ARCA WEST: Bobby Hillis Jr.’s return to the track ends early in his first start of 2025
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
PHOTO: Luis Torres / @TheLTFiles
Bobby Hillis Jr. finished last for the 13th time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in Friday’s Portland 112 at Portland International Raceway when his No. 27 First Impression Press Chevrolet fell out with carburetor issues after 4 of 57 laps.
The finish came in Hillis’ 104th career West Series start.
A West Series mainstay since the early 2000s, Hillis ran the entirety of the first half of the 2024 season, picking up one last-place finish in the final West Series race at Irwindale Speedway. Following that race, Hillis’ only start in the second half of the year came at the season finale at Phoenix, where he and teammate Tony Huffman anchored the final two spots in the race results. Since then, Hillis has spent the 2025 season to date on the sidelines - even the team’s X/Twitter feed has been dormant for over a year. That all changed on Friday, however, as Hillis’ familiar bright yellow No. 27 Chevrolet was a welcome addition to the Portland entry list. While Portland was the site of Hillis’ best race in 2024 - a 15th-place finish on the lead lap - he was unable to run the full race this time, as his car completed just four laps before pulling behind the wall, reportedly due to a carburetor issue.
A total of 18 cars appeared on the entry list. Hillis’ entry went 17th quickest in practice, running a lap time 1.37 seconds faster than West Series regular David Smith. In qualifying, Hillis was one of four entries listed without a time, forcing him to start at the back of the grid along with Christian Eckes, Dale Quarterley, and Trevor Huddleston.
Following Hillis up the running order was Blake Lothian, who made it two laps further than Hillis before experiencing transmission issues. Spanish driver Fernando Navarrete’s debut with Todd Souza’s Central Coast Racing was spoiled by a mechanical issue after 37 laps. Smith’s was the final car running at the finish, completing 53 laps despite stalling on track to bring out the first caution. Rounding out the Bottom Five was Xfinity Series regular Christian Eckes, who battled mechanical trouble of his own all day, but was able to limp home to a 14th-place finish, two laps down.
Up front, William Sawalich backed up his Portland win from 2024, coming out on top of a physical battle for the win with Lime Rock ARCA winner Thomas Annunziata. Alon Day finished third in another start for Venturini Motorsports, while Pacific Northwest native and NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Greg Biffle placed fourth in his second consecutive appearance in the West Series. Trevor Huddleston rounded out the Top Five, extending his championship points lead as the highest-finishing series regular.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
18) #27-Bobby Hillis Jr. / 4 laps / carburetor
17) #51-Blake Lothian / 6 laps / transmission
16) #3-Fernando Navarrete / 37 laps / mechanical
15) #05-David Smith / 53 laps / running
14) #19-Christian Eckes / 55 laps / running
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 12)
1st) Performance P-1 Motorsports (2)
2nd) Cook Racing Technologies, Brad Smith Motorsports, Rise Motorsports, Jerry Pitts Racing, Strike Mamba Racing, Fierce Creature Racing (1)
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 12)
1st) Toyota (4)
2nd) Chevrolet (3)
3rd) Ford (1)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2025 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.
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 12)
