ARCA WEST: Teammates Tony Huffman and Bobby Hillis, Jr. sweep bottom two in season finale
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
PHOTO: Luis Torres / @TheLTFiles
Tony Huffman finished last for the second time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in Friday’s Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway when his No. 0 First Impression Press / LT&T Lawn / RV Nerds Chevrolet fell out with suspension issues after completing 1 of 100 laps.
The finish came in Huffman’s second career West Series start and fourth West Series entry overall.
After his last-place run at Sonoma, Huffman stated in an interview with Brock Beard that he was hoping on making it to the West Series’ following race at Irwindale. However, only teammate and car owner Bobby Hillis, Jr.’s No. 27 made an appearance at the July doubleheader, though Huffman was listed as Hillis’ crew chief for the weekend. Hillis, meanwhile, tweeted in August that he hoped to race at Kern in October and Phoenix in November, but plans for Kern fell through as well.
Hillis’ No. 27 and Huffman’s No. 0 in the pits at Sonoma Raceway in June (PHOTO: Ben Schneider / @bcschneider53)
Ultimately, the Fierce Creature Racing team was able to make it to Avondale, Arizona to take part in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. For the first time all season - following two DNS instances and a brake failure on the opening lap at Sonoma - Huffman was able to complete a racing lap. This would be first and only lap he completed all season as he brought his No. 0 back to the garage to clinch the final last-place finish of the 2024 ARCA West season. Hillis, meanwhile, was able to complete two laps before he also pulled behind the wall. Both entries were listed with “suspension” as the reason out.
Huffman’s No. (<) 0 used at Phoenix appears to have been a former No. 27 Chevrolet, while Hillis’s No. 27 car resembles the No. 0 Huffman drove at Sonoma earlier this year. (PHOTO: EvernhamParker / @ARCAWEST99)
In total, 24 cars appeared on the entry list, of which 21 were able to set a qualifying time. Huffman and Hillis locked out the last row of the starting grid with Rip Michels slotted in 22nd. Anchoring the field of those who took to the track was Alex Malycke, who made his first West Series start since 2016 and only his second in total. David Smith, who entered the weekend having clinched the 2024 LASTCAR ARCA Menards Series West Drivers’ Championship due to Robbie Kennealy’s absence, rounded out the Bottom Five qualifiers.
Joining Huffman and Hillis in the garage area were Malycke and Eric Nascimento. Malycke pulled behind the wall with electrical issues on lap 15, while a vibration forced Nascimento to retire from the event after completing 57 laps. Michels rounded out both the Bottom Five and the top 20, finishing under power four laps down.
Because two of his entries were listed by Racing-Reference.info as DNS, Huffman only made two official “starts” in 2024. Therefore, despite tying Smith’s LPF total, Smith’s full-time status left him with eight Bottom Fives and 11 Bottom Tens, easily enough to clinch LASTCAR ARCA West title. During the race, Smith reportedly fell ill on lap 10 - the No. 05 team responded by having Joey Iest step in as a relief driver. Iest went on to finish 18th, two spots better than Smith’s 20th-place starting spot.
In a fitting end to their 2024 ARCA dominance, Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich finished first and second in their final race as ARCA regulars before they both move to the NASCAR XFINITY Series full-time in 2025. Rounding out the top three was Sean Hingorani, who clinched the 2024 ARCA West championship despite driving for four different teams throughout the season after a deal with Hattori Racing Enterprises fell through.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #0-Tony Huffman / 1 laps / suspension
23) #27-Bobby Hillis, Jr. / 2 laps / suspension
22) #21-Alex Malycke / 15 laps / electrical
21) #4-Eric Nascimento / 57 laps / vibration
20) #71-Rip Michels / 96 laps / running
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 12 of 12) - FINAL
1st) Kennealy Keller Motorsports, Fierce Creature Racing (3)
2nd) Shockwave Motorsports (2)
3rd) Nascimento Motorsports, Central Coast Racing, Jerry Pitts Racing, Cook Racing Technologies (1)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 12 of 12) - FINAL
1st) Chevrolet (7)
2nd) Toyota (5)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2024 ARCA season to view the full drivers’ standings for both the ARCA Menards Series and its East and West divisions. You can also find the manufacturers’ and owners’ standings for all three series HERE.
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 12 of 12) - FINAL
