ARCA WEST: Tim Goulet’s West debut leads to Tucson’s lone DNF
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
PHOTO: TonyRainesFan/Discord, via Timecard100
Tim Goulet finished last for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in last Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series West 150 at Tucson Speedway when his No. 31 Tri-City Raceway / Max Buchanan Foundation Toyota fell out with handling issues after completing 104 of 150 laps.
The finish came in Goulet’s West Series debut.
Goulet is the co-owner of Rise Motorsports, where he and his wife Rita both serve as owner-drivers. The team primarily competes in the ARCA Menards Series East while also running several of the short tracks on the ARCA Menards Series’ national tour. While neither Tim nor Rita had made an ARCA West start prior to this weekend, Rise Motorsports as a team made four West Series starts in the 2024 season with Garrett Zacharias, Rick Goodale, and Rick Redig-Tackman behind the wheel.
With sponsorship from Tri-City Raceway to promote ARCA West’s upcoming race at the track in August, Goulet made the trip from North Carolina to Tucson all by himself this past week to compete in the West Series for the first time on Saturday night. His weekend got off to a rough start, however, as he crashed in practice, leaving his status for the race in doubt. As Goulet was the lone crew member at the track, David Smith’s No. 05 team reportedly helped Goulet make repairs to his No. 31, allowing him to take the green flag for the race.
Unfortunately, Goulet would experience another spin around the race’s halfway point, narrowly avoiding major damage as Todd Souza was barely able to avoid his spun car. While Goulet was able to continue, his night ultimately came to an end after 104 laps, the same number of laps Spencer Davis completed when he finished last in the January season-opener at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.
A total of 13 cars appeared on the entry list, up one from Kern but down a whopping 21 from the series’ combination race with ARCA National at Phoenix. Mariah Boudrieau’s lap of 18.133 seconds anchoring the field in practice. Goulet then took the 13th spot in qualifying, securing the final starting spot on the grid with a time of 18.088.
Goulet was the only driver in the Bottom Five to end the night behind the wall. Smith’s 142 laps completed left him last among the 12 finishers, while Boudrieau completed an additional four laps to place 11th. Rounding out the Bottom Five were a pair of teammates from Strike Mamba Racing. Cody Dennison, who ran as high as second, claimed the final spot in the Top Ten, while Blake Lothian finished one spot ahead in ninth. Both drivers maintained a strong enough pace to finish only two laps behind the leaders.
At the front of the field, Tanner Reif took his first West Series victory since 2022 after leading only the final two laps. Reif emerged victorious in a three-way battle for the win with Eric Johnson Jr. and Jake Bollman, who finished second and third respectively. All three drivers spent the first half of the race saving their tires in the back of the field before charging in the second half following the caution for Goulet’s spin.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
13) #31-Tim Goulet / 104 laps / handling
12) #05-David Smith / 142 laps / running
11) #77-Mariah Boudrieau / 146 laps / running
10) #72-Cody Dennison / 148 laps / running
9) #51-Blake Lothian / 148 laps / running
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 3 of 12)
1st) Cook Racing Technologies, Brad Smith Motorsports, Rise Motorsports (1)
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 3 of 12)
1st) Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota (1)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2025 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.
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 3 of 12)
