In what looked like was going to be an easy victory for William Sawalich, a caution with two laps to go changed everything.
For Sawalich, he was the star of the show. Earning the fastest time in practice, winning the pole for qualifying, and leading every lap but the final two. His only competition throughout the race would be Luke Fenhaus. During some instances in the race, Fenhaus was the only driver to keep pace with Sawalich, even gaining ground on him during the longer runs. With two laps to go, Sawalich was in a comfortable position to win the race, until the caution came out for a spin by Conner Jones in turn 1, causing the race to go into overtime.
Just like Nashville, Fenhaus was able to take the lead from Sawalich on the restart, and held him off to earn his second win in the ARCA Menards Series East, and his first in the main series.
“I knew I had to win the race,” stated Fenhaus. “He was giving me the bottom and you can get ran into so easily on the top. I had to hit my restart right and not spin the tires. I got into 1 really well and used the racetrack ahead of me. It was enough for the win. I was just trying to get the top to work, I was free in and free off, but it was also hot and slick all day. To come away on top means a lot. This is a big one for us and even sweeter to have all my friends and parents here. It was a special one.”
Sawalich had to settle for a second-place finish after an incredible performance. Jesse Love, the main series points leader, would come home in third after struggling throughout most of the race. East Series regular Lavar Scott came home in fourth, with Toni Breidinger rounding out the top five in a career performance. Andrés Pérez de Lara, Christian Rose, Conner Jones, Frankie Muniz, and Jon Garrett would round out the rest of the top ten.
The next race in the ARCA Menards Series will be next Friday at Pocono Raceway, while the next ARCA Menards Series East race will be at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on 11 August, which will also be a combination race with the main series.
2023 Calypso Lemonade 150 Race Results
Pos. | Grid | No. | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status |
1 | 2 | 28 | Luke Fenhaus | Pinnacle Racing Group | Chevrolet | 156 | 2 | Running |
2 | 1 | 18 | William Sawalich | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 156 | 154 | Running |
3 | 5 | 20 | Jesse Love | Venturini Motorsports | Toyota | 156 | 0 | Running |
4 | 3 | 6 | Lavar Scott | Rev Racing | Chevrolet | 156 | 0 | Running |
5 | 4 | 25 | Toni Breidinger | Venturini Motorsports | Toyota | 156 | 0 | Running |
6 | 6 | 2 | Andrés Pérez de Lara | Rev Racing | Chevrolet | 156 | 0 | Running |
7 | 9 | 32 | Christian Rose | AM Racing | Ford | 156 | 0 | Running |
8 | 7 | 15 | Conner Jones | Venturini Motorsports | Toyota | 155 | 0 | Running |
9 | 8 | 30 | Frankie Muniz | Rette Jones Racing | Ford | 155 | 0 | Running |
10 | 10 | 66 | Jon Garrett | Veer Motorsports | Chevrolet | 155 | 0 | Running |
11 | 11 | 11 | Zachary Tinkle | Fast Track Racing | Toyota | 154 | 0 | Running |
12 | 12 | 69 | Scott Melton | Kimmel Racing | Toyota | 153 | 0 | Running |
13 | 20 | 03 | Alex Clubb | Clubb Racing Inc. | Ford | 149 | 0 | Running |
14 | 17 | 06 | A. J. Moyer | Peterson Motorsports | Toyota | 141 | 0 | Running |
15 | 19 | 48 | Brad Smith | Brad Smith Motorsports | Ford | 136 | 0 | Electrical |
16 | 18 | 31 | Rita Goulet | Rise Motorsports | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | Running |
17 | 14 | 10 | Tim Monroe | Fast Track Racing | Toyota | 57 | 0 | Clutch |
18 | 16 | 98 | Dale Shearer | Shearer Speed Racing | Toyota | 30 | 0 | Accident |
19 | 15 | 12 | Matt Kemp | Fast Track Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | Mechanical |
20 | 13 | 01 | Brayton Laster | Fast Track Racing | Chevrolet | 19 | 0 | Driveline |