By Caleb Slouha
Newton, Iowa – For the second time in as many races this year in the ARCA
Menards Series, Brandon Jones powered through to victory late in the event.
It was a fierce fight throughout the night between Jones, Sammy Smith, and the
polesitter Jesse Love. The three drivers swapped the lead multiple times during
the 150-lap race, with Jones making the pass on Smith twenty laps before the
checkered flag flew.
“Those guys were really good on the shorter run,” said Jones. “It seemed like
overall on the long run I was able to gain back on them fast.”
After taking the lead, Jones would gap 2nd place finisher Smith by an unofficial 2.8
seconds. This would be the largest lead of the evening.
“Just got too free, I did everything I could,” a dejected Smith said post-race. “Felt
like I did everything right tonight but just got beat and needed a tighter car.”
Despite setting pole speed and running in the top-3 for most of the night, Love’s
race ended five laps short with an alternator issue that cut power to his Venturini
car.
The ARCA Menards Series points leader coming into the event, Rajah Caruth,
struggled throughout the day with handling issues. After starting 11th and finishing
12th .
Other championship competitors in the ARCA Menards Series & ARCA Menards
East Series, Daniel Dye and Taylor Gray had mechanical issues. This relegated
them to 17th and 18th respectively.
The next ARCA Menards Series race takes place at Berlin Raceway on Saturday,
June 18th .
