In a day full of twists and turns at the Portland International Raceway, William Sawalich was able to tame the turns and lead 32 laps en route to winning the Portland 112. Getting redemption after coming up short in 2023.
“Definitely worked on our road course program in the off-season. I worked on myself. I wasn’t that great last year. Put in the work. Got the win here so that feels really good. A lot of confidence rolling into Sonoma and I know we’re gonna be really good there,” the Eden Praire, MN native said post-race.
Sawalich took the lead on lap 26 after making a move on eventual second-place finisher Brandon Jones, who was piloting the No. 42 for Cook Racing Technologies. This marks his second win out west, as he won the rain-shortened West opener at Phoenix.
Here’s a replay of the pass for the lead that @WilliamSawalich made on Jones.#ARCAWest
pic.twitter.com/G5pmkTvljB— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) June 1, 2024
“It gives me more confidence on road course races. I know how to lead a road course race now…Just more confidence and just getting the ball rolling here,” Sawalich added.
Having another career day in just her second career ARCA Menards Series West start was Isabella Robusto once again coming home in third. Bettering her sixth place she earned earlier this year at Phoenix Raceway.
New points leader Tyler Reif managed a fourth-place finish and the Venturini Motorsports No. 20 of Gio Ruggiero came home fifth after a tough qualifying session and several moments.
Several drivers also ended up with solid results. ARCA platform veteran Dale Quarterley came home sixth and took home his ninth career top-10 in the ARCA Menards Series West.
After a tough 25th-place finish and crashing out at the Indianapolis 500, Marco Andretti had an up and down day and was able to pull home his No. 17 in seventh place.
Takuma Koga took home tenth, making that his best finish of the season and his first top-10 of 2024.
While some left Portland proud of their runs, others were left empty-handed.
Issues for defending ARCA Menards Series West champion Sean Hingorani left him three laps down in 16th and losing the points lead.
It was also a tough day for both McAnally Racing entries. Eric Johnson Jr. hit the tire barriers with 11 laps to go, taking him out of contention. Then on the ensuing restart, teammate Jack Wood sent it into the corner and slid into the grass. He was able to rebound though to a 12th-place finish.
CAUTION 11 TO GO
Eric Johnson Jr has junked it in the last turn.#Portland112#ARCAWest pic.twitter.com/JKb6pPxpao
— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) June 1, 2024
He sure tried to send it.#ARCAWest
— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) June 1, 2024
Up next continues the twists and turns as the series travels to Sonoma Raceway for the General Tire 200 at 6:30 PM EST on FloRacing.
Official Results for the Portland 112 at Portland Raceway
| Fin | St | Car | Driver | Team | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 18 | William Sawalich | Joe Gibbs Racing Starkey / Sound Gear Toyota | 57 | --- | Running | 48 |
| 2 | 1 | 42 | Brandon Jones | Cook Racing Technologies Sprecher Chevrolet | 57 | 4.510 | Running | 44 |
| 3 | 13 | 55 | Isabella Robusto | Venturini Motorsports Yahoo! Toyota | 57 | 7.747 | Running | 41 |
| 4 | 5 | 13 | Tyler Reif | Central Coast Racing Central Coast Cabinets Toyota | 57 | 8.128 | Running | 40 |
| 5 | 7 | 20 | Gio Ruggiero | Venturini Motorsports First Auto Group Toyota | 57 | 9.124 | Running | 39 |
| 6 | 9 | 4 | Dale Quarterley | 1/4 Ley Racing Van Dyk Recycling / ACI / Fire Rover Chevrolet | 57 | 14.139 | Running | 38 |
| 7 | 3 | 17 | Marco Andretti | Cook Racing Technologies Group 1001 Chevrolet | 57 | 16.425 | Running | 37 |
| 8 | 12 | 50 | Trevor Huddleston | High Point Racing Racecar Factory Ford | 57 | 16.513 | Running | 36 |
| 9 | 15 | 12 | Kyle Keller | Kennealy Keller Motorsports Setting The Stage / Battle Born Racing / Argus Construction Ford | 57 | 20.169 | Running | 35 |
| 10 | 18 | 7 | Takuma Koga | Jerry Pitts Racing Loop Connect Toyota | 57 | 22.961 | Running | 34 |
| 11 | 17 | 15 | Jake Finch | Venturini Motorsports Phoenix Construction Toyota | 57 | 23.828 | Running | 33 |
| 12 | 4 | 16 | Jack Wood | Bill McAnally Racing NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet | 57 | 32.113 | Running | 32 |
| 13 | 21 | 1 | Robbie Kennealy | Kennealy Keller Motorsports Setting The Stage / American Swim Academy / Coverease Ford | 57 | 36.375 | Running | 31 |
| 14 | 20 | 71 | Nick Joanides | Jan’s Towing Racing Jan's Towing Ford | 57 | 55.848 | Running | 30 |
| 15 | 22 | 27 | Bobby Hillis Jr | Fierce Creature Racing Camping World / First Impression Press / LT&T Lawn Service Chevrolet | 57 | 56.699 | Running | 29 |
| 16 | 6 | 5 | Sean Hingorani | Jerry Pitts Racing Fidelity Capital Toyota | 54 | 3 laps | Running | 28 |
| 17 | 23 | 05 | David Smith | Shockwave Motorsports Shockwave Marine Suspension Seating Toyota | 52 | 5 laps | Running | 27 |
| 18 | 7 | 23 | Jake Walker | Sigma Performance Services GMS Fabrication / SPS / Spencer Clark Driven Toyota | 48 | 9 laps | Running | 26 |
| 19 | 14 | 19 | Eric Johnson Jr | Bill McAnally Racing Pacific Office Automation Chevrolet | 45 | 12 laps | OUT | 25 |
| 20 | 11 | 88 | Tanner Reif | Naake Klauer Motorsports Vegas Fastener Manufacturing Ford | 45 | 12 laps | OUT | 24 |
| 21 | 10 | 6 | Caleb Shrader | Jerry Pitts Racing Consonus Healthcare Ford | 20 | 37 laps | OUT | 23 |
| 22 | 16 | 3 | Todd Souza | Central Coast Racing Central Coast Cabinets Toyota | 4 | 53 laps | OUT | 22 |
| 23 | 19 | 77 | Dave Smith | Performance P-1 Motorsports Global Office Inc / PP1M Toyota | 0 | 57 laps | OUT | 21 |
| 24 | 24 | 0 | Tony Huffman | Fierce Creature Racing Camping World / First Impression Press / LT&T Lawn Service Chevrolet | 0 | 57 laps | OUT | 20 |
