The ARCA Menards Series has a new points leader after the Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway. From having the fastest car in practice to claiming his fifth pole in his ARCA Menards Series career, and leading 92 out of 100 laps, 18-year-old Jesse Love showed why he’s a hot prospect in the Toyota pipeline. 

While Love faced little opposition throughout the race, there was a slight moment of adversity on Lap 25. As Love approached to lap Sean Corr’s number 8 Ford, Corr spun out on the exit of Turn 4 and Love scraped the wall as the caution came out. Despite the near wreck, and challenges from fellow Toyota prospects Dean Thompson and Taylor Gray, Jesse Love brought home his fourth career Arca Menards Series victory. 

After 100 laps in the 85 degree Kansas heat, Love was understandably drained. In his initial post-race interview, Love said that he was hot, tired, and in need of a nap. After a brief delay, which very well could have been that much-needed power nap, Jesse Love shared what he learned from the race in the post-race press conference

“I learned it’s a lot nicer to race at night, when it’s not hot.” Love said. 

The only other driver to lead laps in the Dawn 150 was Taylor Gray, who battled in the waning stages of the race with Dean Thompson for second place. It may have been the most thrilling battle of the afternoon, as they traded the position every few laps. Gray made one final push with 3 laps to go, but ended up hitting the outside wall. The contact didn’t result in any substantial damage, but did bring Gray’s march to second place to a halt. Connor Mosack finished behind Gray and Thompson in fourth place, ahead of the first non-Toyota finisher Jack Wood. 

Malcolm didn’t come into the Dawn 150 in the middle. Actor and ARCA newcomer Frankie Muniz entered the race as the ARCA Menards Series points leader, but ran into some trouble on pit road. Muniz started the race in sixth place and shuffled around the latter half of the top 10 until his number 30 Ford stalled on pit road during the halfway break pit stops. Since Muniz couldn’t beat the pace car off pit road, he fell a lap down. He was able to overcome that bump in the road and finish in 8th place, but lost his points lead to Jesse Love. 

Jesse Love will look to make it three in a row on May 26th as his first full-time season in ARCA rolls on at Charlotte Motor Speedway.