Austin Inexperienced conquers Charlotte Motor Speedway for his first ARCA Menards Sequence victory on Friday night within the Normal Tire 150.
CONCORD, N.C. – Austin Inexperienced was not even born when his father, David, the 1994 NASCAR Xfinity Sequence champion, claimed his lone ARCA Menards Sequence victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in what turned out to be his lone begin on the platform.
Austin Inexperienced Victory at Charlotte
Over three many years later, Austin joined David as an ARCA Menards Sequence winner by placing collectively a dominant efficiency within the Normal Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the triumph, Austin and David turned the ninth father-son duo to go to Victory Lane within the ARCA Menards Sequence.
Austin was tasked with keeping off an equally robust automotive within the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota piloted by William Sawalich. By leaning on his spotter and dealing the clear air to his benefit, Austin pulled away to triumph in solely his second nationwide ARCA Menards Sequence look.
“Everybody at [Pinnacle Racing Group] constructed a rocket,” Austin mentioned. “Listening to the hole and seeing [Sawalich] fall again was all the time a very good feeling. They informed me to decelerate somewhat bit on the finish. That was laborious to do however hats off to everybody at PRG.”
The Inexperienced household has loved loads of success at Charlotte Motor Speedway throughout their time in NASCAR. Though David by no means gained at Charlotte, Austin’s uncle Jeff prevailed on the facility twice within the Xfinity Sequence in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Austin’s solely expertise at Charlotte earlier than Friday’s Normal Tire 150 got here on the complicated’s brief oval and Roval configuration. Together with making a number of Legends begins on each, Austin additionally had the prospect to run an Xfinity Sequence race on the structure final 12 months, the place he positioned thirtieth after shedding an engine with 15 laps remaining.
Having developed a consolation zone on street programs by way of competing within the Trans Am Championship TA2 class, adjusting to bigger ovals has been a studying curve for Austin. All 4 of Austin’s oval Xfinity Sequence begins noticed him place outdoors the highest 25. He additionally completed six laps down within the ARCA Menards Sequence East at Rockingham Speedway on account of a mechanical situation.
Confidence with Pinnacle Racing Group and Studying Aero Technique
Regardless of this, Austin’s familiarity with Charlotte’s different layouts gave him some optimism as he ready for his first try on the massive observe. The consistency related to PRG’s ARCA Menards Sequence program additionally boosted Austin’s confidence, as they already possessed two victories in 2025 with Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen.
Austin shortly tailored to his new atmosphere and maintained observe place inside the highest 5 earlier than biking to the lead after a few restarts. As soon as he bought out in entrance, Austin proceeded to dump soiled air on Sawalich’s automotive, which had sustained important harm on his nostril after hitting Cleetus McFarland throughout a restart.
Disrupting Sawalich’s momentum just by taking away his clear air is a side of inventory automobiles that Austin remains to be studying. He attributed aerodynamics to his struggles on oval tracks within the Xfinity Sequence however felt happy being ready the place he might manipulate different automobiles round him.
“The largest factor for me with these large tracks is the aero,” Austin mentioned. “Rising up on brief tracks, you didn’t actually have any of that, particularly on street programs as properly. That’s been the largest hurdle for me this 12 months. I’m slowly figuring it out and it was strategic to pack soiled air on these behind you and aspect draft. I had a blast.”
a hundredth Begin for ARCA Champion, Grant Enfinger
Austin had lengthy pulled away from the sphere when Grant Enfinger discovered sufficient velocity within the high groove to maneuver into the second place. Driving in aid of Jason Kitzmiller, who was attending his daughter’s commencement ceremony, Enfinger delivered a robust outing for CR7 Motorsports in his a hundredth profession ARCA Menards Sequence begin.
The 2015 collection champion loved returning to his roots and contending for a victory on Friday night. Enfinger was happy with the velocity of his No. 97 however felt his automotive wanted to be looser to mount a problem on Austin.
“We began in follow somewhat bit off and the [CR7 Motorsports] guys did an outstanding job getting it on for the race. I felt like we had a contending automotive from the drop of the inexperienced flag, however not the most effective automotive. There have been sure stints the place I felt we had good velocity, however then we bought somewhat too tight.
“General, it was enjoyable racing with these guys.”
Used to celebrating loads of accomplishments within the ARCA Menards Sequence, Enfinger and the remainder of the sphere at Charlotte have been solely witnesses to Austin’s first checkered flag so early into his profession on the platform.
Successful Father-Son Duos in ARCA
The opposite father-son ARCA Menards Sequence winners Austin and David be part of embrace Bobby and Davey Allison, Jack and Bobby Bowsher, Jerry and Randy Churchill, Bob and Brian Keselowski, Invoice and Frank Kimmel, Scott and Scott Lagasse Jr., Tracy and Billy Leslie, Kyle and Adam Petty, together with Invoice and Billy Venturini.
Celebrating with David in Victory Lane solely made Austin’s maiden win much more sentimental. It took loads of persistence and diligence for Austin to make it to Victory Lane in a significant inventory automotive race, however he’s thrilled to proceed a proud racing legacy began by David and his uncles Jeff and Mark.
“I’ve been doing this my complete life,” Austin mentioned. “I by no means actually bought to see dad race, as a result of I wasn’t born but. Being round [racing] rising up, it’s what I like to do. Clearly, it’s a dream of mine and hopefully we will hold progressing.
Lavar Scott got here away from Charlotte with a third-place end. Whereas capitalizing on a strong factors day, his rivals, Queen and Lawless Alan, have been hindered by separate points. Sawalich and Andy Jankowiak accomplished the highest 5.
Andrew Patterson and his small workforce earned a sixth-place displaying because the final automotive on the lead lap. The remainder of the highest ten comprised Thad Moffitt, Patrick Staropoli, McFarland, and Lanie Buice.
Lavar Scott takes over the collection level standings by ten markers. Brenden Queen and Lawless are tied for second and third. Andy Jakowiack is fourth (-14) whereas Jason Kitzmiller is fifth (-51). Thad Moffitt and Alex Clubb completed in sixth and seventh. William Sawalich is eighth with solely 4 out of 5 begins. Isabella Robusto and Michael Maples sit within the ninth and tenth place spots.
Up Subsequent
The ARCA Menards Sequence heads to the two-mile paved oval of Michigan Worldwide Speedway on June 6. The Henry Ford Well being 200 inexperienced flag waves at 6 p.m. ET that night, with FS2 offering stay flag-to-flag protection.
