Love Locks Third Place at ARCA West Portland

Jesse Love, driver of the ENEOS-sponsored Bill McAnally Racing #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, secured third place in the ARCA Menards Series West race at Portland International Raceway on September 11, 2021. Teammate Cole Moore finished 12th in the #99 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry.

The defending series champion Love and Moore were running second and third, respectively, when a late-race caution set up a one-lap dash to the finish. Both drivers were shuffled back on the restart as multiple cars went off-line at the chicane; Love was able to battle back but Moore struggled to finish with a broken front spindle. Needless to say, it was an intense finish in a wild race, where both BMR drivers led laps and were poised for the win.

Moore started fifth on the grid with Love right behind him in seventh. On the first lap, Moore had reached third with Love in fourth, and Moore continued to charge, leading several laps following a restart on Lap 13. Love made a quick pit stop during a subsequent caution, then worked his way back to the front.

After holding second, Moore dashed back into the lead after a Lap 32 restart. Love gained the lead a few laps later before slipping to second, with Moore following. They appeared to be headed for a 2-3 finish until the caution came out, which led to overtime and extended the race an extra 58 laps.

With his third place finish, Love extends his lead in the championship standings with a 19-point advantage with three races remaining. Moore is third in the overall standings, a point behind second, and is second in the rookie standings.

NEXT RACE

BMR heads to The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV for the Star Nursery 150 on September 23, 2021.