ARCA: Steering difficulties at Elko force Brad Smith behind the wall
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
PHOTO: Colby Evans/@StartAndParkCar
Brad Smith finished last for the 21st time in his ARCA Menards Series career in Saturday’s Shore Lunch 250 at Elko Speedway when his No. 48 Copraya.com Ford fell out with mechanical issues after completing 16 of 250 laps.
The finish came in Smith’s 435th career ARCA start.
Following last-place finishes in combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East at Iowa and Indianapolis Raceway Park, Elko marked Smith’s third last-place finish of the 2024 season but first in standalone ARCA competition. The longtime ARCA veteran is the only driver with multiple LPFs so far this year, and as such, leads the LASTCAR ARCA Drivers’ Championship.
Of the 20 cars on the entry list, Smith avoided the last-place starting spot by qualifying 19th. The 20th-place car in qualifying was Brian Clubb, father of ARCA owner-driver Alex Clubb, making his ARCA debut in the team’s No. 86 entry.
Volunteering for Smith’s team this past weekend, Colby Evans said the following regarding why Smith’s night was cut short: “We changed springs from Salem. We were so low in tech that we had to make terrible wedge adjustments to pass, which made the car incredibly tight and hard to drive. Brad could barely turn the car without washing up in the corners, so he pulled off before the leaders caught him.” Smith would ultimately run 16 laps total, remaining on track during an early caution for a spin from Amber Balcaen on Lap 5 and pulling behind the wall shortly after the ensuing restart.
Following Smith up the final results sheet was Nate Moeller, who completed 43 laps for Wayne Peterson’s team in the No. 06 Toyota. Rick Redig-Tackman, running only his second career ARCA race, finished 18th in Rise Motorsports’ No. 31 Chevrolet after an oil cooler puncture following on-track contact, ending his night after 86 laps. The Clubb team rounded out the Bottom Five - Brian finished 17th after mechanical issues ended his race after 94 laps, while Alex completed 236 laps to finish 16th, the final car still running at the finish.
Up front, William Sawalich picked up yet another win driving Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota. The Minnesota native recovered from a spin with around 100 laps remaining to beat Rev Racing’s Lavar Scott by 0.011 second in a sideways three-wide photo finish. Venturini Motorsports’ Kris Wright finished third despite spinning out coming to the start-finish line, while Isabella Robusto and Andres Perez rounded out the top five.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
20) #48-Brad Smith / 16 laps / mechanical
19) #06-Nate Moeller / 43 laps / mechanical
18) #31-Rick Redig-Tackman / 86 laps / oil cooler
17) #86-Brian Clubb / 94 laps / mechanical
16) #03-Alex Clubb / 236 laps / running
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 12 of 20)
1st) Fast Track Racing, Brad Smith Motorsports (3)
2nd) Clubb Racing Inc. (2)
3rd) Kennealy Keller Motorsports, Peterson Motorsports, Rise Motorsports, Shearer Speed Racing (1)
2024 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 12 of 20)
1st) Ford (6)
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 12 of 20)
