On Saturday, June 28, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., will host both the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the first time in track history.
The 1.53-mile road course that’s mainly played host to a lot of sports car racing, as well as the ARCA Menards Series East from 1993-2010, is an unknown quantity for teams in both series. For the Truck Series, the race comes at a critical juncture in the season with just four races remaining in the regular season.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Lime Rock’s ARCA and Trucks debuts.
Track Layout
Simply put, Lime Rock is a beast of its own. Perhaps its best comparison of any other road course on the NASCAR circuit could be Watkins Glen International, as both tracks feature long front straightaways that turn into a tight first turn. Lime Rock’s sweeping corners should provide plenty of high-speed action and an opportunity for passing that isn’t exclusively in braking zones. Given that it’s ARCA and the Truck Series racing at the facility this weekend, don’t be surprised if turn 1 plays host to late-race restart chaos.
Drivers to Watch
The ARCA field has an undisputed favorite this weekend in Brent Crews, an experienced 17-year-old. Meanwhile, Venturini Motorsports is tapping Alon Day to pilot one of its entries, while Pinnacle Racing Group and ARCA points leader Brenden Queen look to spoil the party.
It’s the Truck Series where the driver lineup really shines, however. Several road course ringers have been chosen for duty this weekend, including Rolex 24 at Daytona winner Jordan Taylor in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports. NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Thomas Annunziata will dip down to the Truck Series with Spire in the No. 07, while Ben Maier and William Lambros will both attempt their Truck Series debuts. Maier will drive for Young’s Motorsports, while Lambros will pilot the No. 2 entry for Reaume Brothers Racing.
Crews will pull double duty this weekend, driving the No. 1 Toyota for TRICON Garage in Trucks.
Perhaps the most notable addition to the Truck Series entry list is Supercars Championship star Cam Waters, who is returning to the ThorSport Racing No. 66 at Lime Rock. Josh Bilicki will drive the No. 44 for Niece Motorsports, with another road-course ringer in Wesley Slimp driving a second truck for Halmar Friesen Racing. NDS Motorsports will make its Truck Series return with Dale Quarterley behind the wheel.
It’s safe to say the trip to Lime Rock has brought out plenty of stars who likely wouldn’t otherwise be showing up to any other race.
What to Expect
Of course, all of those aforementioned road ringers are still jumping into vehicles they are largely unfamiliar with, some of which are far behind the top dogs of the respective series. The ARCA race seems to be an easier one to predict: Crews is the odds-on favorite in what should be a strong Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
The Truck Series is where predicting the weekend’s race becomes a much more difficult task. In a series full of young drivers with relatively limited road course experience, veterans such as Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton and Daniel Hemric could have a leg up on the competition this weekend. So too could championship favorite Corey Heim, who is simply fast everywhere the Truck Series travels.
But at a track that has never hosted the Truck Series, it could be the fast, young talent that shines through. Keep an eye on the likes of Gio Ruggiero, Jake Garcia, Crews and Kaden Honeycutt to spoil the party. At a race where everyone is working with the same non-existent notebook, a little chaotic speed could be the key to victory lane.
Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series race is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on FS2, with the Truck Series race scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday on FOX.
A member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), Samuel also covers NASCAR for Yardbarker, Field Level Media, and Heavy Sports. He will attend the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2025.