Tyler Tomassi’s ARCA Debut: A 17th-Place Finish at Lucas Oil IRP
Tyler Tomassi drives the No. 93 Tomassi Law Ford for CW Motorsports during the 2024 Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
A New Series Opportunity
On July 19, 2024, Tyler Tomassi began a new stage of his racing career with his first ARCA Menards Series start in the Circle City 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Tomassi drove the No. 93 Tomassi Law Ford for CW Motorsports in the combined ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East event. He started 20th, completed approximately 198 laps, and finished 17th, seven laps down in the official race records.
The result gave Tomassi valuable experience at one of the most technical short tracks on the ARCA schedule. It also established an important milestone as he continued moving from regional competition toward national-level stock car racing.
Tyler Tomassi focused during his 2024 ARCA Menards Series debut weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Race Details
The Circle City 200 was held at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana, near Indianapolis. The facility’s paved oval measures 0.686 miles and features tight corners, narrow racing lanes, and short straightaways.
The scheduled distance was 200 laps, or approximately 137.2 miles. At IRP, track position and traffic management are important throughout the event because the compact layout keeps the field close together and leaves limited time for drivers to recover from a slow restart or lost position.
For Tomassi, the race provided a demanding first ARCA start. The No. 93 CW Motorsports Ford entered a field that included established ARCA competitors, rising series prospects, and several drivers preparing for additional competition later that evening.
View the official ARCA qualifying results
Starting 20th
Tomassi qualified 20th for the Circle City 200. His best qualifying lap was recorded at 24.150 seconds, with a speed of 102.261 mph.
The starting position placed the No. 93 CW Motorsports Ford in traffic from the opening green flag. At a short track such as IRP, the first part of the race requires patience as drivers manage tire wear, changing track conditions, and the movement of faster cars through the field.
The ARCA debut also required Tomassi to learn the characteristics of a new car, a new series format, and a new race environment at speed. Each green-flag run added more information about braking points, corner entry, throttle application, and the balance of the No. 93 Ford.
A Busy Race at IRP
The 2024 Circle City 200 featured seven cautions, creating multiple restarts and changing the order throughout the field. The interruptions made the race a series of shorter runs rather than one uninterrupted 200-lap distance.
Restarts at IRP can quickly reshape track position. Drivers must accelerate from low speed while negotiating the first corner, protecting the inside lane, and responding to cars running two-wide behind them. For a driver making an ARCA debut, these situations provide direct experience that cannot be fully replicated in testing.
Tomassi remained in competition through the event and brought the No. 93 to the finish. Race records credited him with approximately 198 completed laps and a 17th-place result, seven laps behind the winner.
The finish was recorded as a running result rather than a DNF. That distinction reflects a complete debut effort in which Tomassi gained race distance, gathered information for the team, and completed nearly the full scheduled event.
Double-Duty Drivers Add to the Challenge
The Circle City 200 was part of a particularly active race day at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Several drivers competed in both the ARCA race and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event later that night.
The double-duty lineup included William Sawalich, Marco Andretti, Dean Thompson, and Lawless Alan. Each driver had to prepare for two separate races at the same track, with the ARCA event serving as the first major test of the evening.
Their presence added experience and competitive depth to the Circle City 200 field. It also placed Tomassi in a race environment featuring drivers with significant stock car, open-wheel, and national-series backgrounds.
For CW Motorsports, the event was an opportunity to measure the No. 93 program against a diverse group of competitors. For Tomassi, it was another step in adapting to the pace and procedures of national racing.
Connor Zilisch Wins After a Late Restart
Connor Zilisch won the Circle City 200 in the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet after a late restart extended the race beyond its scheduled distance.
Zilisch had been one of the leading drivers throughout the event and controlled the final restart to secure the victory. Andrés Pérez de Lara finished second, followed by William Sawalich in third.
The late restart gave the leaders a short final run to settle the race. Instead of relying only on long-run speed, the front of the field had to execute under pressure in a green-white-checkered finish.
Zilisch’s victory continued his strong ARCA Menards Series East campaign and provided the headline result from a race that featured multiple lead changes, seven cautions, and a competitive mix of full-time and double-duty drivers.
See the official Circle City 200 race results
Tomassi’s 17th-Place Finish
Tyler Tomassi’s 17th-place finish established his first ARCA Menards Series result. Starting 20th and finishing 17th, he gained three positions in a race that required consistent execution across multiple restarts and changing track conditions.
The No. 93 CW Motorsports Ford completed approximately 198 laps and remained running at the finish. The experience gave Tomassi a complete view of an ARCA race weekend, including preparation, qualifying, race procedures, pit-road operations, restarts, and long-run car management.
The result also added a national-series milestone to Tomassi’s career record. His ARCA debut followed the development path of a driver building experience through increasingly larger racing opportunities.
A first series start is measured by more than finishing position. The laps completed at IRP provided Tomassi and CW Motorsports with useful information about the car’s handling, the demands of the track, and the adjustments required for future ARCA competition.
Development Through National Competition
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park during Tyler Tomassi’s 2024 ARCA Menards Series debut weekend with the No. 93 Tomassi Law Ford for CW Motorsports.
Tomassi’s ARCA debut was an important part of his continued development as a professional stock car driver. The Circle City 200 placed him on a national stage at a track known for close racing and demanding restarts.
The race also strengthened his experience with the type of competition found throughout the ARCA Menards Series. The field included championship contenders, developing prospects, experienced national-series drivers, and competitors managing two race starts on the same night.
For the No. 93 CW Motorsports program, the event created a baseline for future progress. Qualifying 20th, completing approximately 198 laps, and finishing 17th gave the team a complete race distance to evaluate.
Tomassi’s development continues through each new track, series, and race-day challenge. The 2024 Circle City 200 remains a clear milestone: his first ARCA Menards Series start, his first ARCA result, and another step toward competing on a larger national motorsports platform.
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