ARCA: Brake line failure forces Brad Smith to park on the opening lap at Madison
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
Smith signing autographs for fans prior to the race as his No. 48 campaigns for NASCAR Hall of Fame consideration for the late James Hylton, his fomer car owner. (PHOTO: @DriverBradSmith)
Brad Smith finished last for the 28th time in his ARCA Menards Series career in Friday’s Atlas 200 at Madison International Speedway when his No. 48 Ford fell out with mechanical and brake issues on the opening lap.
The finish came in Smith’s 478th career start.
When the weekend began, Smith’s entry showed no signs of trouble, as the team tweeted updates of the No. 48 going through and passing technical inspection. In the practice session, however, a brake line failed on Smith’s car, and the team later revealed that a lack of repair parts on site forced them to “start-and-park.”
Of the 21 teams on the entry list, Smith lined up 21st on the grid as the only car not to record a lap time in qualifying. Despite knowing they were in a short evening, Smith and his team stuck around for the autograph session before pulling into the garage on the opening lap. The driver and team also took inspiration from Ryan Sieg’s win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race the same evening, congratulating Sieg the next day and writing, “starts wise we know the feeling, and victory wise, we now see that anything is possible!”
With his third last-place finish of the season, Smith also takes sole possession of the LASTCAR ARCA Menards Series Drivers’ Championship lead and would likely hold the Bottom Five tiebreaker over Nate Moeller. Smith and Moeller shared the 2024 LASTCAR Drivers’ Championship in the ARCA Menards Series East.
Joining Smith in the garage in the early laps was Kevin Campbell, Springfield’s last-place finisher, who completed three laps before going behind the wall. Ty Fredrickson was then involved in an accident in the final fifty laps of the race, forcing him to settle for a 19th-place finish. Rounding out the Bottom Five were Michael Maples and Jeff Maconi, who completed 177 and 183 laps, respectively.
Tristan McKee led a 1-2 finish for Pinnacle Racing Group at the front of the field, with teammate Carson Brown following in second and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Max Reaves taking third.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
21) #48-Brad Smith / 0 laps / mechanical/brakes
20) #81-Kevin Campbell / 3 laps / mechanical/vibration
19) #36-Ty Fredrickson / 156 laps / crash
18) #99-Michael Maples / 177 laps / running
17) #86-Jeff Maconi / 183 laps / running
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 16 of 20)
1st) Brad Smith Motorsports (3)
2nd) Maples Motorsports, Fast Track Racing (2)
3rd) Ryan Huff Motorsports, Rise Racing with Earnhardt-Shearer Racing, Costner Motorsports, White Motorsports, MBM Motorsports, Clubb Racing Inc., City Garage Motorsports, CCM Racing, KC Motorsports (1)
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 16 of 20)
1st) Chevrolet, Ford (7)
2nd) Toyota (2)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2026 ARCA season to view the full drivers’ standings for both the ARCA Menards Series and its East and West divisions. You can also find the manufacturers’ and owners’ standings for all three series HERE.
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 16 of 20)
