It has only been a mere 2 months since Sean Hingorani claimed his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series West championship title at Phoenix Raceway, The ARCA Menards Series West is ready to make the first of 12 races this season as it all begins this Saturday, January 25 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The race is set for 150 laps around the half-mile paved oval in Bakersfield, California.
With no plans announced if back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West champion Sean Hingorani will return to defend the title once again, this opens up the door to numerous contenders for the title at season’s end but also for Saturday’s competition.
The driver of the No. 50 High Point Racing Ford is poised to continue to make himself a title threat as Trevor Huddleston is one of three full-time ARCA Menards Series West competitors returning from the 2024 campaign. Huddleston drove to back-to-back wins last season at Madera Speedway and All-American Speedway leading a total of 295 laps from both races including leading flag to flag at All-American Speedway. This will be Huddleston’s eighth attempt at capturing that elusive trophy by the time all is said and done in November at Phoenix Raceway. Huddleston finished third in the points last season.
2024 ARCA Menards Series Rookie Of The Year recipient Eric Johnson Jr. is back in 2025 with a brand-new team, Jerry Pitts Racing, where he’ll pilot the No. 5 Toyota.
Central Coast Racing will field two cars on Saturday with Tanner Reif, older brother of Tyler Reif who drove for Central Coast Racing last season, driving the No. 13 Toyota. Reif will be teamed up with Spanish driver Adrián Ferrer, who will be making his ARCA Menards Series West debut this weekend in the team’s No. 3 Toyota.
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver, and 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric will be piloting Bill McAnally’s No. 19 Napa Auto Care Chevrolet. Hemric is tapped to drive the No. 19 for McAnally-Hilgemann in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series full-time in 2025.
Some other notable entries looking to make a statement at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway include former NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Spencer Davis in the No. 42 Cook Racing Technologies Chevrolet, Blake Lothian in the No. 51 Chevrolet for Strike Mamba Racing and will team up with Cody Dennison, who just announced earlier in the week that he will compete part-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for Reaume Brothers Racing in the 2025 season will be in the No. 72 Chevrolet.
The West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall Of Fame 150 will air this Saturday, January 25 on Flo Racing at 6:30 PM EST/ 3:20 PM EST.
