In the closing laps of Tuesday night’s Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope, the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East season-opener, it appeared as though last year’s wild New Smyrna Speedway finish between Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray and Max Gutiérrez was bound to repeat itself as they ran one-two-three.
But on a final restart with six laps to go, a sluggish restart by Gray allowed Smith to pull away for the win. It was sweet redemption for the 17-year-old from Johnston, Iowa, after he finished second to Gutiérrez in a three-wide photo finish to open last year’s East Series season at the same venue.
Not a bad way to start the 2022 season for the 2021 East Series champ@sammysmithSS WINS at New Smyrna 🏁 pic.twitter.com/obnRpr25NU
– ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 16, 2022
The East Series event on Tuesday kicked off Night 5 of New Smyrna’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car racing, and the evening concluded with Tour-type Modifieds, Super Late Models and 602 Modifieds.
In the East Series race, Gray finished second behind Smith. Gutiérrez finished third ahead of Leland Honeyman in fourth and Donald Theetge in fifth.
RELATED: Sights and sounds from Night 5 at New Smyrna
Below are more highlights from Night 5 of the 2022 World Series of Stock Car Racing.
- In the Tour-Type Modified feature, Ron Silk prevailed in a bit of a chess match against Matt Hirschman, the latter of whom won Saturday night’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opener as part of the World Series. Jimmy Blewett, Teddy Hodgdon and Craig Lutz rounded out the top five in Tuesday night’s Tour-Type Modified race.
- Jesse Love emerged victorious in Tuesday Night’s Super Late Model feature, beating out Derek Griffith for the win. Gabe Sommers, Jake Finch and Justin Mondeik completed the top five.
- Carsten DiGiantomasso fell one position short of making it three-for-three in 602 Modified features at the World Series of Asphalt, as he finished second to Ricky Collins in Tuesday night’s race. Bryce Bailey finished third ahead of Adam LaCicero in fourth and Rob Schultz in fifth.
Wednesday’s Night 6 of the 2022 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car racing brings the John Blewett III Memorial Tour Modified 76.
Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on FloRacing.