ARCA: Benjamin Peterson’s return results in another last-place finish
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
Benjamin Peterson finished last for the 2nd time in his ARCA Menards Series career in Saturday’s General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway when his No. 0 Peterson Motorsports Toyota pulled behind the wall with mechanical issues after completing 7 of 76 laps.
The finish came in Peterson’s 2nd career start.
The grandson of longtime ARCA independent Wayne Peterson, Benjamin’s first appearance on this site came in his series debut in 2019, when brake issues sidelined him three laps into the race at Salem. Peterson also attempted and ran practice laps at the following race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but would ultimately end up listed as a “did not start.” On Saturday, Peterson returned to the driver’s seat for his family team and took the green flag in an ARCA race for the first time in four-and-a-half years. His return was short-lived, however, as he became the first driver to pull behind the wall in what turned out to be a race of very low attrition: only four cars that started the race failed to finish under power.
In total, 34 cars appeared on the entry list, meaning that for the first time this season, every driver who attempted to qualify would be locked into the race. Only one practice session took place, which served as more of a shakedown for teams, as Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass reported that the series would not even utilize timing and scoring since the field size was under the 40-car limit. In lieu of qualifying, the starting lineup for the race was determined by 2023 owners points.
Despite starting 34th and last on the grid, the FS1 broadcast’s timing and scoring indicates Peterson gained a few positions on track, running as high as 31st on Laps 2 and 3. He then slipped back to 32nd by Lap 5 before the broadcast went to commercial; it was during this intermission that he pulled behind the wall and dropped out of the race.
When the broadcast returned from break, Jason Kitzmiller became the next retirement from the race, making it one lap farther than Peterson before a split radiator forced him behind the wall. Radiator was also the “reason out” for Jeff Scofield, who made it 26 laps before retiring from the race. The lowest-finishing driver who saw the checkered flag was Lavar Scott, whose race was compromised by a loss of fuel pressure following the halfway mark. Scott finished eight laps down, one behind Brad Smith, whose return to the starting grid following a DNQ at Phoenix saw him round out the Bottom Five.
Kitzmiller’s radiator begins leaking fluid on Lap 9, prematurely ending his race. (Screenshot: FS1)
Up front, Jake Finch controlled the race in his No. 20 Venturini Motorsports Toyota from start to finish, leading all 76 laps from pole position to take his second career ARCA-sanctioned win and first in the main national series. Teammate Kris Wright followed in second, while Tanner Gray, Gus Dean, and Christian Rose rounded out the top five. While the race was notable for its lack of incidents, the low attrition rate also provided a welcomed relief to many race teams still recovering from setbacks due to crash damage at Daytona.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
34) #0-Benjamin Peterson / 7 laps / mechanical
33) #97-Jason Kitzmiller / 8 laps / radiator
32) #68-Jeff Scofield / 26 laps / radiator
31) #6-Lavar Scott / 68 laps / running
30) #48-Brad Smith / 69 laps / running
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 3 of 20)
1st) Fast Track Racing, Kennealy Keller Motorsports, Peterson Motorsports (1)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 3 of 20)
1st) Chevrolet (2)
2nd) Toyota (1)
3rd) Ford (0)
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 3 of 20)
