Luke Fenhaus celebrates with the Nashville Guitar Trophy after winning Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series East race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Photo: ARCA Menards Series
For 204 laps, William Sawalich was the class of the ARCA Menards Series East field Saturday during the Music City 200 at Tennessee’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
However, all it takes is one lap to change the outcome of a race.
Luke Fenhaus took the lead from Sawalich during an overtime, final-lap restart and survived a bump entering turn 3 to secure his maiden ARCA Menards Series East victory.
“What a race car,” said Fenhaus. “We struggled early on, and I wasn’t sure what we were going to do with the green-white-checkered. I knew the 15 (Sean Hingorani) was close to me. I just wasn’t sure how the green-white-checkered was going to play out. I had one job, to hold him on the bottom off (turn) 2, and I knew I’d get him.”
Sawalich was on cruise control as the laps clicked off and looked well on his way to his second victory of the season, but after he took the white flag, a spin by Rita Goulet brought out the caution flag.
Per ARCA Menards Series East rules, if the caution flag waves on the white-flag lap, then the restart that follows is a one-lap dash to the checkered flag.
Fenhaus restarted on the outside of Sawalich and got a big jump as the field roared toward turn 1. He was able to clear Sawalich at the exit of turn 2, but Sawalich did his best to root him out of the way entering turn 3.
The driver from Wausau, Wisconsin shook off Sawalich’s attempt at a bump-and-run to score his first ARCA platform victory and the first series victory for the Pinnacle Racing Group.
Sawalich dominated Saturday at Nashville until the final lap. He was the fastest driver in practice, won the pole and led every lap of the race until the final circuit.
“I knew we had the fastest car. It was just a matter of executing,” Sawalich said. “I think he jumped the start a little bit, but stuff happens like that. I got a shot in the rear and spun my tires. Unfortunately we ended up losing, but we definitely had the fastest car here.”
Hingorani finished third, with the debuting Gio Ruggiero and Jake Finch completing the top five.
The ARCA Menards Series East returns to action Saturday, May 20 at Michigan’s Flat Rock Speedway.
ARCA Menards Series East
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway – Nashville, TN
Music City 200 – May 13, 2023
1. Luke Fenhaus
2. William Sawalich
3. Sean Hingorani
4. Giovanni Ruggiero
5. Jake Finch
6. Lavar Scott
7. Zachary Tinkle
8. Tanner Arms
9. Tim Monroe
10. Dale Shearer
11. Rita Goulet
12. Brad Smith
13. Stephanie Moyer
14. Brayton Laster
15. Nate Moeller
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