Tristan McKee, the current points leader.

The 2026 ARCA Menards Series East is the 40th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on March 28 with the Cook Out 200 at Hickory Motor Speedway and will end on September 17 with the Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Isaac Kitzmiller entered as the defending champion.[1]

Teams and drivers

Complete schedule

Manufacturer Team No. Driver Crew chief Ref
Chevrolet ACR Motorsports[N 1] 79 Isaac Kitzmiller Doug Howe 3
Frank Kimmel 1
TBA 4		 [2]
Maples Motorsports 99 Michael Maples Chris Vanscoy [2][3]
Pinnacle Racing Group 28 Derek Kneeland 1 Steven Dawson [4]
Carson Brown (R) 7 [5]
77 Tristan McKee (R) Kevin Reed Jr. [5]
Ford City Garage Motorsports 85 Quinn Davis (R) Ryan Bell [6][7][8][9]
Maples Motorsports[N 2] 19 Austin Vaughn Kyle Totman 3
John Szulczewski 1
TBA 4		 [10]
Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Max Reaves (R) Matt Ross [2]
Toyota 2
TBA 6		 Fast Track Racing 10 Craig Pellegrini Jr. (R) Mike Sroufe [11]
Ford 2
TBA 5		 11 Matt Kemp 2 Unknown 1
Andrew Kierman 2
Joseth Carabantes 1
TBA 4		 [12]
Mike Basham 1
Chase Buscaglia 1
TBA 4
Ford 3
Toyota 4
TBA 1		 12 Dustin Hillenburg 3 Andrew Kierman 2
Joseth Carabantes 1
Unknown 1
TBA 4		 [13]
Takuma Koga 4
TBA 1

Limited schedule

Manufacturer Team No. Driver Crew chief Races Ref
Chevrolet Brother-In-Law Racing 57 Hunter Deshautelle Bob Rahilly 1 [12]
Cook Racing Technologies 17 Cory Roper Sean Samuels 1 [14]
CR7 Motorsports 9 Landon S. Huffman Frank Kimmel 2 [15]
97 Jason Kitzmiller 4 [2]
Jet Daddy Racing 00 Toby Blanton John Kennedy 2
Oceana Tiner 1		 3 [12]
KC Motorsports 81 Kevin Campbell Unknown 1 [16]
KLAS Motorsports 71 Andy Jankowiak Mike Dayton 1 [17]
Maples Motorsports 1 Kenna Long Colin Flueckiger 1 [18][19][16]
91 Ryan Vargas Kyle Totman 1 [16]
MBM Motorsports 66 Dystany Spurlock Jason Miller 3 [20][21][22][23]
Rise Racing with
Earnhardt-Shearer Racing		 89 Bobby Dale Earnhardt Matthew Wright 4 [24][25]
SPS Racing 24 Connor Hall Blake Bainbridge 2 [12]
Caden Kvapil 1 [17]
Ford Brad Smith Motorsports 48 Brad Smith Terry Strange 4 [26]
City Garage Motorsports 5 Michael Clayton TBA 1 [27]
Clubb Racing Inc. 03 Alex Clubb Jon Clubb 1
Brian Clubb 1
TBA 3		 4 [28]
Jeff Maconi 1 [29]
86 Alex Clubb Brian Clubb 1
Jon Clubb 1
TBA 3		 1 [29]
Jeff Maconi 4 [16]
Kimmel Racing 69 Landon Brown Bill Kimmel 2 [30]
Rette Jones Racing 0 George Siciliano Mark Rette 1
Logan Yiengst 1		 2 [31][32]
30 Garrett Mitchell Mark Rette 1 [14]
Tim Monroe Racing 14 Tim Monroe Tim Monroe 1 [12]
Toyota Intergrity Autosports 13 Brian Weber John Sutton 3
Joe McDonald 1		 2 [33][34]
Rita Goulet 2
MAN Motorsports 95 Hunter Wright David Noble 3
Mark Noble 1		 1 [35]
Jackson McLerran 3 [36]
96 David Noble 1
MCM Racing Development 38 Toro Rodríguez Max Calles 2 [12]
Nitro Motorsports 20 Jake Bollman Doug George 4 [2][37]
25 Gavan Boschele Shane Wilson 4 [2][37]
Wesley Slimp 1 [16]
55 Isabella Robusto Glenn Parker 4 [38][37]
70 Nick Tucker Shannon Rursch 5
Glenn Parker 1		 1 [39]
Wesley Slimp 1 [37]
Thomas Annunziata 4 [40][41][42]
Ryan Huff Motorsports 36 Ryan Huff James Huff 1 [14][43]
Shearer Speed Racing 98 Dale Shearer Jeremy Petty 1 [16]
Tim Richmond Racing 27 Tim Richmond Adam Murphy 2 [44]
WAV Racing 34 Brian Barbarow Brad Elter 2 [12]
T. J. Harris 1 [43]
Ivis Earley 1 [29]
Wayne Peterson Motorsports 0 Brayton Laster Nate Moeller 1 [29]
06 Nate Moeller Unknown 1
Wayne Peterson 1
Michael Peterson 1
Nate Moeller 1		 4 [12]
TBA TBA TBA Brayton Laster TBA 1 [45]

Notes

  1. ↑ Entries are fielded in a collaboration with CR7 Motorsports.
  2. ↑ Entries are fielded in a collaboration with WAV Racing.

Schedule

The full schedule was announced on December 9, 2025.[46] Some race dates were announced before then as part of the announcement of the main ARCA Series schedule on October 4.[47]

Note: Races highlighted in gold are combination events with the ARCA Menards Series.

No Race title Track Location Date
1 Cook Out 200 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory, North Carolina March 28
2 Rockingham ARCA Menards Series East 125 Rockingham Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina April 4
3 Cook Out Music City 150 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, Tennessee May 2
4 Owens Corning 200 Toledo Speedway Toledo, Ohio May 16
5 LiUNA! 150* Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana July 24
6 Sunbelt Rentals 150 Flat Rock Speedway Ash Township, Michigan August 1
7 JR & CO. 150* Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa August 7
8 Bush's Beans 200* Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee September 17

Schedule changes

Results and standings

Race results

No. Race Pole position Most laps led Winning driver Manufacturer No. Winning team Report
1 Cook Out 200 Max Reaves Max Reaves Tristan McKee Chevrolet 77 Pinnacle Racing Group Report
2 Rockingham ARCA Menards Series East 125 Tristan McKee Tristan McKee Tristan McKee Chevrolet 77 Pinnacle Racing Group Report
3 Cook Out Music City 150 Max Reaves Max Reaves Max Reaves Toyota 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Report
4 Owens Corning 200 Max Reaves Tristan McKee Tristan McKee Chevrolet 77 Pinnacle Racing Group Report
Reference:[49]

Drivers' championship

Notes:

  • The pole winner also receives one bonus point, similar to the previous ARCA points system used until 2019 and unlike NASCAR.[50]
  • Additionally, after groups of five races of the season, drivers that compete in all five races receive fifty additional points.[50] This points bonus will be given after the race at Indianapolis.

(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or rainout. * – Most laps led.

Pos Driver HCY CAR NSV TOL IRP FRS IOW BRI Points
1 Tristan McKee (R) 1 1** 3 1* 185
2 Max Reaves (R) 2* 8 1** 11 165
3 Isaac Kitzmiller 3 3 5 13 152
4 Craig Pellegrini Jr. (R) 9 10 6 10 141
5 Jackson McLerran 8 6 8 25 129
6 Carson Brown (R) 2 9 3 118
7 Nate Moeller 14 16 12 16 118
8 Austin Vaughn 10 14 14 24 114
9 Quinn Davis (R) 16 21 16 12 111
10 Michael Maples 17 19 18 26 96
11 Landon S. Huffman 6 2 81
12 Toby Blanton 19 18 15 80
13 Dustin Hillenburg 22 15 20 75
14 Wesley Slimp 5 8 75
15 Esteban Rodríguez 11 7 70
16 Dystany Spurlock 7 12 69
17 George Siciliano 13 9 66
18 Brian Weber 20 11 57
19 Connor Hall 15 17 56
20 Rita Goulet 13 22 53
21 Alex Clubb 22 14 52
22 Brian Barbarow 18 19 51
23 Jeff Maconi 19 18 51
24 Thomas Annunziata 2 42
25 Matt Kemp 21 27 40
26 Derek Kneeland 4 40
27 Garrett Mitchell 4 40
28 Hunter Wright 4 40
29 Jake Bollman 4 40
30 Nick Tucker 5 39
31 Caden Kvapil 5 39
32 Isabella Robusto 6 38
33 Cory Roper 7 37
34 Jason Kitzmiller 7 37
35 Ryan Vargas 9 35
36 Ivis Earley 10 34
37 Chase Buscagilla 11 33
38 Hunter Deshautelle 12 32
39 T. J. Harris 13 31
40 Bobby Dale Earnhardt 15 29
41 Brad Smith Wth Wth 17 27
42 Landon Brown 17 27
43 Gavan Boschele 20 24
44 Takuma Koga 20 24
45 Andy Jankowiak 21 23
46 Brayton Laster 21 23
47 Mike Basham 22 22
48 Dale Shearer 23 21
49 Tim Monroe 23 21
50 Kenna Long 28 16
Ryan Huff Wth
Brian Clubb Wth
Marty McLendon Wth
Kevin Campbell Wth
Reference:[51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Isaac Kitzmiller's clean, methodical rookie season translates to an East Series championship". ARCA Racing.com. September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "What We Know About the 2026 ARCA Silly Season". Frontstretch. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Michael Maples Running Full-Time ARCA East". Frontstretch. March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Derek Kneeland Running Hickory for Pinnacle". Frontstretch. March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "PRG Reveals Lineups for ARCA, East Schedules". Frontstretch. December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ↑ "City Garage Motorsports names Becca Monopoli, Quinn Davis as drivers for 2026 East Series season". ARCA Racing. September 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Becca Monopoli, Quinn Davis Contesting Full ARCA East Season for CGM". Frontstretch. September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Logan Misuraca joins City Garage Motorsports for ARCA opener at Daytona". ARCA Racing. December 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Release, Press (March 5, 2026). "Quinn Davis to Drive No. 85 Orlando Health Ford in 2026 ARCA Menards Series East Season". catchfence.com.
  10. ↑ "Austin Vaughn joins Maples Motorsports for full ARCA Menards Series East schedule". ARCA Racing. February 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Fast Track Racing adds Craig Pellegrini Jr. for full ARCA Menards Series East schedule". ARCA Racing. February 11, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Entry list: Cook Out 200 at Hickory Motor Speedway". ARCA Racing. March 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ Kristl, Mark (December 10, 2025). "Takuma Koga Running ARCA Full Time with Fast Track". Frontstretch. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 "PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series East drivers prepare to conquer The Rock". ARCA Racing. March 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Landon S. Huffman Running 4 ARCA Races for CR7". Frontstretch. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Entry list: Owens Corning 200 at Toledo Speedway". ARCA Racing.com. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "PIT BOX: ARCA Menards Series heads home for Saturday night showdown at Toledo". ARCA Racing. May 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Tony Cosentino Running ARCA Full Time for Maples". Frontstretch. January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Tony Cosentino Leaves Maples, Focusing on CARS Tour". Frontstretch. April 14, 2026. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ Release, Press (February 3, 2026). "Motorcycle Drag Racer Dystany Spurlock Aims for Historic NASCAR-Owned ARCA Menards Series Bid". catchfence.com.
  21. ↑ "Dystany Spurlock set for her historic East Series debut at Hickory". ARCA Racing. March 19, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Dystany Spurlock Debuting in ARCA East at Hickory". Frontstretch. March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ "NY Giants & Gotham FC co-owner Emily Tisch Sussman's 'She Pivots' supporting Dystany Spurlock". ARCA Racing. June 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Bobby Dale Earnhardt Running Full ARCA Season With Rise". Frontstretch. November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Bobby Earnhardt and Rise Motorsports unite for 2026 ARCA Menards Series campaign". ARCA Racing. November 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ "ARCA 2026 Schedule". Brad Smith Motorsports. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Michael Clayton Driving for CGM at IRP". Frontstretch. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Jeff Maconi returns to Clubb Racing Inc. for 15 ARCA events". ARCA Racing. January 30, 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Entry list: Cook Out Music City 150 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway". ARCA Racing. April 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ "ARCA Entry Announcement!". Landon Brown Racing. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Cleetus McFarland friend, Squirrel McNutt, to make NASCAR debut at Hickory". On3.com. March 9, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Cleetus McFarland's YouTube Partner Squirrel McNutt Set for NASCAR Debut". The Daily Downforce. March 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Crypto Black Gold to support Integrity Autosports and Brian Weber in opening races of East Series season". ARCA Racing. March 5, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Racing Cop Rita Goulet lands Crypto Black Gold & Blackgoldecoverse.com for ARCA Menards Series Racing Events". StreetInsider.com. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  35. ↑ White, Brandon (April 27, 2026). "ARCA East at Nashville: How to watch, entry list, storylines for 2026". ARCA. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Jackson McLerran returns to MAN Motorsports for limited ARCA schedule". ARCA Racing. March 9, 2026.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "Nick Tucker Expects Nitro to Win Races, Championships in 2026". Frontstretch. January 28, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Isabella Robusto joins Nitro Motorsports for sophomore ARCA Menards Series season". ARCA Racing. December 10, 2025.
  39. ↑ "After knocking off some rust, Nitro Motorsports owner Nick Tucker is ready to run the East Series race at Hickory 'just for fun'". ARCA Racing. March 10, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Thomas Annunziata Running ARCA Full Time for Nitro". Frontstretch. November 1, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Thomas Annunziata to chase ARCA Menards Series title with Nitro Motorsports". ARCA Racing. December 22, 2025.
  42. ↑ "10 Drivers to Watch for in the ARCA Daytona Test". Frontstretch. January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  43. 1 2 "Entry list: Rockingham ARCA Menards East 125 at Rockingham Speedway". ARCA Racing. March 31, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Tim Richmond Running Up to 4 ARCA Races". Frontstretch. February 13, 2026. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Brayton Laster announces partial ARCA Menards Series schedule in 2026". ARCA Racing. March 4, 2026.
  46. ↑ "2026 ARCA Menards Series East schedule announced". ARCARacing.com. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  47. ↑ "ARCA Menards Series schedule for 2026 announced". ARCARacing.com. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Hickory Motor Speedway to welcome ARCA Menards Series East for first time on March 28, 2026". ARCARacing.com. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  49. ↑ "2026 ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST SEASON STATS, RACE RESULTS". racing-reference.info. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  50. 1 2 "ARCA Menards Series Changes Points System". Motor Racing Network. January 24, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  51. ↑ "ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST STANDINGS FOR 2026". racing-reference.info. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_ARCA_Menards_Series_East