A quarter of the ARCA season is complete. Five of the 20 ARCA Menards Series races have been contested, three of the eight ARCA Menards Series East races are done and two of the 12 ARCA Menards Series West races have been run.
What have we learned so far about ARCA racing in 2024? Read on for my answers.
Is It a Two-Horse Race for the Title?
Andres Perez de Lara leads Greg Van Alst by six markers in the standings. Next closest is Amber Balcaen, 19 points behind, with Christian Rose and Kris Wright trailing by 20 and 22 points, respectively.
Josh Calloni analyzed whether none of the top 10 in points having a victory, or led many laps, is good or bad for the series.
At the same time, Perez de Lara and Van Alst have risen to the top for a reason: consistency. Perez de Lara has completed all but one of the 525 laps thus far this season with Van Alst logging 523. Of the series regulars, they’re the only two with average finishing positions better than 10th place.
Perez de Lara leads the series with top 10s (four) and Van Alst has zero DNFs thus far, tied for the most.
The summer months of June through August have nine races, 45% of the 20-race season. Of those nine, six are short tracks, while the rest are one dirt track (Illinois State Fairgrounds), one road course (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course) and the two-mile Michigan International Speedway. Can someone else join the mix for the title? Absolutely.
Yet Perez de Lara and Van Alst are the two who control their own destinies. Perez de Lara finished runner up one year ago, had the second-most top 10s, third-most top fives and completed the second-most laps. Additionally, his Rev Racing team won the drivers title in 2022 with Nick Sanchez. This group knows how to get it done.
Comparatively, in his ARCA career, Van Alst has two top fives and nine top 10s at short tracks, an average finish of 7.5 at Michigan, a 12th place at Mid-Ohio and 13th place at the Springfield Mile. If he can match those numbers, or gain a few spots, he’ll remain firmly entrenched in the championship hunt.
If either driver falters, Wright — in top-tier Venturini Motorsports equipment — and Rose seem poised to pounce. Wright has risen up the standings following finishes of 38th and 12th to start the season. Rose led the standings after Dover Motor Speedway, but two straight struggles cost him.
With talented youngsters William Sawalich, Gio Ruggiero and Connor Zilisch along with an array of…
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