For the first time in his career, Kyle Keller is an ARCA Menards Series West race winner, capturing the checkered flag at Tri-City Speedway.
It appeared as if Jake Bollman was going to coast to victory, but after making contact with a lapped car to bring out a caution with less than 10 laps to go, the race turned on its end. Bollman sustained damage in the collision, and Keller took the lead from outside lane on the final restart after spending most of the race inside of the top three.
“Everyone that works so hard in the shop, this is for them,” Keller told FloRacing.
Bollman ended up finishing second, with Greg Biffle crossing the line in third. Robbie Kennealy finished the 150-lap race in fourth, with Trevor Huddleston rounding out the top five, after spinning across the line.
The remainder of the 10 saw Tanner Reif in sixth, followed Eric Johnson Jr and Todd Souza in eighth. Tyler Brown and Blake Lothian rounded out the top 10.
When the green flag flew, Biffle and Bollman ran side by side for the opening lap, before the polesitter Bollman settled into the lead on the second circuit of the race. Bollman led the opening 10 laps before the first caution of the race flew for Johnson, who made contact with Keller.
The second restart of the night saw a much more spirited battle for the lead. Biffle utilized the outside lane to work around Bollman to take the lead after the two battled side by side for four laps, making slight contact a few times.
Biffle was able to extend his lead throughout the subsequent green flag run, with most of the field running single file throughout. Huddleston and Keller swapped positions a few times, but other than that, the field was largely strung out.
Caution flew over the race track once again shortly past the 50 lap mark, as Jonathan Reaume went for a spin. Reaume had been dealing with a tie rod issue throughout the race, causing the spin.
Biffle was able to retain the lead on the restart, extending his lead while Keller and Bollman battled for second behind him. Keller was able to get around for the position, and the leaders remained in that order until the race break some 20 laps later.
Fresh out of the midway break, Biffle retained the lead out of the restart and kept it for the first 10 laps of the run. However, Bollman reeled him in slowly, and after Biffle made some contact with a David Smith’s lapped car, he pounced. Bollman regained the lead with 60 laps to go, and by the 100-lap mark, his lead was well over a half-second.
After taking the lead, Bollman paced the next 40 laps out front, with the field calmly in tow. However, as lapped traffic became thicker, trouble struck again. Reaume and Bollman got switched up in turn 1, with the two making contact inside of 10 laps to go. Reaume spun, bringing out the caution, giving the leader Bollman damage on the right front of his racecar.
On the final restart, Keller had a strong restart from the outside lane, and got around Bollman for the lead. The damage to Bollman’s No. 19 appeared to slow him down, giving Keller the advantage he needed to take the lead and win his first career West series race.
The West will now endure a three week off period, before returning at Portland International Raceway on Friday, Aug. 29. That race will air exclusively on FloRacing, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Josh joined Frontstretch in 2023 and currently covers the ARCA Menards Series. Born and raised in Missouri, Josh has been watching motorsports since 2005. He currently is studying for a Mass Communication degree at Lindenwood University