It just felt like it was two months ago that the ARCA Menards Series West took on the tight turns of Irwindale Speedway.. because it was. Now it’s time to run it back at the famous short track in Southern California for the NAPA Auto Parts BlueDEF 150.
This marks the sixth race of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West. Former winners include Cup Series driver Todd Gilliland, ARCA Points Series leader Jesse Love, Greg Pursley, Chris Eggleston, Tanner Reif, and Jake Drew. Earlier this season, it was the rookie Sean Hingorani who took home his first career ARCA West Series win in an over Portland race winner Landen Lewis.
Introspection for Irwindale
Looking ahead to this weekend’s race, Hingorani is looking to double it down at the bullring. Since his win earlier this year, the 16-year-old Newport Beach CA, native bagged a second career win at Kern County. He’s also made a slew of both ARCA East and main ARCA Menards Series starts. However, he is still second in points.
After taking home his second career ARCA West Series win at Portland International Raceway, Landen Lewis is looking to rebound after a disappointed 19th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway. The Ocean Isle Beach, NC native still holds the West Series points lead only by 12 points over Hingorani and the Venturini No. 15.
Looking to join Lewis on the rebound after the road course is Tyler Reif. After taking the West season opener at Phoenix, and a few top ten’s he has finished outside the 10 ten in the last two races at Portland (15th) and Sonoma (17th). The Henderson, NV native sits fourth in points minus 23 of the leader.
Making his ARCA platform debut at the half-mile paved oval is Robbie Kennealy in the No. 1 car. The Madera, CA won a $5,000 Pro Late Model race earlier this year at Madera Speedway.
Other notables entering the race include Bradley Erickson, who sits third in points and has finished in the top ten every single race this season. Trevor Huddleston, who led 72 of the 150 laps in race earlier this season at Irwindale, and also looks to rebound after finishing 28th with a mechanical issue. Kyle Keller, Todd Souza, Takuma Koga, Ethan and Eric Nascimento.
Official Entry List for the NAPA Auto Parts BlueDEF 150 from Irwindale Speedway
| Entry | No. | Driver | Team | CREW CHIEF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Robbie Kennealy | Robbie Kennealy Wiley X / American Swim Academy / Cover Ease | Thomas Martin |
| 2 | 4 | Eric Nascimento | Nascimento Motorsports Impact Transp / Phillipos Brothers Fab / Paul Cardoso Toyota | Ty Joyner |
| 3 | 05 | David Smith | Shockwave Motorsports Shockwave Maring Suspension Seating Toyota | Brandon Carlson |
| 4 | 7 | Takuma Koga | Jerry Pitts Racing Rise Up Toyota | Denny Moyer |
| 5 | 13 | Todd Souza | Central Coast Racing Central Coast Cabinets Ford | Michael Munoz |
| 6 | 15 | Sean Hingorani | Venturini Motorsports Mobil 1 Toyota | Kevin Reed Jr |
| 7 | 16 | Tanner Reif | Bill McAnally Racing NAPA AutoCare Chevrolet | John Camilleri |
| 8 | 17 | Landen Lewis | McGowan Motorsports MMI Chevrolet | Richard Mason |
| 9 | 21 | Ethan Nascimento | Nascimento Motorsports Impact Transp / Phillipos Brothers Fab / Paul Cardoso Toyota | |
| 10 | 41 | Tyler Reif | Lowden Jackson Motorsports Travel Nevada / Power Gen Components / Stoneys Ford | Tony Jackson |
| 11 | 46 | RJ Smotherman | Lowden Jackson Motorsports Stoney's / Country AF Radio Ford | Dave Jackson |
| 12 | 50 | Trevor Huddleston | High Point Racing High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford | Jeff Schrader |
| 13 | 55 | Jake Bollman | High Point Racing High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford | Travis Thirkettle |
| 14 | 70 | Kyle Keller | Jerry Pitts Racing KISMIF Foundation / EverReady Health / Battle Born Ford | Brian Kizer |
| 15 | 77 | Nick Joanides | Performance P-1 Motorsports Jan's Towing / King Taco / Wallace Sign Ford | |
| 16 | 83 | Jalen Mack | Mack Motorsports Mack Automotive / NAPA Auto Care Centers / Roadrunner Chevrolet | Brian Kennon |
| 17 | 88 | Bradley Erickson | Naake-Klauer Motorsports L&S Framing / Podium Club Ford | Mike Naake |
You can catch the NAPA Auto Parts BlueDEF 150 from Irwindale Speedway live on FloRacing on Saturday, July 1st at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
