 14th |
No. 16 Jack Wood (Bill McAnally Racing)
Things are getting better and better for Jack Wood and his second position in the last race at Irwindale proves it. Like his teammate, he will discover the Shasta oval with a West Series car. But with Kevin Bellicourt, his crew chief, that is not what scares him and we will have to keep a close eye on the No. 16. BMR having already won a race here with Chris Eggleston in 2015. Let us recall that it is here that the BMR adventure began in the West Series. It was with Bill McAnally himself as a driver and it goes back to 1992.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 25 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 2nd | n/a |
No. 19 Eric Johnson, Jr. (Bill McAnally Racing)
The rookie will discover this bullring and with John Camilleri, his crew chief, the objective will be to get as close as possible to the top-five. Johnson, Jr. who still has to learn on ovals of less than half a mile.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7th | n/a |
No. 23 Jaron Giannini (Sigma Performance Services)
Very convincing at Irwindale, the rookie has a new opportunity to prove his worth with the excellent No. 23 car. He will discover Shasta with this type of car but his crew chief Chris Bray will give him everything he needs to aim for nothing less than victory.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5th | n/a |
No. 50 Trevor Huddleston (High Point Racing)
Polesitter last year at Shasta, Huddleston led the first 111 laps before colliding with backmarker Tyler Reif while battling with Sean Hingorani to hold on to his leadership. He would finish second in the race. Jeff Schrader, his crew chief, is looking to help Trevor get back to winning ways and put him back in the running for the 2024 championship.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 71 | 3 | 26 | 57 | 2 | 1st (3x) | 1 start, best result : 2nd |
No. 71 Nick Joanides (Jan’s Racing)
The excellent car used at Irwindale will remain at the race shop to make way for a new car, a chassis more suited to the bullrings. However, this will be its first use and the team hopes to be up to the task. The setup will be determined because the car’s first run will take place at Shasta. Last year with PP1M Joanides had obtained the eighth position. The top-five objective will be difficult but remains a realistic objective for Jan’s Racing and its crew chief Rip Michels.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 34 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 4th (2x) | 1 start, best result : 8th |
No. 80 Derek Copeland (Derek Copeland Racing)
For his big debut last year here in the West Series, Brian Kamisky’s usual crew chief did quite well, setting the 13th time in practice. Unfortunately his engine was damaged during the session and could not be repaired for the race. He will therefore not be able to start on his hometrack. We wish him better luck this year. Brian Kamisky will be his crew chief.
| Starts | Wins | Top5 | Top10 | Pole | Best result | At Shasta |
| 1 (DNS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17th | 1 start (DNS), best result : 17th |
Final notes
The race will be broadcast live on Flo Racing.