No matter how it’s achieved, nothing matches the feeling of that first career victory.
Jake Drew understands that better than anybody, as he scored his first career victory in the ARCA Menards Series West at Portland International Raceway on Saturday night.
The ARCA Portland 112 took place following the conclusion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the road course, which featured tricky weather conditions due to constant precipitation, which didn’t subside for the drivers of the ARCA Menards Series West.
However, what was scheduled to be a 57-lap event, didn’t turn out that way, as severe weather conditions were headed for Portland, Oregon.
The craziness started immediately, as both Jake Drew and polesitter Daniel Dye drove off course and into the grass in the first corner.
The green flag is out at a rainy @portlandraceway!
But we immediately have trouble as Daniel Dye and Jake Drew both go off track.@FloRacing pic.twitter.com/ZbqjKafUme
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 5, 2022
There were tons of on-track incidents and run-offs that continued throughout the race, but luckily for both front row starters, the first caution of the event came out on lap nine for Andrew Tuttle.
Tanner Reif, teammate to Jake Drew, took a gamble and stayes out under caution, sending the Bob Bruncati-owned machine to the lead – and an engaging battle with Connor Mosack.
The battle for the lead is closing!
Jake Drew assumed the lead after staying out, but he's facing a lot of pressure from Connor Mosack.@portlandraceway | @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/KUwU73aT6o
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 5, 2022
The collisions and off-track excursions didn’t subside, as increasing rain in close proximity to the track forced ARCA Menards Series officials to call the event, giving teams the two-to-go signal with less than 20 scheduled laps left.
The art of racing in the rain:
Jake Drew gets redemption from last year to finally pick up his first career win at @portlandraceway!@FloRacing pic.twitter.com/JBHbDYJcbk
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 5, 2022
Redemption from last season, where the second-year driver was penalized for blowing through the chicane on a late-race restart, the 22-year-old finally got that much-deserved maiden victory in the ARCA Menards Series West.
Connor Mosack – who ran double-duty at Portland on Saturday — finished in the runner-up position, with Todd Souza finishing in third place.
Daniel Dye, a championship contender in the ARCA Menards Series, made the trip to Portland for road racing experience, bringing his Bill McAnally Racing-prepared entry home in fourth, despite multiple spins.
Takuma Koga, and Tanner Reif rounded out the top-five finishers, while Bridget Burgess, Paul Pedroncelli Jr, Austin Herzog, and Joey Iest completed the top-10.
Up next for the ARCA Menards Series West is Sonoma Raceway, where the series will race in companion with the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
