Alonso Salinas, a 24-year-old driver from Mexico, is set to make his ARCA Menards West debut driving the No. 77 car for Performance P-1 Motorsports during the season-opening race at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California. Salinas aims to compete in the full 2026 series and pursue the Rookie of the Year title, contingent on securing further funding.
Early Career and Racing Achievements in Mexico
Beginning his motorsports journey at age 12, Salinas developed his passion by following various racing disciplines such as Motocross, Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, and IndyCar. He claimed championship titles in the Rotax Max Challenge Senior series in 2017 and 2020 before transitioning to stock car racing.
Salinas stepped into the NASCAR Trucks Mexico Series in 2021 and achieved a championship victory in 2024. Over 48 races, he earned four wins, 22 top-five finishes, and 35 top-ten finishes. In 2025, he advanced to the NASCAR Mexico Challenge with Alpha Racing, finishing within the top eight of the regular season and qualifying for the playoff final, while collecting four top-five and 13 top-ten results over 14 events.
Inspirations and Goals for His First ARCA Race
Salinas cites Daniel Suarez as a major influence due to Suarez’s significant impact on Mexican stock car racing, alongside admired drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.
“I started competing at 12 years old and grew up watching all kinds of motorsports like Motocross and Supercross, F1, MotoGP, NASCAR and IndyCar,”
Salinas said.
“Well my favorite drivers are obviously Daniel Suarez because all the impact that he had made on stock car racing in Mexico,”
Salinas added.
“The other ones are Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.”
Regarding his upcoming race at Kern Raceway, Salinas said that he is focused on learning the car and team dynamics, emphasizing the differences in race regulations between Mexico and the U.S. He plans to swiftly adapt and find his pace.
“Getting to know the car and the team. Also, the race regulations are different from those in Mexico, so finding my pace as quickly as possible,”
Salinas noted.
Performance P-1 Motorsports Anticipates Strong Season with Salinas
Joe Nava, owner of Performance P-1 Motorsports (PP1M), has been tracking Salinas’ career for several seasons after being introduced through Jose Luis Ramirez, a former NASCAR Mexico competitor for whom Salinas raced trucks in Puebla. Nava recounted a thrilling win where Salinas passed the leader on the last lap despite being turned and crossing the finish line backward.
“I was introduced to him by Jose Luis Ramirez, for whom he was racing trucks for in Puebla, Mexico,”
Nava said.
“I watched him come through the field to the front, catch the leader and on the last lap get past him get turned and win the race going backwards across the line. Pretty darn exciting. My goal is for him to run the season with us.”
The No. 77 Toyota will feature sponsorship from King Taco, REX MD, and Wallace Signs, with additional partners expected to be announced. Roger Bracken, an experienced crew chief, will lead the team.
Legacy of Mexican Drivers and Team Experience in ARCA West
PP1M and Joe Nava have a history of fostering relationships between Mexican drivers and the ARCA Menards West Series. Over 20 years ago, drivers like Jose Luis Ramirez and Jorge Goeters competed with the team and recorded multiple top-ten finishes. Between 1998 and 2025, the team accumulated 214 starts, with five wins, 26 top-five, 82 top-ten finishes, and one pole position.
Upcoming Season and Race Details at Kern Raceway
Salinas will make his ARCA West debut at Kern Raceway’s half-mile paved oval during the Oil Workers 150 on Saturday, February 28, 2026. This event, part of the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame series, will be streamed live on FloRacing.
The 2026 ARCA Menards West Series championship comprises 13 races spanning from February to October, with notable events at tracks including Phoenix Raceway and Sonoma Raceway.
