Love Grabs Second In ARCA West Opener In Vegas
• 15-Year-Old Leads 5 BMR Rookies
LAS VEGAS (Feb. 20, 2020) – Fifteen-year-old Jesse Love emerged as a major contender in the ARCA Menards Series West season opener at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday night, as he came away with a runner-up finish in his series debut.
He dashed from second on the grid in his No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry to lead early in the Star Nursery 150, before settling into second.
Love is among a contingent of five talented young rookies competing this year for Bill McAnally Racing. Three of those drivers ran 2-3-4 for most of the race on Thursday, with Love followed by Gracie Trotter and Lawless Alan.
Trotter held down the third position in her No. 99 ENEOS Toyota Camry throughout the race until getting shuffled back after a restart with seven laps remaining. That shuffle also left Alan to finish sixth in the No. 12 AUTOParkit / NGK Toyota Camry.
Gio Scelzi, meanwhile, had to battle back after his No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS / Curb Records Toyota Camry got turned around after contact from Alan early in the race. He came away with a 10th-place finish. Teammate Holley Hollan came home 12th in the No. 50 JBL / NAPA Filters / NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Camry.
ARCA Menards Series West Event:
Race: Star Nursery 150 (Race 1 of 10) Feb. 20, 2020
Location: The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas (3/8-mile oval)
Television: NBCSN on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. PT
BMR Drivers:
Giovanni Scelzi
No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS / Curb Records Toyota Camry
Age: 18
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
Practice: 2nd/3rd
Qualified: 9th
Finished: 10th (Running, completed 148 of 150 laps)
Best series finish: 10th – Las Vegas (Feb. 20, 2020)
Series standings: 10th
Rookie standings: 4th
Lawless Alan
No. 12 AUTOParkit / NGK Toyota Camry
Age: 20
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Practice: 12th/9th
Qualified: 10th
Finished: 6th (Running, completed 150 of 150 laps)
Best series finish: 6th – Las Vegas (Feb. 20, 2020)
Series standings: 6th
Rookie standings: 3rd
Jesse Love
No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry
Age: 15
Hometown: Menlo Park, Calif.
Practice: 3rd/2nd
Qualified: 2nd
Finished: 2nd (Running, completed 150 of 150 laps)
Laps led: 12
Best series finish: 2nd – Las Vegas (Feb. 20, 2020)
Series standings: 2nd
Rookie standings: 1st
Holley Hollan
No. 50 JBL / NAPA Filters / NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Camry
Age: 18
Hometown: Broken Arrow, Okla.
Practice: 6th/17th
Qualified: 14th
Finished: 12th (Running, completed 147 of 150 laps)
Best series finish: 12th – Las Vegas (Feb. 20, 2020)
Series standings: 12th
Rookie standings: 5th
Gracie Trotter
No. 99 ENEOS Toyota Camry
Age: 18
Hometown: Denver, N.C.
Practice: 4th/4th
Qualified: 4th
Finished: 4th (Running, completed 150 of 150 laps)
Best series finish: 4th – Las Vegas (Feb. 20, 2020)
Series standings: 4th
Rookie standings: 2nd
Race winner: Sam Mayer
Next Race:
ARCA Menards Series, March 6, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz. (1-mile oval)