The 2026 ARCA Menards Series West season is set to kick off Saturday with the Oil Workers 150 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, and promises to be a thrilling contest as fresh faces battle seasoned champions. This campaign highlights the ongoing evolution of the series, which has been a key platform for stock car racers since its inception in 1954 under the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model division.
Over the decades, legendary drivers such as Ray Elder, Jack McCoy, Hershel McGriff, Eric Holmes, Derek Thorn, Kevin Harvick, and Jesse Love have all marked the West Series with championship victories. Although the series transitioned from NASCAR to ARCA sanctioning around 2020, it has maintained its role as a critical stepping stone for aspiring racers and a competitive arena for those seeking career longevity.
Depth of competition and diverse tracks shape the 2026 season
This season’s lineup features a strong mix of young prospects aiming to earn their first wins and veterans looking to defend or reclaim titles. The varied schedule across 13 races will test drivers’ versatility and perseverance, with many seeking to cement their legacy on a prestigious list of past champions. Every participant shares the singular ambition of surpassing their rivals and mastering each track on the West Series calendar.
Defending champion Trevor Huddleston aims to build on prior success
Trevor Huddleston, the 2025 West Series champion, enters 2026 poised to defend his title after a breakthrough year. Having competed since 2016, the 29-year-old Agoura Hills native has compiled nine wins and 40 top-five finishes, largely while driving for High Point Racing, the team owned by his father, Tim.
Huddleston’s perseverance culminated in four wins and ten top-five results last season, a performance that secured his inaugural championship. His consistency, demonstrated by finishing outside the top 10 only once in 2025, will be essential as he faces a collective field determined to challenge his supremacy. Confidence running high and backed by a decade of experience, Huddleston seeks to join elite company among multi-time West Series champions.
Hailie Deegan rejoins Bill McAnally Racing with championship aspirations
Bill McAnally Racing, which last claimed the West Series championship in 2021, has enlisted Hailie Deegan for a full-time return to the series in 2026. Deegan, who previously raced for McAnally from 2018 to 2019, made history as the first woman to win a West Series race and later finished third overall in the standings.
After honing her skills in higher-level competitions including the ARCA Menards Series national level and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Deegan is back behind the wheel of McAnally’s No. 16 Chevrolet. Alongside teammate Mason Massey, another competitor with national series experience, she aims to recapture the momentum and attention she earned early in her career.
Sean Hingorani returns to West Series competition after a break
Two-time West Series champion Sean Hingorani is returning to the circuit after a year away. At age 19, Hingorani will drive the No. 13 Toyota for Central Coast Racing, owned by Kelly and Todd Souza, at the season-opening race. The team showed strength last year with Tanner Reif, who earned a victory at Tucson Speedway.
Throughout his full-time West Series career, Hingorani secured seven race wins, 18 top-five finishes, and four poles, demonstrating versatility as he won his second championship in 2024 despite driving for multiple teams. His wealth of experience and adaptability positions both him and Central Coast Racing to contend strongly for victories and help the Souza family pursue another owner’s championship.
Nitro Motorsports expands its presence with full-time West Series entries
Following its acquisition of Venturini Motorsports, Nitro Motorsports is entering the ARCA Menards Series West scene with two full-time cars driven by Mia Lovell and Julian DaCosta. Both drivers come from the Trans Am Series, with Lovell making her ARCA debut in the edition’s opener and DaCosta having started his ARCA journey last year.
Lovell transitioned to motorsports after a background as a professional skateboarder and has been shifting from road courses to oval tracks gradually, aiming to develop through a focused rookie campaign. DaCosta, also a road course racer, seeks to adapt further to stock cars on ovals, having already recorded a top-five finish at Madison International Speedway in his brief ARCA experience.
In addition to the full-time efforts, Nitro plans part-time West Series entries featuring national ARCA drivers and Toyota prospects such as Jade Avedisian and Sam Corry. These initiatives indicate Nitro’s ambition to establish itself as a regular contender within the West Series.
High stakes and intense rivalries set the stage for 2026
The upcoming ARCA Menards Series West season is charged with anticipation as experienced champions like Trevor Huddleston and Sean Hingorani, returning contenders such as Hailie Deegan, and ambitious newcomers from Nitro Motorsports prepare to compete. The blend of veteran grit and emerging talent enriches the competition, making every race a crucial step toward the coveted championship.
With its historic roots and ongoing transformation, the West Series continues to be a proving ground for racing excellence and career development. Drivers’ performances over the 13-race schedule will not only determine this year’s champion but also shape the future trajectory of stock car racing talent on the West Coast.
