Sean Hingorani, driving the No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota Camry for Hattori Racing Enterprises, picked up right where he left off in 2023 for the second round of the ARCA Menards Series season. Hingorani ran consistently inside the top six for most of the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway; as Hingorani was just biding his time inside the top five, lightning and then rain would end the great run with 35 laps remaining in the event.
The weekend kicked off with a picture perfect conditions to start the day at Phoenix Raceway. The No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota Camry turned in a stellar performance in practice, where Hingorani secured the second-fastest time, getting reacquainted with a track where he secured the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Championship just a few months earlier. This momentum carried into qualifying, where he once again showcased his speed and precision, securing a front-row starting position with a second-place qualifying result.
As the green flag waved, Hingorani wasted no time asserting himself among the frontrunners, battling fiercely inside the top five. Getting later into a long green flag run, Hingorani would report that the No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota Camry was starting to battle a loose condition. A few cautions would see the running order get shuffled, where Hingorani would fall to seventh place with 80 laps remaining in the General Tire 150. A timely caution would see Hingorani capitalize on the restart to gain three spots as the halfway break ensued.
Hingorani would bring the No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota Camry down pit road for the halfway break and some much needed adjustments from the Hattori Racing Enterprises crew. Once the halfway break was complete, Hingorani reported a few laps into the run that he was very happy how the car was handling and felt he had a piece to contend for the win. Hingorani was managing his tires when lighting struck within a few miles of Phoenix Raceway. Drivers were told to bring their cars down pit road for a mandatory 30 minute hold for the lightning in the area. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, rain would work its way onto the track ending the General Tire 150 with 35 laps remaining.
Reflecting on the race, Sean Hingorani expressed his gratitude to the team for their unwavering support and dedication. “We had a strong showing this weekend, and I’m incredibly proud of what we were able to achieve,” said Hingorani. “With a new team and a car new to me, I thought we held our own against the other teams here in our first start. The car felt great, and the team worked tirelessly to give me a competitive machine. While we narrowly missed the podium, we’ll take this result and build upon it for the races to come. I can’t wait to get on track again in a couple weeks at Irwindale”.
HRE PR