Cole Denton wins first ARCA West race in only third start

TUCSON, Ariz. — In only his third career start, 15-year-old Cole Denton is a winner in the ARCA Menards Series West, taking the checkered flag at Tucson Speedway.

Photo Courtesy of NASCAR Media (Photo by Rebecca Noble/ARCA Racing)

In dominating fashion, Denton led most of the race in what was a tire-saving race which saw a good majority of the field trying to preserve their tires due to every car being given only one full set of tires for the entire 150-lap race. He also won the race from the pole, another first in the series for the rookie from Pascagoula, Miss.

The victory also came as the third for Jan’s Racing in West series competition and first of the season for the team. They scored two wins last year with Kyle Keller and Robbie Kennealy. Kennealy is Denton’s current teammate and he finished fourth.

The tire saving allowed for other teams to sprint towards the front of the field.

Both Strike Mamba Racing entries, piloted by Tyler Tomassi in the No. 51 Chevrolet and Memphis Villarreal in the No. 72 Chevrolet, contended within the top-five for a decent amount of the race.

Quinn Davis, driving the No. 77 Toyota for Performance P-1 Motorsports, also saw time as high as third. The Cinderella story to come out of the tire management was 76-year-old David Smith, who drove his No. 05 Toyota to the front and led 20 laps.

The first caution came out on lap 61 for Will Robinson in the No. 70 Toyota who came to a stop on the backstretch. Under that caution, Jade Avedisian driving the No. 13 for Central Coast Racing this week would fall out of the race with mechanical issues. Following the restart, Smith would lose the lead to Denton and also go for a spin in turns 3 and 4 after contact with Mia Lovell but the caution did not come out.

The caution would fly for the second and final time on lap 114 after Tomassi spun on the frontstretch following contact with Eric Johnson Jr.

Denton would take off on the final restart as the majority of the field that had been saving tires took off trying to gain as much track position as they could. Mason Massey in the No. 19 Chevrolet who won the season opener at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway would make contact with the frontstretch wall but was able to continue under power. Trevor Huddleston in the No. 50 began to close in on Denton in the closing laps but could not catch him, giving Denton his first career victory.

Denton was ecstatic climbing out of the car on the frontstretch, thanking team owner Jan Qualkenbush, crew chief Chris Greaney, spotter Ron Norman among others. He also gave credit to racing at Lanier Raceway in Georgia for being similar in style when learning Tucson. The ARCA Menards Series West will return on May 2, at Shasta Speedway in Northern California.

Race Results

1. 71 Cole Denton
2. 50 Trevor Huddleston
3. 5 Eric Johnson Jr
4. 1 Robbie Kennealy
5. 7 Gavin Ray
6. 66 Eric Rhead
7. 16 Hailie Deegan
8. 15 Mia Lovell
9. 72 Memphis Villarreal
10. 25 Julian DaCosta
11. 55 Andrew Chapman
12. 19 Mason Massey
13. 77 Quinn Davis -1 Lap
14. 51 Tyler Tomassi -2 Laps
15. 05 David Smith -3 Laps
16. 70 Will Robinson -22 Laps
17. 13 Jade Avedisian Out

NOTE: Bobby Hillis Jr was entered in his own No. 27 Chevrolet but withdrew.