It was a strong day for Venturini Motorsports, as the team’s full-time driver, Jesse Love, dominated and took home the checkered flag in the Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway.
Love, driving the No. 20 GEARWRENCH Toyota Camry, led 96 of the race’s 100 laps, en route to his second victory of the season and the fourth of his ARCA Menards Series career, all coming for Venturini Motorsports.
Kansas = Conquered!@jesselovejr1 dominates the #Dawn150 for his second ARCA Menards Series win of the season. pic.twitter.com/QhFfovz5bD
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) May 6, 2023
“This place is tough. I’ve never raced on a mile and a half. I don’t really know what I’m doing,” Love said in his celebration interview. “I did a B+ job yesterday, and I wanted to do an A+ job today. I think we got closer to it,” he added. Love also mentioned that he was planning to “take a nap” now that the race was over.
While Love held the lead for the majority of the event, he was never able to truly shake his Venturini Motorsports teammate Dean Thompson, and Taylor Gray, driving the No. 17 Toyota Camry for TRICON Garage, in the newly rebranded team’s first start in ARCA.
Both Thompson and Gray were able to momentarily take over the top spot throughout the race, although only for a short period of time, as the No. 20 would rebound and take his position back at the top of the scoring pylon.
The 18-year-old Menlo Park, California native is building a lot of momentum after winning back-to-back races with his win at Talladega Superspeedway. After the win today, he now takes over the points lead from rookie Frankie Muniz.
Thompson, in his first of five races for Venturini Motorsports, came home in the runner-up position, just a tenth of a second behind the eventual winner, after making a run at the victory in the race’s closing laps.
“I think Venturini put together a great car. It’s why I’m here. I’m learning,” the 21-year-old NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver said following the race.
Both VMS teammates mentioned post-race that they were tired after the race, citing the heat taking a toll on the drivers throughout the race. “Really hot race. I don’t blame him (Love). I’m really gassed too,” added Thompson.
Taylor Gray and TRICON Garage came home in third, after being near the front of the pack with Jesse Love throughout the entirety of the event. Connor Mosack and Jack Wood rounded out the rest of the top five.
Cody Coughlin, making his first start of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season, brought his No. 72 Ford Mustang home in seventh place, just behind full-time driver Andres Perez de Lara.
Frankie Muniz, who entered Kansas as the ARCA Menards Series points leader, faced some adversity throughout the race after the kill switch was hit on a pit stop. This put the No. 30 Ford Mustang outside the top-15, and one lap down to the leaders.
A native of Wood Ridge, New Jersey, Muniz was able to capture the free pass shortly after the restart and rebound to finish eighth, leaving him just two points behind the series’ new points leader, two-time winner Jesse Love.
Christian Rose scored a ninth-place finish for AM Racing, while Greg Van Alst rounded out the top-10 in the finishing order.
It’s been a difficult run for Van Alst, who lost his father Bruce this weekend to cancer. Winning the season opener at Daytona, Van Alst now sits fourth place in points, behind Love, Muniz, and Jack Wood, who has run the opening four events for Rev Racing.
Toni Breidinger finished in 11th place, her second-best result of the season. In mere hours, the driver of the No. 55 Toyota Camry will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Kansas, driving the No. 1 for TRICON Garage.
Mandy Chick scored an impressive 12th place in her home race at Kansas Speedway, marking a great rebound after getting caught up in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway and finishing 24th. Entering Charlotte, Chick sits 10th in points.
STANDINGS – ARCA (After 4 of 20 Races):
1. @jesselovejr1 144pts
2. @frankiemuniz (-2)
3. @DriverJackWood (-14)
4. @GregVanAlst35 (-17)
5. @andresplg2 (-22)
6. Tony Cosentino (-24)
7. @CRoseRacing (-28)
8. @seancorr82_8_48 (-35)
9. @ToniBreidinger (-36)
10. Mandy Chick (-53)— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) May 6, 2023
Up next for the ARCA Menards Series is the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26th. You can catch the race at 6 P.M. on Fox Sports 1.
RESULTS – Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway:
| Fin | St | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Delta | Status | Best Lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 20 | Jesse Love | Venturini Motorsports GEARWRENCH Toyota | 100 | --- | Running | 31.686 |
| 2 | 3 | 25 | Dean Thompson | Venturini Motorsports Thompson Pipe Group Toyota | 100 | 0.176 | Running | 32.083 |
| 3 | 5 | 17 | Taylor Gray | TRICON Garage Dead On Tools Toyota | 100 | 0.796 | Running | 31.787 |
| 4 | 22 | 18 | Connor Mosack | Joe Gibbs Racing Mobil 1 Toyota | 100 | 3.199 | Running | 32.064 |
| 5 | 9 | 6 | Jack Wood | Rev Racing Velocity Racing Chevrolet | 100 | 11.337 | Running | 32.810 |
| 6 | 11 | 2 | Andres Perez De Lara | Rev Racing Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet | 100 | 11.732 | Running | 32.867 |
| 7 | 10 | 72 | Cody Coughlin | JEGS Racing JEGS-Cody Coughlin Co Ford | 100 | 12.581 | Running | 32.510 |
| 8 | 6 | 30 | Frankie Muniz | Rette Jones Racing Built Ford Tough Ford | 100 | 18.703 | Running | 32.393 |
| 9 | 7 | 32 | Christian Rose | AM Racing West Virginia Department of Tourism Ford | 100 | 22.364 | Running | 32.528 |
| 10 | 13 | 35 | Greg Van Alst | Greg Van Alst Racing CB Fabricating Ford | 100 | 23.084 | Running | 32.978 |
| 11 | 8 | 55 | Toni Breidinger | Venturini Motorsports Victoria's Secret Toyota | 100 | 24.005 | Running | 33.319 |
| 12 | 15 | 74 | Mandy Chick | Chick Racing Inc. Dynamic Drivelines Toyota | 100 | 26.128 | Running | 33.596 |
| 13 | 18 | 66 | Jon Garrett | Veer Motorsports Lick ‘Em Stick ‘Em Chevrolet | 99 | 1 lap | Running | 33.861 |
| 14 | 16 | 69 | Scott Melton | Kimmel Racing Melton McFadin Insurance Toyota | 99 | 1 lap | Running | 33.383 |
| 15 | 14 | 45 | Tony Cosentino | Tamayo Cosentino Racing Tamayo Sports Florida Chevrolet | 97 | 3 laps | Running | 33.042 |
| 16 | 20 | 8 | Sean Corr | Empire Racing NESCO Chevrolet | 97 | 3 laps | Running | 33.945 |
| 17 | 21 | 7 | Matt Wilson | CCM Racing 7 Brew Coffee Toyota | 94 | 6 laps | Running | 34.784 |
| 18 | 19 | 11 | Josh Reaume | Fast Track Racing Cover Craft Ford | 92 | 8 laps | OUT | 34.512 |
| 19 | 24 | 03 | Alex Clubb | Clubb Racing Inc. Yavapi Bottle Gas Ford | 92 | 8 laps | Running | 36.835 |
| 20 | 25 | 06 | AJ Moyer | Wayne Peterson Racing River’s Edge Cottages & RV Park TBA | 91 | 9 laps | Running | 37.019 |
| 21 | 23 | 0 | Kevin Hinkle | Wayne Peterson Racing KH Automotive Toyota | 91 | 9 laps | Running | 36.401 |
| 22 | 4 | 15 | Amber Balcean | Venturini Motorsports ICON Direct Toyota | 71 | 29 laps | OUT | 32.624 |
| 23 | 12 | 97 | Jason Kitzmiller | CR7 Motorsports ALL Construction Chevrolet | 64 | 36 laps | OUT | 33.022 |
| 24 | 26 | 48 | Brad Smith | Brad Smith Racing Copraya Ford | 27 | 73 laps | OUT | 37.930 |
| 25 | 17 | 12 | Gage Rogers | Fast Track Racing Volara Foam Chevrolet | 20 | 80 laps | OUT | 33.643 |
| 26 | 22 | 10 | Tim Monroe | Fast Track Racing FastTrackRacing.com Ford | 8 | 92 laps | OUT | 35.424 |
| 27 | 27 | 01 | Zachary Tinkle | Fast Track Racing FastTrackRacing.com Ford | 3 | 97 laps | OUT | 35.961 |
POINTS – ARCA (After 4 of 20 Races):
STANDINGS – ARCA (After 4 of 20 Races):
1. @jesselovejr1 144pts
2. @frankiemuniz (-2)
3. @DriverJackWood (-14)
4. @GregVanAlst35 (-17)
5. @andresplg2 (-22)
6. Tony Cosentino (-24)
7. @CRoseRacing (-28)
8. @seancorr82_8_48 (-35)
9. @ToniBreidinger (-36)
10. Mandy Chick (-53)— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) May 6, 2023
