LOOMIS, Calif. – Nineteen-year-old Jack Wood will begin his busy ARCA Menards Series season beginning Thursday during the ARCA Menards Series West Star Nursery 150 at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Loomis, Calif.-based driver is also scheduled to compete in his ARCA Menards Series national debut at Phoenix Raceway in March, the ARCA Menards Series West race at Irwindale Speedway, and the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Winter Showdown at Kern County Raceway Park. His remaining schedule is still being finalized.

Wood’s efforts will be led by veteran crew chief Ty Joiner, with the pairing already earning dividends in the All-Star Showdown late model at Irwindale Speedway earlier this month. Wood finished a career-best third.

Wood has added another ally to his program with NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran and Bakersfield native Ryan Reed serving as his driver coach.

“I’m super fortunate to have these opportunities. Irwindale was good for my confidence because we were able to run with the best racers on the West Coast,” Wood said.

Thursday’s event will be the first time the West Series has raced on the three-eighths-mile Vegas oval since 2012, but Wood has three starts at the venue in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour.

“I really think we have a shot to win. I think we can show up with some good speed,” Wood said. “We spent all of the offseason working on the cars and getting ready for this year.”