The ARCA Menards Series West will launch its 73rd season on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway with the Oil Workers 150 Presented by West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame. Beginning at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT), the race marks the first of two events at Kern Raceway in 2026, with the season finale scheduled at the track as well, a first since 2018. This event will be live-streamed on FloRacing, with real-time scoring and race radio accessible via ARCARacing.com.
The ARCA Menards Series West remains a premier platform for stock car racing on the West Coast, carrying centuries of racing history with this upcoming race being the 18th at Kern Raceway and the 1041st in the series overall.
Champions and Rising Stars Return to the Track
Defending 2025 series champion Trevor Huddleston returns in the No. 50 High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford to defend his crown. Huddleston had outstanding performances last year at Kern Raceway, claiming victories in both races held there. His connection to the venue runs deep, as the track is owned and operated by his father, Tim Huddleston.
Another high-profile contender is three-time series winner Hailie Deegan, who rejoins the series full-time driving the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet for Bill McAnally Racing. Deegan made history in 2018 by becoming the first female winner in series history, and she will challenge for the championship alongside teammate Mason Massey, who pilots the No. 19 Brunt Boots / Mongoose Power Solutions Chevrolet. Both drivers aim to secure the title for the BMR squad in 2026.
Continuing the chase for honors is reigning Bounty Rookie of the Year, Robbie Kennealy, in the No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford. Kennealy, who earned a victory at All American Speedway last year, recently competed at Daytona International Speedway in the General Tire 200, placing 15th. This season, Jan’s Towing Racing will also introduce promising 15-year-old newcomer Cole Denton, who will vie for the Bounty Rookie crown in the No. 71 Ford.
Sean Hingorani, the two-time series champion from 2023 and 2024, returns after sitting out the 2025 season. Piloting the No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets / Fidelity Capital Toyota, Hingorani boasts seven career wins, including two at Kern Raceway, where he triumphed in April 2023 and October 2024, making him a strong contender in the field.
Teams Bolstering Their Lineups With Emerging Talent
Nitro Motorsports will enter three drivers: full-timers Mia Lovell in the No. 15 Pine Health Toyota and Julian DeCosta in the No. 25 Austin Canvas and Awning Toyota, supported by part-timer Jade Avedisian in the No. 70 Mobil 1 Toyota. Avedisian began 2026 on a strong note with a win in a super late model feature and a seventh-place finish at the ASA STARS National Tour opener held at New Smyrna Speedway.
Cook Racing Technologies, honored as the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West team owner champions, will field two youthful drivers this season. Taylor Mayhew, who is only 15 and the son of seven-time series winner David Mayhew, will race the No. 17 MMI Toyota. Jaiden Reyna, another 15-year-old and the 2020 INEX Legends Car Young Lions national champion with a remarkable 24 wins in 31 starts, will also make his series debut in the No. 42 MMI Chevrolet.
Jerry Pitts Racing expands its roster with two drivers: 2024 Bounty Rookie of the Year Eric Johnson, Jr., driving the No. 5 Sherwin-Williams Toyota, and Gavin Ray in the No. 7 Component West Toyota. Johnson showed promise last year by finishing fifth in both Kern races, while Ray secured a sixth place at the 2025 season opener.
Details of the Season-Opening Race and Viewing Information
The Oil Workers 150 Presented by West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame will officially begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (5:00 PM Pacific) on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Fans and enthusiasts can watch the race live on FloRacing, while live timing, scoring updates, and race audio will be available on ARCARacing.com. For ongoing race news and final results, followers can also check updates on X (formerly Twitter) at @ARCA_Racing.
Background on ARCA and Menards Supporting Stock Car Racing
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) has been a foundational figure in grassroots stock car racing since its inception in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio. Now under NASCAR’s ownership since 2018, ARCA serves as a vital link between NASCAR’s national touring divisions and regional racing circuits, sanctioning over 100 races annually. This extensive calendar spans the ARCA Menards Series, East and West divisions, the ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, and numerous weekly races at prominent tracks such as Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.
Menards, founded in 1958, is a family-run retail home center business leading the Midwest market with 236 stores across 15 states. Known for its vast selection of home improvement products, Menards supports the ARCA Menards Series by sponsoring racing events and connecting with communities passionate about motorsports and home building alike.
