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Tanner Gray Survives Chaotic Restart with Tire Going Down to Win at Kansas

Photo Credit: ARCA Racing

Tanner Gray had just about everything thrown at him during Friday’s ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wasn’t to be denied.

With a left-rear tire going down, Gray was able to carry his No. 18 Place of Hope Toyota Camry across the start-finish line in the lead, beating Connor Zilisch after a chaotic late-race restart.

That restart came with three laps to go, and instead of being in the lead, like he had been throughout much of the afternoon, the Artesia, New Mexico native was slotted second, behind Amber Balcaen.

Balcaen was running on older tires and with Connor Zilisch directly on her bumper, the No. 22 struggled to get launched, being shoved hard into the left side of Gray, causing the tire to rub.

Gray was fortunate to complete the final three laps of the race without cutting a tire, but didn’t make it much further after his left rear tire went flat heading into the first corner on the cooldown lap.

The victory marks the second for the NASCAR Truck Series regular in the ARCA Menards Series, both this season for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gray scored his first victory earlier in the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Connor Zilisch drove through the chaos of the final three laps to finish runner-up for Pinnacle Racing Group, his eighth top-two result in nine career starts.

Lavar Scott managed to score a third-place finish, making major ground on REV Racing teammate Andres Perez, who blew a right-front tire and finished 21st, after retiring from the event early.

In his third ARCA Menards Series start, Corey Day finished in fourth place, after a pair of incredible saves throughout the event, including one on the final lap with Andy Jankowiak.

Giovanni Ruggiero, who started on the outside of the front row, rounded out the top five in the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports.

After staying out during the race’s final caution Amber Balcaen managed to match a career-best of sixth-place. Balcaen also had an incredible save during the race, while driving through the pack after getting the free pass.

Andy Jankowiak, Lawless Alan, Isaac Johnson, and Jason Kitzmiller rounded out the top-10.

Leaving Kansas Speedway, the ARCA Menards Series heads to Toledo Speedway for the season finale next Saturday, where a champion will be crowned. Andres Perez has a 35-point lead over teammate Lavar Scott, which will likely be enough to clinch the title once taking the green flag next week.

RACE RESULTS:

FinStNo.DriverTeamLapsDiffStatusPoints
1518Tanner GrayJoe Gibbs Racing
Toyota
100Running48
2428Connor ZilischPinnacle Racing Group
Chevrolet Performance / Silver Hare Development
Chevrolet
1000.312Running42
386Lavar ScottRev Racing
Max Siegel Inc
Chevrolet
1001.803Running41
4982Corey DayPinnacle Racing Group
HendrickCars.com
Chevrolet
1002.108Running40
5220Giovanni RuggieroVenturini Motorsports
First Auto Group
Toyota
1002.382Running40
61022Amber BalcaenVenturini Motorsports
ICON
Toyota
1003.494Running39
7673Andy JankowiakKLAS Motorsports
Acacia Energy
Toyota
1007.482Running37
81133Lawless AlanReaume Brothers Racing
AutoParkIt
Ford
991 lapRunning36
91334Isaac JohnsonGreg Van Alst Motorsports
Vector CAG / Endress+Hauser
Ford
982 lapsRunning35
101697Jason KitzmillerCR7 Motorsports
A.L.L. Construction
Chevrolet
982 lapsRunning34
111974Mandy ChickTeam Chick Racing
Dynamic Drivelines / FK Rod Ends / Fragola Perf
Chevrolet
982 lapsRunning33
121225Toni BreidingerVenturini Motorsports
Boozy Jerky
Toyota
982 lapsRunning32
131532Christian RoseAM Racing
West Virginia Department of Tourism
Ford
964 lapsRunning31
14237Eric CaudellCCM Racing
Coble Enterprises / Doug Design
Chevrolet
964 lapsRunning30
152112Takuma KogaFast Track Racing
Ikedo / Magnica / Mac Systems
Toyota
955 lapsRunning29
162499Michael MaplesFast Track Racing
Don Ray Petroleum LLC / Maples Motorsports
Chevrolet
955 lapsRunning28
17209Sebastian AriasRev Racing
Max Siegel Inc
Chevrolet
937 lapsRunning27
18315Kris WrightVenturini Motorsports
Warranty Solutions
Toyota
9010 lapsOut26
192531Rita GouletRise Motorsports
NationalPolice.org
Chevrolet
6436 lapsOut25
201435Greg Van AlstGreg Van Alst Motorsports
CB Fabricating
Ford
6238 lapsOut24
2172Andres PerezRev Racing
Max Siegel Inc
Chevrolet
4753 lapsOut23
222211Cody DennisonFast Track Racing
Timcast.com
Toyota
2575 lapsOut22
231817Marco AndrettiCook Racing Technologies
Group 1001
Chevrolet
2377 lapsOut21
241710Christopher TateFast Track Racing
T-Top Manufacturing / Cash Customs
Toyota
2080 lapsOut20
252748Brad SmithBrad Smith Motorsports
Copraya.com
Ford
1288 lapsOut19
262606Kevin HinckleWayne Peterson Racing
KH Automotive
Ford
1090 lapsOut18
272803Alex ClubbClubb Racing Inc.
Race Parts Liquidators
Ford
991 lapsOut17
28155Isabella RobustoVenturini Motorsports
Mobil 1
Toyota
199 lapsOut17
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