Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Venturini Motorsports No. 20 driver Jake Finch earned his first career ARCA Menards Series win at Dover Motor Speedway in the 2023 ARCA East General Tire 125. Finch is just 17 years old and ran 10 ARCA races in 2022 across the East, West and National series. He placed third at Five Flags Speedway in the 2023 ARCA East season-opener and will be near the top of the point standings after two races.
Finch outdueled McGowan Motorsports No. 17 driver Landen Lewis on the overtime restart as both sides traded contact through the final two laps. Lewis had caught the rear bumper of Finch before a late race caution was waved and the incident gave him the opportunity to restart side-by-side with Finch though he could not capitalize.
PHOENIX RISING!@jamessfinch holds off @landenlewis99 to earn his first ARCA Menards Series East victory in the General Tire 125 at @MonsterMile! pic.twitter.com/syYPqf6BIQ
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 29, 2023
Lewis has placed second in all three of the ARCA West races this season including at Phoenix in the season opener.
The Lap 113 caution was the third of the race and the lone incidental caution as VMS No. 25 driver Conner Jones slammed into the wall in Turn 3 while running in third. The contact wrecked his car and Jones appeared to be a little shaken up following the incident. He finished ninth in the 15-car field.
A big hit for @connerjones88 brings out the caution flag late in the General Tire 125 at @MonsterMile!
Jones walked away from the incident. pic.twitter.com/APkKWtqh3m
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 29, 2023
Before the restart under caution, VMS No. 55 driver Toni Breidinger’s car died while in third and had to be pushed back to pit road. She finished in 7th off of the lead lap. Breidinger makes her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut next week at Kansas Speedway in the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota.
a dream come true to be racing the No. 1 Victoria's Secret Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Kansas. thank you a million times @VictoriasSecret @TRICONGarage @ToyotaRacing for the opportunity pic.twitter.com/AdfqvxXeQl
— Toni Breidinger (@ToniBreidinger) April 26, 2023
ARCA rookie Jake Fenhaus placed third in the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet after placing second in his debut at Five Flags Speedway.
16-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing rookie William Sawalich led for a brief stint early in the race but could not follow up his dominant ARCA East debut in which he lead every lap and won at Five Flags. Sawalich finished in fourth after battling with Rev Racing rookie Lavar Scott for a lot of the race. Scott finished fifth as his car seemed to get loose on him late in the race.
The ARCA East Series is back in action on May 13 for the Music City 200 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The ARCA National Series races next weekend on May 6 at Kansas Speedway as part of the NASCAR weekend with the Truck and Cup Series.
