2023 ARCA Menards Series East

William Sawalich, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion.
Luke Fenhaus finished second in the championship by 58 points.
Lavar Scott finished third in the championship by 69 points.

The 2023 ARCA Menards Series East was the 37th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on March 25 with the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway and ended on September 14 with the Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Sammy Smith, the defending series champion in 2021 and 2022, moved up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series to run full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023 and therefore did not return to run full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and defend his title. William Sawalich replaced him in the No. 18 car in 2023, which went back to being owned by JGR after being owned by Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2022.[1] At the conclusion of the season, Sawalich clinched the ARCA Menards Series East championship.[2]

Teams and drivers

Note: If a driver is listed as their own crew chief for a particular race, that means that their entry in that race was a start and park.

Complete schedule

Manufacturer Team No. Driver Crew chief
Chevrolet Pinnacle Racing Group[3] 28 Luke Fenhaus (R)[4] Shane Huffman[3]
Rev Racing 6 Lavar Scott (R)[5] Jay Lupo
Rise Motorsports 31 Rita Goulet (R) 6[6] Sebastian LaForge 1
Tim Goulet 6
Rita Goulet 1
Derrick McGrew Jr. 1
Tim Goulet 1
Toyota Fast Track Racing 11 Zachary Tinkle[7] Todd Parrott
Joe Gibbs Racing 18 William Sawalich (R)[1] Matt Ross
Shearer Speed Racing 98 Dale Shearer[8] Jimmy Edlin 2
Alex Malycke 5
Neal Shearer 1
Venturini Motorsports 15 Sean Hingorani (R) 7[9] Kevin Reed Jr. 6
Monon Rahman 1
Cayden Lapcevich 1
Conner Jones 1
20 Jake Finch 2 Johnny Allen 1
Shannon Rursch 7
Gio Ruggiero 1
Billy Venturini 1
Jesse Love 4[10]
Ford 3
Chevrolet 5 		Brad Smith Motorsports 48 Brad Smith 7[11][N 1] Carlos Leon 1
Terry Strange 1
Jeff Smith 3
Steve Garrow 1
Leo Kryger 1
Rick Redig-Tackman 1 Rick Tackman Jr.
Ford 2
Toyota 4
Chevrolet 2 		Fast Track Racing 01 Dallas Frueh 3 Dallas Frueh 2
Tim Monroe 2
Josh Duke 1
Nathan Davis 3
Tim Monroe 2[N 2]
Brayton Laster 3
Ford 5
Toyota 3 		10 Ed Pompa 2 Dick Doheny 3
Tim Monroe 3
Mike Sroufe 1
Ron Vandermeir Sr. 1
Tim Monroe 4[N 2]
Ron Vandermeir Jr. 1[N 3]
D. L. Wilson 1
Toyota 3
Chevrolet 1
Ford 4 		12 Tim Monroe 2[N 2] Tim Monroe 2
John Szulczewski 1
Daylan Hairston 1
Dick Doheny 3
Jeremy Petty 1
C. J. McLaughlin 1
Stephanie Moyer 1
Ryan Roulette 2
Matt Kemp 1
D. L. Wilson 1

Limited schedule

Manufacturer Team No. Driver Crew chief Rounds
Chevrolet Costner Weaver Motorsports 93 Isaac Johnson Riley Higgins 1[12]
CR7 Motorsports 97 Grant Enfinger Todd Myers 1
Landen Lewis[13] 1
Mullins Racing 3 Landon Pembelton[14] Austin Simmons 1[14]
Niece Motorsports 42 Matt Gould Sean Samuels 1
Rev Racing 2 Andrés Pérez de Lara[5] Jamie Jones 4
51 Jack Wood Steve Plattenberger 1
Veer Motorsports[N 4] 66 Jon Garrett[15] Mike Sroufe 4
Ford AM Racing[16] 32 Christian Rose[17] Ryan London 4
Brad Smith Motorsports 49 Jeff Smith Jeff Smith 1[18]
Charles Buchanan Racing 87 Chuck Buchanan Jr. Craig Wood 1
Clubb Racing Inc. 03 Alex Clubb[19] Brian Clubb 2
Casey Carden Alex Clubb 1
Greg Van Alst Motorsports[20] 35 Greg Van Alst Jim Long[20] 2
Lowden Jackson Motorsports 41 Tyler Reif (R)[21] Tony Jackson 1
46 R. J. Smotherman David Jackson 1
Rette Jones Racing 30 Frankie Muniz[22] Mark Rette 4
Toyota KLAS Motorsports 73 Andy Jankowiak Mike Dayton 1
MacZink Racing 65 Jeffery MacZink Jarod MacZink 1
MAN Motorsports 95 Tanner Arms Tony Ponkauskas 3[23]
Chris Martin Jr. 1[24]
Phoenix Racing 1 Jake Finch Johnny Allen 3
Venturini Motorsports 25 Conner Jones[25] Kevin Reed Jr. 2
Cayden Lapcevich 3 		4[25]
Toni Breidinger 1[26]
55 Toni Breidinger[26] Cayden Lapcevich 1
Monon Rahman 3 		3[26]
Gus Dean 1
Wayne Peterson Racing 0 Nate Moeller Wayne Peterson 1
06 Nate Moeller Wayne Peterson 2
Nate Moeller 5 		3
A. J. Moyer[27] 4[27]
Ford 4
Toyota 1 		Kimmel Racing 4
Brad Smith Motorsports 1[N 5] 		69 Will Kimmel Bill Kimmel 1
Scott Melton Will Kimmel 1
Mike Basham Zach Berthiaume 2
Brad Smith[N 5][N 1] Jeff Smith 1
Toyota 1
Chevrolet 1 		McGowan Motorsports 17 Landen Lewis Richard Mason 1
Kaden Honeycutt Amber Slagle 1

Notes

  1. ^ a b Brad Smith ran the full season split between the No. 48 car for his own team and the No. 69 Kimmel Racing car which he used the owner points of at Milwaukee.
  2. ^ a b c Monroe ran the full season split between the Nos. 12, 01 and 10 cars for Fast Track Racing.
  3. ^ Entry was fielded in a collaboration with Vanco Racing.
  4. ^ Entries were fielded in a collaboration with Fast Track Racing.
  5. ^ a b It was a Brad Smith Motorsports entry using Kimmel Racing's owner points.

Changes

Teams

  • On December 9, 2022, it was announced that the No. 18 car would go back to being owned by Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023. It was owned by Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2022.[1]
  • On January 8, 2023, it was announced that Tim Goulet Enterprises would rename to Rise Motorsports in 2023 and continue to field the No. 31 car in the main ARCA Series and the East Series for Rita Goulet (nee Thomason) and Stephen Leicht.[28] On February 13, it was announced that they would run the full East Series season with Rita in 2023.[6] Goulet and Leicht were both scheduled to run the main ARCA/East Series combination race at Bristol.[28][6] Goulet would end up swapping out with her husband Tim and Leicht did not run the event.
  • On January 13, 2023, Rev Racing announced that they would field a full-time car in the East Series again in 2023: the No. 6 driven by Lavar Scott. The team had last fielded a full-time East Series car in 2021 and only fielded part-time cars in the East Series in 2022.[5]
  • On January 18, 2023, it was announced that longtime main ARCA Series team Venturini Motorsports would field a full-time car in the East Series for the first time since 2020 in 2023: the No. 15 driven by Sean Hingorani.[9]
  • On February 3, 2023, it was announced that Shane Huffman, who was previously the crew chief for Bret Holmes Racing in the Truck and ARCA Series, would form a new ARCA and late model racing team, Pinnacle Racing Group, with spotter Lorin Ranier and former driver Josh Wise and would run full-time in the East Series in 2023, fielding the No. 28 Chevrolet.[3]
  • On February 24, 2023, it was revealed that Lowden Jackson Motorsports would debut in the East Series in 2023 after purchasing Fords from David Gilliland Racing which switched to Toyota and renamed to TRICON Garage. The team would field the No. 41 Ford driven by Tyler Reif for the full season.[21]

Drivers

  • On December 6, 2022, it was announced that Zachary Tinkle, who ran the full season in the main ARCA Series aside from the race at Mid-Ohio, would run full-time in the East Series in the No. 11 car for Fast Track Racing in 2023. Fast Track was one of the teams he drove part-time for in 2022.[7]
  • On December 9, 2022, it was announced that William Sawalich would drive the No. 18 car part-time in 2023 and the car would go back to being owned by Joe Gibbs Racing. It was owned by Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2022.[1]
  • On January 13, 2023, Rev Racing announced that Lavar Scott, who has been a driver for the team in late model racing, would drive full-time for the team in the East Series in 2023 in their No. 6 car. Andrés Pérez de Lara would also drive for Rev full-time in the main ARCA Series in the No. 2 car and was therefore in the four main combination races the East Series had with the main ARCA Series.[5]
  • On January 18, 2023, it was announced that Sean Hingorani, who drove part-time in the West Series for Nascimento Motorsports and Bill McAnally Racing in 2022, would drive full-time in the East Series for Venturini Motorsports in 2023 in their No. 15 car.[9] Hingorani also drove the same car full-time in the West Series in 2023, attempting to win both championships in the same year.[29]
  • On February 13, 2023, Rise Motorsports announced that Rita Goulet (nee Thomason) would run full-time in the East Series in their No. 31 car in 2023.[6]
  • On February 24, 2023, Tyler Reif revealed to Frontstretch that he would run the full season in the East Series in 2023 in the Lowden Jackson Motorsports No. 41 car in addition to running full-time in the West Series for the team. He attempted to win both championships in the same year.[21]

Schedule

The full schedule was announced on November 22.[30] Some race dates were announced before then.[31][32] There were eight races on the 2023 schedule, up from seven in 2022.

Note: Races highlighted in gold are combination events with the ARCA Menards Series.

No Race title Track Location Date
1 Pensacola 200 Five Flags Speedway Pensacola, Florida March 25
2 General Tire 125 Dover Motor Speedway Dover, Delaware April 28
3 Music City 200 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, Tennessee May 13
4 Dutch Boy 150 Flat Rock Speedway Ash Township, Michigan May 20
5 Calypso Lemonade 150 Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa July 15
6 Reese's 200 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana August 11
7 Sprecher 150 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin August 27
8 Bush's Beans 200 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee September 14


Schedule changes

  • On August 9, 2022, Mark Kristl from Frontstretch reported that Flat Rock Speedway could be added to the East Series schedule in 2023.[33] This was officially announced by ARCA on November 18.[34] The race at Flat Rock, which was held on May 20, replaced the race at New Smyrna Speedway, which had been the season-opener for the East Series from 2014 to 2022.
  • On November 11, 2022, it was announced that the main ARCA Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park would be a combination race with the East Series in 2023, giving the series a fourth combination race on top of the three returning ones from 2022 (Iowa, Milwaukee and Bristol).[32]

Broadcasting

After previously only broadcasting about half of the main ARCA Series races for several years, usually only the races that were on the same weekend at the same track as a NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and/or Truck race, Fox will broadcast all 20 main ARCA Series races in 2023 and this includes all four combination races with the East Series (Iowa, IRP, Milwaukee and Bristol). Previously, Bristol was the only East Series race televised on Fox as they were also broadcasting the Truck Series race there on that weekend.[35]

Results and standings

Race results

No. Race Pole position Most laps led Winning driver Manufacturer No. Winning team Report
1 Pensacola 200 William Sawalich William Sawalich William Sawalich Toyota 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Report
2 General Tire 125 William Sawalich Jake Finch Jake Finch Toyota 20 Venturini Motorsports Report
3 Music City 200 William Sawalich William Sawalich Luke Fenhaus Chevrolet 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Report
4 Dutch Boy 150 Sean Hingorani Sean Hingorani William Sawalich Toyota 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Report
5 Calypso Lemonade 150 William Sawalich William Sawalich Luke Fenhaus Chevrolet 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Report
6 Reese's 200 Jesse Love Jesse Love Jesse Love Toyota 20 Venturini Motorsports Report
7 Sprecher 150 William Sawalich William Sawalich William Sawalich Toyota 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Report
8 Bush's Beans 200 William Sawalich Jesse Love William Sawalich Toyota 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Report

Drivers' championship

Further information: List of NASCAR points scoring systems

Notes:

  • The pole winner also receives 1 bonus point, similar to the previous ARCA points system used until 2019 and unlike NASCAR.[36]
  • Additionally, after groups of 5 races of the season, drivers that compete in all 5 races receive 50 additional points.[36] This points bonus will be given after the race at Iowa.

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or rainout. * – Most laps led.

Pos Driver FIF DOV NSV FRS IOW IRP MLW BRI Points
1 William Sawalich (R) 1** 4 2* 1 2* 4 1* 1 420
2 Luke Fenhaus (R) 2 3 1 5 1 2 6 29 362
3 Lavar Scott (R) 5 5 6 2 4 5 8 17 351
4 Zachary Tinkle 7 6 7 6 11 13 13 13 336
5 Tim Monroe 11 15 9 7 17 22 15 25 281
6 Dale Shearer 14 14 10 11 18 19 19 24 273
7 Sean Hingorani (R) 4 10 3 3* 3 3 15 272
8 Jake Finch 3 1* 5 9 4 203
9 Conner Jones 9 8 6 4 6 187
10 Brad Smith Wth 11 12 13 15 21 20 30 186
11 Jesse Love 3 1* 2 2* 177
12 Rita Goulet (R) 15 12 11 16 16 17 QL 177
13 Andrés Pérez de Lara 6 8 7 3 152
14 Toni Breidinger 7 5 9 12 143
15 Christian Rose 7 10 11 8 140
16 Frankie Muniz 9 11 12 23 121
17 Nate Moeller 13 15 14 23 111
18 Tanner Arms 8 8 11 105
19 Jon Garrett 10 14 21 26 105
20 A. J. Moyer 14 17 16 27 102
21 Dallas Frueh 12 15 22 83
22 Brayton Laster 14 20 20 78
23 Greg Van Alst 7 5 76
24 Alex Clubb 13 23 22 74
25 Ed Pompa 10 8 70
26 Landen Lewis 2 20 68
27 Ryan Roulette 12 18 58
28 D. L. Wilson 15 16 57
29 Gio Ruggiero 4 40
30 Billy Venturini 4 40
31 Grant Enfinger 5 39
32 Tyler Reif (R) 6 38
33 Landon Pembelton 7 37
34 Will Kimmel 8 36
35 R. J. Smotherman 9 35
36 Jeffery MacZink 9 35
37 Jack Wood 9 35
38 Derrick McGrew Jr. 10 34
39 Gus Dean 10 34
40 Andy Jankowiak 10 34
41 Scott Melton 12 32
42 Isaac Johnson 12 32
43 Mike Basham 24 32 32
44 C. J. McLaughlin 13 31
45 Stephanie Moyer 13 31
46 Rick Redig-Tackman 14 30
47 Caleb Costner 14 30
48 Jeff Smith 16 28
49 Chris Martin Jr. 18 26
50 Ron Vandermeir Jr. 18 26
51 Matt Kemp 19 25
52 Chuck Buchanan Jr. 19 25
53 Kaden Honeycutt 21 23
54 Casey Carden 25 19
55 Tim Goulet 28 16
56 Matt Gould 31 13
Jalen Mack Wth
Tony Cosentino Wth

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Srigley, Joseph (December 9, 2022). "William Sawalich Signs Multi-Year Deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, Competing in 20 ARCA Events in 2023". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Toyota driver William Sawalich wins 2023 ARCA East championship". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Pinnacle Racing Group launching motorsports development program, will compete on ARCA platform in 2023". ARCARacing.com. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Press Release (March 4, 2023). "Pinnacle Racing Group and Luke Fenhaus to contend for ARCA Menards Series East championship". ARCA Racing.com. ARCA Racing. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Rutherford, Kevin (January 13, 2023). "Andres Perez de Lara Running ARCA for Rev". Frontstretch. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Rutherford, Kevin (February 13, 2023). "Rita Goulet Running Full ARCA East Schedule". Frontstretch. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Starcevic, R. J. (December 6, 2022). "Zachary Tinkle Joins Fast Track Racing for Full-Time ARCA East Campaign". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Kristl, Mark (March 9, 2023). "Dale Shearer Running Full-Time ARCA East". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Rutherford, Kevin (January 18, 2023). "Sean Hingorani Running Partial ARCA Schedule for Venturini". Frontstretch.
  10. ^ Christie, Toby (January 10, 2023). "Jesse Love Running For 2023 ARCA Menards Series Championship With Venturini". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Kristl, Mark (September 8, 2022). "Brad Smith Returning for Full ARCA Schedule in 2023". Frontstretch. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  12. ^ "Caleb Costner, Costner Weaver Motorsports to compete in ARCA opener at Daytona, additional races". ARCARacing.com. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "(Twitter post)". Twitter. Landen Lewis. September 14, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023. I am so thankful to Jason, Cody and the entire @cr7motorsports team for the opportunity & bringing me a fast car.
  14. ^ a b Branscum, Benjamine (August 29, 2023). "Landon Pembelton and Mullins Racing Team Up For Bristol". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "(Twitter post)". Twitter. Jon Garrett. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Brett Moffitt running full 2023 Xfinity season with AM Racing". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Christie, Toby (January 10, 2023). "Christian Rose to Battle For 2023 ARCA Championship and Run Select Truck Series Races With AM Racing". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "(Twitter post)". Twitter. Brad Smith. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022. The #26 will ride again in ARCA possibly as soon as Daytona. We have been working on a second car for a while and it is almost ready to roll. We are also working on a back-up car ourselves for 2023. We fully expect to be a two-car team for all of the upcoming season. From Brad
  19. ^ Kristl, Mark (December 2, 2022). "Casey Carden Returning to ARCA With Clubb". Frontstretch. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Kristl, Mark (September 22, 2022). "Greg Van Alst Returning to ARCA Full Time in 2023". Frontstretch. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  21. ^ a b c Kristl, Mark (February 24, 2023). "Tyler Reif Running Full ARCA East Schedule". Frontstretch. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  22. ^ Srigley, Joseph (January 11, 2023). "Frankie Muniz Joins Rette Jones Racing for 2023 ARCA Campaign". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "MAN Motorsports Announces Partial ARCA Schedule with Driver Tanner Arms". RacingToday.com. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "Christopher Martin Jr. set to run IRP race with MAN Motorsports". August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Christie, Toby (January 9, 2023). "Conner Jones Expands ARCA Schedule to 12 Races With Venturini in 2023". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  26. ^ a b c Branscum, Benjamine (January 11, 2023). "Toni Breidinger Returning to Venturini Motorsports for 11 ARCA Races in 2023". Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "(Twitter post)". Twitter. TTL Racing Network. October 31, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Kristl, Mark (January 8, 2023). "ARCA Team Rise Motorsports Forms with Rita Goulet, Stephen Leicht". Frontstretch. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  29. ^ "Sean Hingorani, Venturini Motorsports add West Series championship run to 2023 race schedule". ARCARacing.com. February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  30. ^ "ARCA Menards Series East and West schedules for 2023 announced". ARCARacing.com. November 22, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  31. ^ Haislop, Tadd (September 14, 2022). "Pieces of 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule come together with NASCAR national series release". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "ARCA Menards Series releases 2023 schedule". ARCARacing.com. November 11, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  33. ^ "(Twitter post)". Twitter. Mark Kristl. August 9, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  34. ^ "ARCA Menards Series East to race at Flat Rock Speedway in 2023". ARCARacing.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  35. ^ "ARCA Menards Series extends broadcast rights agreement with FOX Sports, announces 2023 broadcast schedule". ARCARacing.com. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  36. ^ a b "ARCA Menards Series Changes Points System". Motor Racing Network. January 24, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2022.