Jesse Love went to victory lane on Saturday night claiming the win in the ARCA Menards Series race at Elko Speedway in Elko New Market, Minnesota.
Racing at his home track, William Sawalich finished the 250 lap race second.
The race began with Sawalich on the pole but Love would quickly take the lead at the shortest track on the ARCA schedule. AJ Moyer would bring out the first caution with a single car spin. Moyer’s rough night continued with two more spins that brought out cautions as Love continued to lead over Sawalich. By lap 100 only seven of the 19 cars remained on the lead lap. Love would lead the way to the first scheduled stoppage on lap 125.
Sawalich would get around Love on lap 140. Christian Rose would bring out the fifth caution for a single car spin. During the caution Sawalich and Love would beat and bang on each other while on the restart Sean Hingorani would get into the back of Sawalich spinning him out moments after Love had retaken the lead. Hingorani would get a warning from ARCA for the incident but was allowed to keep his position.
Well, that escalated.@VenturiniMotor drivers @jesselovejr1 and @seanhingorani both make contact with @WilliamSawalich before the @JoeGibbsRacing driver spins 😶#Menards250 | @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/AVVYXQbSVY
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 25, 2023
As Sawalich tried to work his way back though the field he was pushed into the wall by sixth place driver Frankie Muniz. Rose would spin again on lap 179. By the second break Sawalich had worked his way up to third behind Love and Connor Jones.
Muniz would crash out as Sawalich worked his way back up to second.
The win is the fourth of the season for Love who also leads the series point standings.
ARCA Elko Speedway Results
| # | NAME | TOTAL LAPS | LAST LAP | DIFF | BEST LAP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Jesse Love * | 250 | 00:32:082 | –:–:– | 00:14:604 |
| 2 | 18 | William Sawalich * | 250 | 00:15:624 | 00:00:998 | 00:14:577 |
| 3 | 15 | Sean Hingorani * | 250 | 00:25:446 | 00:03:726 | 00:14:691 |
| 4 | 25 | Connor Jones * | 250 | 00:37:791 | 00:05:998 | 00:14:748 |
| 5 | 2 | Andres Perez de Lara * | 250 | 00:40:356 | 00:08:300 | 00:14:768 |
| 6 | 01 | Davey Callihan * | 250 | 00:15:657 | 00:13:871 | 00:14:876 |
| 7 | 45 | Tony Cosentino * | 249 | 00:27:743 | 1 lap | 00:14:866 |
| 8 | 10 | Willie Mullins | 249 | 00:15:876 | 1 lap | 00:14:902 |
| 9 | 55 | Toni Breidinger | 248 | 00:15:721 | 1 lap | 00:14:854 |
| 10 | 32 | Christian Rose * | 246 | 00:27:685 | 3 laps | 00:14:998 |
| 11 | 66 | Jon Garrett * | 242 | 00:17:034 | 7 laps | 00:15:313 |
| 12 | 12 | Ryan Roulette * | 240 | 00:16:718 | 9 laps | 00:15:476 |
| 13 | 11 | Bryce Haugeberg | 233 | 00:17:038 | 16 laps | 00:15:845 |
| 14 | 31 | Rita Goulet * | 217 | 00:17:004 | 32 laps | 00:16:189 |
| 15 | 06 | AJ Moyer * | 216 | 00:18:421 | 33 laps | 00:16:068 |
| 16 | 30 | Frankie Muniz * | 199 | 00:15:251 | 50 laps | 00:14:883 |
| 17 | 03 | Casey Carden * | 113 | –:–:– | –:–:– | 00:16:137 |
| 18 | 48 | Brad Smith | 3 | –:–:– | –:–:– | 00:17:263 |
| 19 | 43 | Jalen Mack * | –:–:– | –:–:– | 00:00:000 |
