Max Reaves provides his identify to ARCA East Sequence historical past with a victory at Flat Rock Speedway on Saturday night time within the Dutch Boy 150.
Reaves, simply 15, secured his third ARCA Menards Sequence East win in as many begins when he took the checkered flag within the Dutch Boy 150. He joins Will Rodgers as the one two drivers to win their first three East Sequence begins.
Max Reaves’ Victory at Flat Rock
Reaves had his work reduce out for him Saturday night time at Flat Rock’s tight quarter-mile oval. Ranging from the Basic Tire Pole, he jumped to the lead early however was continually hounded by Tyler Reif.
Reif, driving the No. 23 Chevrolet for workforce proprietor Joe Farré, pursued Reaves all through the whole 150-lap occasion. Reif briefly muscled his well beyond Reaves early within the race, just for Reaves to return the favor and muscle his method again to the lead a couple of laps later.
That wasn’t the top of the battle between the 2. Reaves and Reif spent the remainder of the race nearly nose-to-tail, with Reif sometimes beating on Reaves’ again bumper to remind his rival he was there.
“Each time I felt him, I’d get on the brake a little bit bit and hold it on the underside, as a result of the second he bought me off the underside, he was getting round and driving away,” mentioned Reaves, who piloted the No. 18 Prepare dinner Out Toyota to Victory Lane for Joe Gibbs Racing. “The second he bumped me he bought round me on the underside, however I gave it again. It was good racing.”
Every time that occurred, Reaves responded by slowly inching away from Reif till a warning flag introduced the 2 again collectively.
The ultimate warning flag flew with simply greater than 20 laps left. And just like the earlier restarts, Reaves was in a position to maintain off Reif’s decided cost. In the long run, Reaves beat Reif to the end line by 0.935 seconds.
“We had a little bit bit proper entrance chatter on the brief run,” Reif mentioned. “We actually didn’t want that (final) warning. I assumed we had been fairly good on the long term there. I’m pleased with this GMS/SPS workforce and all people at Chevrolet.”
Max Reaves Making Historical past
With wins at 5 Flags Speedway, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, and now Flat Rock below his belt, Reaves will purpose to grow to be the primary driver in East Sequence historical past to win his first 4 sequence begins.
He has each motive to consider he can do it, and why shouldn’t he? In any case, nobody has been in a position to cease him but.
“I’m going to be the primary one to win 4,” mentioned Reaves. “I’m assured with that and assured in my workforce.”
Ending third Saturday night time at Flat Rock was Takuma Koga. It was a career-best end on the ARCA platform for the native of Nagoya, Japan. Matt Kemp was fourth, and Austin Vaughn was fifth, profession bests for each drivers.
Up Subsequent
The ARCA Menards Sequence (nationwide) takes middle stage subsequent Friday, Could 23, with the operating of the Basic Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The occasion will broadcast dwell on FS1 at 6 p.m. ET.
