ARCA: Mack becomes ninth last-place finisher in nine West Series races

PHOTO: @JalenMackRacing

by Ben Schneider

LASTCAR.info Staff Writer

Jalen Mack finished last for the 1st time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 at All American Speedway when his No. 21 Nascimento-Joiner Motorsports / Impact Transport Toyota fell out with suspension issues after completing 2 of 150 laps.

The finish came in Mack’s West Series debut.

Like many of today’s young drivers, Mack was born into a racing family. A third-generation driver, he is the nephew of George Mack, who in 2002 became the second African-American driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. In 2020, the younger Mack began pursuing a career in stock car racing following two National Karting Championships. Since then, he has won in Junior Late Models, Pro Late Models, and Spec Late Models, and also made his ARCA debut at Elko Speedway earlier this year, where unfortunately clutch issues prevented him from completing a single lap.

In the ARCA Menards Series West, Mack initially appeared on the entry list for both Irwindale races in a family-owned No. 83 Chevrolet to be run in a partnership with Bill McAnally Racing. However, Mack’s team withdrew from both, delaying his West Series debut until Saturday night at Roseville.

In all, 19 cars appeared on the entry list. On it, Ethan Nascimento was at first listed as driver of the No. 21 Toyota. But, unable to compete due to broken fingers, Mack was given the opportunity to fill in for Nasciemento. This led to a third withdrawal for Mack’s No. 83 entry. However, a late entry from Bradley Erickson and Sigma Performance Services’ No. 23 Chevrolet brought the car count back up to 19.

Following Mack up the running order was Rodd Kneeland, who himself was a late entry in the second High Point Racing car. Kneeland, too, was a substitute, replacing Jake Bollman as the driver of the #55 High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford. It didn't last long. Just seconds after Mack pulled behind the wall, Kneeland completed just three laps due to overheating issues. Next to pull behind the wall was Kyle Keller, whose #70 Argus Construction / Star Nursery / Battle Bo Ford stalled in Turns 3 and 4, then was pushed by a wrecker behind the wall. Robbie Kennealy, running only his second career West Series race after a strong top-five finish earlier this season at Irwindale, was the next to drop out. While listed as "crash damage," his #1 Cover Ease / American Swim Academy Ford pulled behind the wall with what appeared to be another car's crash bar jammed under the front valence. Kennealy ran several laps with this piece of debris before pulling into the garage. Rounding out the Bottom Five was Trevor Huddleston, whose #50 lost several laps after pulling off the track with mechanical issues at the beginning of the race, but eventually returned to the track and completed 113 laps total.

Up front, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series part-timer Kaden Honeycutt took the win in his series debut driving the No. 17 McGowan / Cook entry normally driven by Landen Lewis, whose absence from Saturday night’s race all but handed the series championship to Sean Hingorani with three races remaining. Hingorani took advantage of Lewis’ absence to open up his points lead by finishing second, while Tanner Reif equaled his best result of the year in third.

THE BOTTOM FIVE

19) #21-Jalen Mack / 2 laps / suspension

18) #55-Rodd Kneeland / 3 laps / overheating

17) #70-Kyle Keller / 37 laps / rear end

16) #1-Robbie Kennealy / 109 laps / crash

15) #50-Trevor Huddleston / 113 laps / running

2023 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP

1st) Ford (6)

2nd) Toyota (2) 

3rd) Chevrolet (1)

2023 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS CHAMPIONSHIP

1st) Lowden-Jackson Motorsports (2)

2nd) Fast Track Racing, Performance P-1 Motorsports, Central Coast Racing, High Point Racing, Jerry Pitts Racing, Bill McAnally Racing, Nascimento Motorsports (1)

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE to view the full standings for both the main ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East and West divisions. You can also find the full manufacturers’ and owners’ standings HERE.

2023 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP