Kyle Keller delivers a breakthrough ARCA West Sequence victory at Tri-Metropolis Raceway on Saturday evening within the NAPA Auto Care 150.
WEST RICHLAND, Wash. — Feelings have been flowing for Kyle Keller as he climbed out of Jan Qualkenbush’s No. 71 Ford in Tri-Metropolis Raceway’s Victory Lane on Saturday evening.
Kyle Keller Delivers a Victory
Presently in his third full-time ARCA Menards Sequence West season, Keller had but to carry dwelling a checkered flag earlier than the NAPA Auto Care 150. With all three of Keller’s runner-up finishes coming this 12 months, a win appeared inevitable because the 20-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native ready to sort out Tri-Metropolis’s arduous format.
A late warning arrange a dash to the end that pitted Keller on the skin lane in opposition to race chief Jake Bollman. The 2 leaned closely on one another in the course of the restart, however Keller generated sufficient momentum to overhaul Bollman and lead the ultimate closing 4 laps with no problem from behind.
Keller had no thought how he was capable of greatest Bollman. He was merely ecstatic to lastly win a West Sequence occasion in his forty first begin.
“Jake [Bollman] raced me tremendous onerous there,” Keller stated. “It wasn’t soiled in any respect. Jake and I’ve raced tremendous clear all 12 months. It was superior to race in opposition to these guys, however Jake I felt was positively the quickest man there.
“All people [at Jan’s Racing] works so onerous within the store. This one’s for them.”
Three Organizations’ Results in a Victory
Keller has carried out all the pieces potential to showcase his expertise to West Sequence group homeowners since making his debut in 2020.
Regardless of racing for 3 totally different organizations final 12 months, Keller put collectively a stellar marketing campaign that noticed him tally three consecutive fifth-place finishes in the summertime. That consistency caught the eye of Qualkenbush, who signed Keller to contest your entire 2025 West Sequence season.
Keller almost rewarded Qualkebush’s religion in the course of the season-opener at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. An intense end noticed Keller duel present West Sequence factors chief Trevor Huddleston to the checkered flag, however Keller missed out on his maiden West Sequence triumph by solely 0.243 seconds.
Except for a fifteenth at Phoenix Raceway, Keller has efficiently constructed upon his robust begin at Kern Raceway. The 2 extra second-place showings at Colorado Nationwide Speedway and the second go to to Kern in June put Keller inside hanging distance of Huddleston’s benefit within the West Sequence standings.
But every race solely elevated Keller’s need to search out Victory Lane. Because the laps clicked off in Saturday’s race at Tri-Metropolis, it appeared victory must wait as soon as once more for Keller, who discovered himself second behind Bollman.
Fortunes modified for Keller when Bollman contacted the slower automotive of Jonathan Reaume, damaging his entrance finish and bringing out the yellow flag. Keller had an ideal alternative in entrance of him; all he wanted was to capitalize.
With stress from NASCAR legend Greg Biffle within the second row, Keller wanted to be resolute. He remained unfazed in opposition to Bollman and Biffle, executing an ideal restart that lastly introduced him to victory lane within the West Sequence.
As Keller celebrated, Bollman couldn’t assist however be disenchanted by the result. Bollman had constructed a large lead over Keller and the remainder of the sphere till he bought into Reaume, a sequence of occasions that left him puzzled and annoyed.
“It stinks,” Bollman stated. “I had such a quick automotive that these guys carry each week. I wish to apologize. I’m not going to say [the incident with Reaume] was my fault on half of it, however I don’t know why two lapped automobiles are battling. I do know it’s racing, and there’s nothing I can say, both. We’re simply going to maneuver onto the subsequent one and put this behind us.
“It’s nonetheless a second-place end.”
Had Bollman prevailed, he would have delivered automotive proprietor Invoice McAnally his firsst checkered flat at Tri-Metropolis. Bollman made historical past for McAnally in Might at Colorado by tallying the a centesimal West Sequence victory for the group.
As an alternative, Keller discovered himself celebrating in entrance of the followers after a radical, diligent drive. He devoted his victory to Steve Bohanon, Keller’s long-time supervisor and supporter who handed away the earlier week.
Keller additionally expressed his gratitude towards Qualkenbush for taking an opportunity on him. The journey to that elusive first West Sequence checkered flag was one which was taxing for Keller at instances, however he stated Qualkenbush and his operation gave him the boldness wanted to translate his dedication into on-track success.
“The principle factor was getting this chance from Jan [Qualkenbush],” Keller stated. “If it wasn’t for his tools, his automobiles, my crew chief and the dedication to the group, I wouldn’t be right here.”
Biffle settled for third in entrance of his hometown crowd. Rounding out the highest 5 have been Keller’s teammate Robbie Kennealy and Huddleston.
With Keller’s victory he closes the hole to 7 factors to the collection factors chief Trevor Huddleston. Tanner Reif is 15 factors again in third, whereas Eric Johnson Jr and Robbie Kennealy full the highest 5.
Subsequent Up
The ARCA Menards Sequence West will keep within the Pacific Northwest for his or her subsequent occasion at Portland Worldwide Raceway on Aug. 29, their second and closing road-course race of 2025. The Portland 112 will go inexperienced at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET with FloRacing offering dwell flag-to-flag protection.
