ARCA / ARCA EAST: Gentleman’s agreement with Andy Hillenburg forces Brad Smith to pull in quickly
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
Photo: @DriverBradSmith
Brad Smith finished last for the 20th time in his ARCA Menards Series career - and 3rd time in his ARCA Menards Series East career - in Friday’s Circle City 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park when his No. 48 Copraya.com Ford fell out with mechanical issues after completing 2 of 150 laps.
The finish came in Smith’s 433rd career ARCA start and 26th career ARCA East start.
Smith’s most recent appearance on this site came in the last East Series race at Iowa, another combo race with the national tour. While the need to preserve an ill engine was the culprit for Smith’s most recent last-place finish, it was a gentleman’s agreement with fellow ARCA independent Andy Hillenburg that all but ensured Smith would be the first retirement from the race again at IRP.
Noting on X/Twitter that Hillenburg has “done worlds for us” and “racing is a big family,” Smith’s team lended Hillenburg their entire sway bar assembly after Cody Dennison’s No. 01 Fast Track Racing entry drug the right sway bar off the car (per team volunteer Colby Evans). Dennison went on to finish under power in 14th-place, while Smith pulled his car behind the wall almost immediately after taking the green flag.
As another combo race, a strong total of 31 cars appeared on the entry list. All 31 registered a practice time, with Nate Moeller anchoring the field in his No. 0 Toyota for Wayne Peterson, running a time of 27.596 seconds. Moeller also recorded the slowest lap in qualifying, though he picked up nearly three-quarters of a second from practice to improve to 26.884 seconds. Moeller would end the session in 30th place, however, as Jackson McLerran’s No. 96 Toyota did not set a lap time.
Following Smith up the order was Dale Shearer, who pulled off with mechanical issues after running 28 laps. Presley Sorah was the first driver forced behind the wall due to crash damage, as an accident following a left front shock explosion on Lap 50 left him with a 29th-place finish. Moeller ran a total of 79 laps before mechanical issues of his own ended his evening. Rounding out the Bottom Five was Becca Monopoli, who made her series debut with the new City Garage Motorsports team after failing to qualify at Daytona with Mixon racing earlier this year. Unfortunately for Monopoli, her race was cut short with a crash on the frontstretch on Lap 126.
Up front, Connor Zilisch continued his 100% win rate in 2024 national ARCA series races, taking his third win in as many starts in the main ARCA series and his fourth win in six East races this season. Andres Perez finished second and opened up his championship points lead in the national ARCA standings, while Zilisch’s win increased his East Series points lead over William Sawalich, who finished third.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
31) #48-Brad Smith / 2 laps / mechanical
30) #98-Dale Shearer / 28 laps / mechanical
29) #12-Presley Sorah / 48 laps/ crash
28) #0-Nate Moeller / 79 laps / mechanical
27) #85-Becca Monopoli / 121 laps / crash
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 10 of 20)
1st) Fast Track Racing (3)
2nd) Brad Smith Motorsports (2)
3rdd) Kennealy Keller Motorsports, Peterson Motorsports, Clubb Racing Inc., Rise Motorsports, Shearer Speed Racing (1)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 10 of 20)
1st) Ford (4)
2nd) Chevrolet, Toyota (3)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2024 ARCA season to view the full drivers’ standings for both the ARCA Menards Series and its East and West divisions. You can also find the manufacturers’ and owners’ standings for all three series HERE.
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 10 of 20)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 6 of 8)
1st) Fast Track Racing, Peterson Motorsports, Brad Smith Motorsports (2)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 6 of 8)
1st) Ford (4)
2nd) Toyota (2)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 6 of 8)
