Garth Griswold

Pensacola, FL – March 23, 2025 – Race 3 of the Project K-9 Hero ARCA Series season delivered a chaotic Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway last Sunday night, marking the first event in the ARCA East Division. Cody Porter emerged victorious, but his win came with significant controversy and a penalty that will shake up the series moving forward.

Porter, starting from the pole, led 109 of the 159 laps, showcasing his dominance throughout the night. However, the race took a dramatic turn on lap 107 when Porter and Waylon Nelson tangled in a heated exchange. Nelson shoved Porter up into the wall, prompting Porter to retaliate with a right-hook that sent Nelson spinning into the cars behind him. Porter drove away unscathed, while Nelson’s spin triggered chaos in the pack. The incident was one of 26 cautions that plagued the evening, with 104 laps run under the yellow flag—nearly two-thirds of the race distance.

Post-race, Crown Jewel Racing (CJR) officials reviewed the incident and deemed Porter’s maneuver intentional. They issued a one-race suspension and a 75-point penalty. Porter’s appeal to the CJR Incident Review Board fell flat, with the board voting 3-0 to uphold the ruling. As a result, Porter will miss the next ARCA East Division race on April 20 at Rockingham Speedway, though he’ll be eligible to compete in this Sunday’s race, March 30, at Kern County Raceway—the first event in the West Division.

Porter isn’t the only driver facing a suspension after the Pensacola 150. Josh Stoltz, driving the No. 43, accrued 6 Race Clean (RC) points during Sunday’s chaos, adding to the 2 RC points he received for an earlier incident at Phoenix. With a total of 8 RC points, Stoltz has triggered a one-race suspension and will miss the upcoming race at Kern County Raceway on March 30 unless he successfully appeals. The RC points system, designed to penalize aggressive or reckless driving, has already claimed two victims this season, underscoring the series’ emphasis on clean competition.

“It’s short-track racing—things get intense,” Porter said after the race. “I got pushed into the wall and reacted. I’m not happy about missing Rockingham, but I’ll be ready to bounce back.”

The Pensacola 150 was a war of attrition, with only three leaders and five lead changes across its 1-hour, 16-minute duration. Cameron Albertson finished second, 1.090 seconds behind Porter, followed by Henry Kallhoff in third. Billy Vanmeter and Nathaniel Campbell rounded out the top five, navigating a night where survival often trumped speed. Nelson, meanwhile, limped home in 25th, 17 laps down after the lap 107 clash.

The race’s relentless caution count highlighted the intensity of short-track racing at Five Flags. Clear weather—72°F with a northeast wind at 2.5 MPH—offered perfect conditions, yet the tight track and early-season aggression led to frequent wrecks. Joseph Stafford led 48 laps before finishing 11th, while rookie Hayden James soldiered to 24th in his series debut. Drivers like Josh Stoltz, Cat Wheeler, and Cory Mott saw their nights end early due to crashes.

Porter’s victory netted him 46 points (43 race points plus 3 bonus points), but the 75-point penalty casts a shadow over his season. The series now shifts west to Kern County Raceway this Sunday, March 30, for the West Division opener, where Porter will look to regain momentum before his East Division suspension takes effect.

Garth Griswold

March 13, 2025 – The Project K-9 Hero ARCA Series closed out its Modified Generation 6 car era in spectacular fashion last Sunday night, March 9, with the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. Joseph Stafford emerged victorious in a chaotic, caution-filled race that stretched over 151 laps, marking the end of an era as the series prepares to transition to the newly released iRacing ARCA cars for its next event on March 23 at Five Flags Speedway for the Bounty 150.

The race, which unfolded under clear skies with a comfortable 74°F and a light breeze, was a fitting send-off for the Modified Generation 6 car, a staple of the series that has now been retired after months of hard-fought competition. Stafford, starting from pole, led an impressive 129 laps and held off a fierce challenge from Henry Kallhoff to claim the win by a razor-thin margin of 0.185 seconds.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out this car,” Stafford said post-race. “It’s been a wild ride, and to finish it off with a win feels incredible. Now we’ve got our eyes on the new ARCA cars and Five Flags.”

Kallhoff, finishing second after starting third, kept the pressure on throughout, while Cat Wheeler rounded out the podium with a hard-charged climb from 11th to third. Cory Mott and Mark Morton completed the top five, with Morton earning accolades for an astonishing recovery from a 30th-place start.

The General Tire 150 was a wild ride, marked by a staggering 22 cautions that consumed 63 of the 151 laps—almost half the race. The event’s frenzied conclusion saw just 16 of the 35 starting drivers finish the full distance, underscoring its relentless intensity. With only three leaders and three lead changes, the constant interruptions from yellow flags turned the race into a nerve-wracking, stop-go battle that pushed drivers’ skills and composure to the limit. Tight racing and bold maneuvers fueled the high caution tally, paving the way for the explosive post-race drama that unfolded in the garage.

Tensions Boil Over Between Basden and Wheeler

One of the most talked-about incidents involved Nick Basden and Cat Wheeler, whose on-track battles fueled a heated confrontation after the checkered flag. Basden, who led 13 laps but finished 24th, didn’t mince words when addressing Wheeler’s driving style.

“Cat was reckless out there,” Basden fumed, pointing to multiple incidents that he claimed cost him a shot at the podium. “You can’t just barrel through people like that and expect no consequences. It’s a miracle more cars didn’t get wrecked.”

Wheeler, who logged 12 incidents enroute to his third-place finish, dismissed Basden’s accusations with a shrug. “It’s racing—stuff happens. I was pushing for the win, and sometimes you’ve got to get a little aggressive. He’s just sore he couldn’t keep up.”

The tension between the two drivers spilled over into the garage, where crew members had to step in to separate heated exchanges. The rivalry has added an extra layer of intrigue as the series shifts gears to its next chapter.

A New Era Beckons at Five Flags Speedway

As the dust settles on the Modified Generation 6 car’s final outing, the Project K-9 Hero ARCA Series is gearing up for its next race on March 23 at Five Flags Speedway. The Bounty 150 will debut the newly released iRacing ARCA cars—specifically the ARCA Chevrolet SS, Ford Mustang, and Toyota Camry—ushering in a fresh era of competition. These modern machines, recently introduced in iRacing’s 2025 Season 2 update, promise to bring new dynamics to the series with updated physics and performance capabilities.

Drivers and teams are already buzzing about the transition. Devin Corey, who finished ninth, noted, “The Gen 6 car was a beast, but I’m excited to see what these new ARCA cars can do. Five Flags is a tight track, so it’ll be a whole new challenge.”

The General Tire 150’s chaotic finish, with only 16 of 35 starters completing all 151 laps, highlighted the intensity. As the series looks ahead to the Bounty 150, the focus shifts to adapting to the new cars and settling scores from last Sunday’s fireworks. One thing is certain: the Project K-9 Hero ARCA Series is poised for an electrifying future, with Stafford’s victory serving as a high note to close out the past. Fans won’t want to miss what’s next on March 23 at Five Flags Speedway.