The ARCA Menards Series East returned after a two-week break to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL, Saturday night. Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Sammie Smith won the pole during qualifying earlier today, with Mason Diaz qualifying second. On thirteen cars competed in this race.
We are GREEN for 200 laps at @5FlagsSpeedway @TaylorGray17_ to the lead 👀#ARCAMenards East | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/wZGDBMxpJR — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 27, 2021
Taylor Gray got the lead from Smith at the start of the race. He led the first seven laps before Sammie Smith took the lead from the inside off of turn one. Once Smith got the lead, he began to put distance on Gray by a five-car length. In the back, Mason Diaz and Daniel Dye were battling for third place that went to Diaz. The first caution came out on lap 55 for a spin between turns three and four by the No. 12 of Stephanie Moyer making her series debut.
🔁@sammysmithSS to P1@_TrackPass | @5FlagsSpeedway pic.twitter.com/5lEPXwLpeV — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 27, 2021
The race resumed on lap 60. Nine laps later, Sammie Smith got loose, and Taylor Gray took advantage of it and passed him for the lead. Smith would also lose the second spot to Daniel Dye. Luckily for Smith, the second caution came out for the first race break. During the break, teams can change tires, add fuel, and make adjustments to their cars for five minutes.
Another lead change on Lap 69@TaylorGray17_ back to P1#ARCAMenards East | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/IudRvaAtQE — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 27, 2021
Once the break was over, the race resumed on lap 78. Dye would get the lead from Gray for a couple of laps before Gray took it right back on lap 81. Dye’s car began to fall back as Smith and Diaz passed him as he settled for fourth. On lap 116, Sammie Smith used the bumper to move Gray out of the way to regain the lead. Once Smith got the lead, he never looked back.
How can you not love short track racing?@sammysmithSS takes the lead with 84 laps to go at @5FlagsSpeedway #ARCAMenards East | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/mgmFHWVjZV — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 27, 2021
Behind Gray was another good battle for third place between Mason Diaz and Rajah Caruth. Caruth would get third from Diaz. Sammie Smith’s lead by that point was 1.24 seconds as the third caution came out for the second race break.
Once the race break was over, the race resumed on lap 154. Smith quickly drove away from the rest of the field, leaving Gray, Diaz, and Caruth battling for second. Gray tried to block Diaz from passing him, only for Diaz to shove him out of the way. Diaz took second, and Caruth moved up to third. Meanwhile, Daniel Dye, who was at one point in contention for the race, went out with a radiator problem. With nineteen laps to go, the fourth caution came for another spin by Stephanie Moyer. She had minor left rear damage hitting the turn two wall.
45 laps to go@sammysmithss to the lead@rajahcaruth_ to P2 👀 @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/r7eltfEkjY — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 28, 2021
The race resumed with fifteen laps to go. Smith once again drove away while Taylor Gray worked his way back up to pass Caruth for third. Sammie Smith led the last 85 laps to score his first career win by 2.044 seconds over Mason Diaz. Only seven cars finished on the lead lap.
How about that???@sammysmithSS's first ARCA Menards win comes at @5FlagsSpeedway It's just his second series start 🏁 pic.twitter.com/xvNWQchWSd — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 28, 2021
The rest of the top ten finishers were Taylor Gray third, Rajah Caruth fourth, Joey Iest fifth, Parker Retzlaff sixth, Max Gutierrez seventh, Stephanie Moyer eighth twelve laps down, Daniel Dye finished in ninth, and Richard Garvie tenth twenty-three laps down. There were four cautions for twelve laps, six lead changes, and Sammie Smith led the most laps with 145, followed by Taylor Gray with 53 laps, and Daniel Dye two-laps.
The ARCA Menards Series East won’t return until May 8th at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
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