Race-by-Race Season Review: The 2024A ARC NASCAR Heat Cup Series

AJ Knickle
Aug 22, 2024
4 min read

In 2024, the ARC NASCAR Heat Cup Series kicked off once more for the 7th season, starting in January. There's a lot to go over, with 48 drivers having started races across 21 races, 11 teams entered having taken part, and some of the cleanest racing ARC NASCAR Heat has ever seen.

The debut of a new playoff system, ditching "win-&-in" in favour of 10 slots determined by points, and accompanied by the addition of two wildcard spots, would be the early focus of the season.

Race 1: ARC Daytona 250

Daytona International Speedway

Travis VanOostendorp started his season with a bang, winning the inaugural stage. This stage win would turn out to be his only of the season, as he would only attempt only 2 more races total. In stage 2, Jojo Heitzman, the season 4 ANHCS champion, would take his first stage win.

The big race however belonged to Moosa Usman in 2024, etching his name in the books as the 2024 ARC NASCAR Heat Daytona 250 winner. This race put him in a great spot for the title, as Usman, already a favourite after a strong end to the 2023 ARC NASCAR Heat Cup Series season, had now secured a wildcard entry to the playoffs should he fall out of the top 10 in points. Just behind? Justin Miller & Chris Matakanski, a pair of Toothless Tandem Racing Chevrolets.

Pole: #27 Ayrton Frederick

Winner: #24 Moosa Usman

Race 2: Southern 250

Darlington International Raceway

The previous season's runner up, Blakie Tuggle, once again driving the #19 Toyota for Team 44 Racing, was unstoppable in this race, sweeping the stages en-route to a victory over Moosa Usman. Jackson Altmann flexed his muscles as well, the 3 drivers mentioned pulling out a massive gap over the rest of the field.

Pole: #9 Matthew Stotts

Winner: #19 Blakie Tuggle

Race 3: Dover 200

Dover Motor Speedway

Dover was the genesis of something great for another driver. Alexis Heredia, piloting the #6 for GOAT Inc in his first career start, claimed the stage 1 victory, en-route to a P3 finish in the race. Blakie Tuggle looked like the fastest car midway once again, but a poorly timed mid-pit cycle caution trapped him a lap down, before a crash put him further behind. Alexis Heredia took over the point once more, before a late caution stole it away from him, as Moosa Usman and Jackson Altmann barged past him after the restart, to claim a 1-2 finish at the Monster Mile.

Pole: #19 Blakie Tuggle

Winner: #24 Moosa Usman

Race 4: VA is for Racers 200

Richmond International Raceway

Jojo Heitzman couldn't be stopped here. Alexis Heredia won stage 1, but fell back in stage 2 after a poor pit strategy. Jojo Heitzman took stage 2, but was then passed again by Alexis Heredia. Everything was for naught though as the racing gods did not see fit to reward Heredia after just one career race, with an equipment failure taking him out of contention with 8 laps remaining. Heitzman won by 5 seconds over Mike Greathouse.

Pole: #6 Alexis Heredia

Winner: #20 Jojo Heitzman

Race 5: Wine Country 175

Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma was the first race of the season that defending champion AJ Knickle looked to be a contender, making a splash early with a stage 1 win. Alexis Heredia and Jackson Altmann soon joined the party for stage 2, with the former taking his third stage in 3 starts. The race end however was a place of perfect timing for Jackson Tate, whose early pit stop allowed him to cycle to the lead after a caution, pull away, and win in Wine Country.

Pole: #6 Alexis Heredia

Winner: #11 Jackson Altmann

Race 6: California 200

Auto Club Speedway

If anybody was going to win at California, it was going to be Jojo Heitzman. The driver of the #20 notched his fourth career victory at the track, having previously taken the honours in 2021B, 2022A, 2022B, and now 2024A. He held off his teammate in a massive pack, the driver of the #18, AJ Knickle, in second by a tenth of a second. Alexis Heredia picked up stage 1, while Marcus Snow, driver of the #8 Toothless Tandem Racing car, picked up stage 2 on fuel mileage.

Pole: #18 AJ Knickle

Winner: #20 Jojo Heitzman

Race 7: Bristol Dirt Race

Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt

Once a year the ARC NASCAR Heat Cup Series gets messy, and this year was the first in the NASCAR NextGen car.

Pole: #43 Jackson Altmann

Winner: #18 AJ Knickle

Race 8: Pocono 125

Race 1: ARC Daytona 250

Daytona International Speedway

Race 2: Southern 250

Darlington International Raceway

Race 3: Dover 200

Dover Motor Speedway

Race 4: VA is for Racers 200

Richmond International Raceway

Race 5: Wine Country 175

Sonoma Raceway

Race 6: California 200

Auto Club Speedway

Race 7: Bristol Dirt Race

Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt

Race 8: Pocono 125

Pocono Raceway

Race 9: Great Lakes 200

Michigan International Speedway

Race 10: Las Vegas 200

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Race 11: St. Louis 200

Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway

Race 12: Thunder Valley 250

Bristol Motor Speedway

Race 13: Alabama 249

Talladega Superspeedway

Race 14: World 300

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Race 15: New England 150

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Race 16: I <3 NY at the Glen

Watkins Glen International

Race 17: Heartland 200

Kansas Speedway

Race 18: Everything's Bigger 250

Texas Motor Speedway

Race 19: Paperclip 250

Martinsville Speedway

Race 20: Rattlesnake 200

Phoenix International Raceway

Race 21: Championship Race at Homestead-Miami

Homestead-Miami Speedway

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