Max Reaves Claims First Career ARCA National Win at Elko Speedway

Fifteen-year-old Max Reaves from Trinity, North Carolina, has finally mastered Minnesota’s Elko Speedway, piloting the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Before Friday’s Shore Lunch 250 presented by Dutch Boy, Reaves knew the stakes were high to perform well in the 250-lap race. JGR is a team known for pushing its drivers past their limits, and it was apparent that Reaves utilized it to his advantage. The youngster captured the checkered flag by a narrow margin of 3.786 seconds over pole winner Brenden Queen.

He claimed his first career victory in the ARCA National Series. It was a remarkable way for the rising star who has already won all ARCA Menards Series East events to boost his second start. Last weekend in the Berlin ARCA 200, Max Reaves finished P2 just 3.448 seconds under Nitro Motorsports’ Treyten Lapcevich. Therefore, he was determined to stick it this weekend, starting strong in P2 after clocking a lap time of 14.74, a momentum he carried into the 250. Here’s how he did it.

Max Reaves’ Late Race Charge for the Win

Although Max Reaves delivered a strong performance in the Shore Lunch 250, that doesn’t mean it came without its challenges. Throughout Saturday’s race, pole sitter and series points leader Brenden “Butterbean Queen” led for most of the race until Reaves blindsided him. The rookie saw an opening and he went for it, stealing the top spot from Queen, who was trying with all his might to dominate the field of 24 behind him. Reaves held onto this lead until a lap 40 restart gave Queen the ammo needed to reclaim the lead.

The Pinnacle Racing driver would hold onto the top spot until the final restart at lap 175 when Max Reaves began edging him once again, accompanied by Lavar Scott. Scott is known in the ARCA Menards Series for his three-wide photo finish in Minnesota last year, so the competition was fierce. Scott briefly took the lead from Queen, but it wouldn’t last long. With just 47 laps to go, the driver blew past Brenden Queen and Lavar Scott to maintain the lead for the final time and capture the checkered flag.

Reaves spoke to FOX Sports post-race about the win and how he was able to regain the lead so late in the race. He explained that he gave Scott and Queen the chance to get their hopes up when he slowed down at lap 40, and believes this is how the pair were able to challenge him. Additionally, the driver thanked his dad, Team Sponsor Cook Out, and his Crew, without whom none of it would have been possible.

“I was just letting them get a chance and get their hopes up. That’s why they got away from me. I turned it on at the end. I’m so thankful for all my crew, my dad, and Cook Out. This Cook Out Camry was fast,” Max Reaves told FOX Sports post-race.

Shore Lunch 250 at Elko Speedway

Finishing Positions

• 1. Max Reaves, No. 18 Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)
• 2. Brenden Queen, No. 28 Chevrolet (Rev Racing)
• 3. Lawless Alan, No. 20 Toyota (Venturini Motorsports)
• 4. Ty Frederickson, No. 25 Toyota (Venturini Motorsports)
• 5. Isabella Robusto, No. 55 Toyota (Venturini Motorsports)
• 6. Jason Kitzmiller, No. 97 Chevrolet (A.L.L. Construction Racing)
• 7. Lavar Scott, No. 6 Chevrolet (Rev Racing)
• 8. Taylor Reimer, No. 70 Toyota (Nitro Motorsports)
• 9. Willie Mullins, No. 3 Toyota (Mullins Racing)
• 10. Alex Clubb, No. 03 Ford (Clubb Racing Inc.)
• 11. Quinn Davis, No. 31 Toyota (Rise Motorsports)
• 12. Tony Musolino, No. 10 Toyota (Fast Track Racing)
• 13. Brayton Laster, No. 06 Ford (Wayne Peterson Racing)
• 14. Michael Maples, No. 99 Chevrolet (Maples Motorsports)
• 15. Bryce Haugeberg, No. 11 Ford (Fast Track Racing)
• 16. Becca Monopoli, No. 85 Ford (City Garage Motorsports)
• 17. Kadence Davenport, No. 7 Chevrolet (CCM Racing)
• 18. Brad Smith, No. 48 Ford (Brad Smith Motorsports)
• 19. Casey Budd, No. 67 Chevrolet (Maples Motorsports)
• 20. Brian Clubb, No. 86 Ford (Clubb Racing Inc.)
• 21.  Matt Kemp, No. 9 Ford (Fast Track Racing)
• 22. Dale Shearer, No. 98 Toyota (Shearer Speed Racing)
• 23. Michael Clayton, No. 5 Ford (City Garage Motorsports)
• 24. Trevor Ward, No. 12 Toyota (Trevor Ward Motorsports)

Final Thoughts

Max Reaves proved why he deserves to be racing at the national level during Saturday’s Shore Lunch 250 at Elko Speedway. The 15-year-0ld Joe Gibbs Racing driver asserted dominance over series points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, who started from the pole. Throughout the 250-lap race, Reaves fought with Queen, who led the charge for a majority of it until the latter half when Lavar Scott briefly tested his luck. Ultimately, however, neither driver was able to match his speed once he took hold of the lead at lap 204 and never let go. Therefore, it’s safe to say the best is yet to come for Max Reaves.