Andres Perez welcomes “pressure” in 2024 ARCA title quest

Despite not being able to compete in the season opener at Daytona last year because he had not yet turned 18 years old, Perez and his Rev Racing team still managed to finish as runner-up in the series standings.

Perez’s standout rookie season which featured 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes was overshadowed by Jesse Love’s dominating 10-win title season.

Nonetheless, the Mexico City native made great strides in his pursuit of a NASCAR racing career.

Perez and teammate Lavar Scott are top contenders in the battle for the 2024 ARCA title which kicks off Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Both ran well in a two-day preseason test at the track over the weekend.

“Very excited to head to my second season with the Rev (Racing) team,” Perez said following the conclusion of the Daytona test. “Obviously, knowing most of the places we are going to go is a very good help. Really excited for that. We’ve been working. I think we will be improving every time we go on the track.

“First race at Daytona is the only one I did not do last year. The track itself is great and the atmosphere is also very good. Really looking forward to that weekend.”

While Perez has an extensive racing background that covers NACAM Formula 4 and the NASCAR Mexico Series, he believes the ARCA national series wide-ranging schedule has greatly helped his development as a driver.

“I think ARCA is great. The way it helps me develop with the car and to the ovals being from another country. In Mexico, we do stuff very differently, so it’s a very good approach to many of the tracks,” he said.

“We race dirt, we race road courses, big ovals, short ovals, superspeedways, so that’s pretty much everything.”

Photo by: ARCA

Andres Perez

The one obvious missing line in his resume thus far is a win. He has come close – frustratingly close, particularly last season.

He finished second in the dirt race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds but also suffered a heartbreaker at Michigan when he seemed all-but assured of a win. He started on the pole, led 43 laps but suffered a blown engine while leading with 14 laps to go.

Asked about being unable to secure his first win as yet, Perez said, “It’s been super frustrating, especially Michigan. That was the most frustrating. Everything would be different if we had that first win.

“That’s how it is. It makes us focused on getting that first win more, even…