Phoenix, AZ—-The 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship finale promises a thrilling showdown, with fans eager to see if one driver will dominate or if multiple champions will emerge by weekend’s end.
In the spotlight are two intense matchups: William Sawalich vs. Connor Zilisch, and Sean Hingorani vs. Tyler Reif. Although Hingorani, driving Venturini Motorsports’ No. 15 car, didn’t win the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway, his third-place finish clinched him the 2024 ARCA Menards West Championship.
Heading into the race, Hingorani only needed to finish ninth or better to secure his spot over No. 13 driver Tyler Reif, unless Reif claimed victory. Overcoming Reif in this head-to-head was an achievement in itself. In his post-race interview, Hingorani expressed his gratitude, saying:
“It’s been a long season with a lot of different people that have helped me get to this point. I want to thank Venturini Motorsports for everything they’ve done for me, along with Jerry Pitts Racing and Sigma Performance Services. It was harder this year acclimating every week to a different team, but I can’t thank everyone enough.”
With this championship, Hingorani joins an elite group of drivers who have won back-to-back West Series titles. This year’s journey was more challenging than his first championship, with Hingorani switching teams multiple times across the 12-race season. Starting in March with Hattori Racing Enterprises’ No. 61 Toyota, he placed fifth but didn’t return with that team.
Later, he secured rides with Jerry Pitts Racing and Sigma Performance Services, producing mixed results. A pivotal moment came at Irwindale Speedway, where Hingorani reunited with Venturini Motorsports. His consecutive wins at Irwindale marked a turning point, ultimately propelling him toward his championship win.
In contrast, Reif competed with Todd and Kelly Souza’s Central Coast Cabinets team throughout the season, piloting the No. 13 Toyota. He claimed back-to-back victories at California’s Shasta Speedway and Washington’s Tri-City Raceway on July 27 and August 10, finishing in the top five nine times. Although Reif missed out on the West Series Championship, his eighth-place finish secured the West owner’s points title for Central Coast Racing.
Meanwhile, William Sawalich had a dominant qualifying session, clinching the pole position for the fourth time on this 1-mile track. With two wins, two top-fives, two top-tens, and 253 laps led, Sawalich capped off the season by securing his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship.
The question remains if he could add the West Series title to his achievements. Starting alongside him on the front row, Connor Zilisch brought intense competition, especially after setting the fastest lap in practice. Both drivers exchanged the lead multiple times in a race marked by frequent cautions and restarts. Points-wise, the race winner earns three bonus points, with additional points awarded for the General Tire Pole, leading a lap, and leading the most laps.
Reflecting on his win, Zilisch said, “We’ve struggled in the past at tracks like this, such as at The Milwaukee Mile. This is a brand-new car we haven’t run this year before. I’m so proud of all these guys because when we struggle at a track, they work so hard to bring me a fast car the next time.”
Zilisch took the lead on the final restart with four laps remaining, ultimately claiming his first West Series win and his seventh ARCA Menards Series victory of the year. He summed up the season by saying,
“It’s been an awesome year with this team, and it’s great to cap it off with a win.”
