ARCA: Kevin Campbell posts first last-place finish in 11 years at Springfield
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
Kevin Campbell finished last for the 3rd time in his ARCA Menards Series career in Sunday’s Calypso 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds when his No. 81 1st Phorm Chevrolet fell out with mechanical issues after 2 of 100 laps.
The finish came in Campbell’s 7th career start and 11th series attempt, which includes four recorded “did not start” results.
Campbell’s ARCA career began in the 2015 season, when he entered six races and recorded five finishes, two of which ended with his the first car behind the wall. His first last-place finish came at Springfield while the second came on ARCA’s other dirt track at DuQuoin, where he was listed as out with “electrical” issues while Nick Higdon was recorded as a “did not start.” In the following race at Salem, Campbell was again entered in his own No. 81 Chevrolet but failed to take the green flag and recorded a “did not start” status of his own.
In 2018, Campbell appeared on the initial entry list for the dirt race at DuQuoin, but ultimately withdrew from the event. He then hinted at an ARCA comeback in 2023 when he participated in the season-opening test at Daytona, but his first race back in the series did not occur until earlier this season. After three DNS rulings at Berlin, Elko, and Indianapolis Raceway Park, Campbell was finally able to take the green flag at Iowa. While a spin on top of a series of mechanical issues left Kadence Davenport last in that race, Campbell’s exit from this year’s Springfield race (reportedly due to a vibration) after two laps was early enough to hand him his first official last-place finish in 11 years.
A total of 25 cars appeared on the entry list. Of these 25, only 24 showed up to the track. Chase Howard was set to make his season debut for Rise Racing, the team whose predecessor, Rise Motorsports, partnered with Howard to record a seventh-place finish in last year’s DuQuoin race. However, Howard shared on his Facebook page that “the driver showed up, but the team and car did not.” Rise Racing owner Tim Goulet later issued a public apology to Howard with “high hopes” of being ready for DuQuoin in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the race also featured one entry that had to settle for a “did not start” status. Brayton Laster was set to drive Clubb Racing Inc.’s third car, the No. 83, but an engine failure left the car stranded on the grid. Despite the disappointment, Laster and the team remain on good terms, with the driver sharing on Facebook that he “still love[s] and appreciate[s] the hell out of the boys and girls at Clubb Racing Inc.”
Following Campbell up the running order was Toledo last-place finisher Kenna Long, making another “start-and-park” appearance with Maples Motorsports, this time in the team’s No. 19 Chevrolet. Trenton Masters, making his ARCA debut with Wayne Peterson Racing, was the next retirement after suffering crash damage in the opening laps. Michael Maples then pulled behind the wall in his own car, as the No. 99 reportedly suffered a clutch spring failure. Rounding out the Bottom Five was Alex Clubb, who persevered through an early spin and other troubles to complete 61 laps and finish under power.
Up front, Max Reaves led nearly every lap to score another win, though the circumstances were not without controversy as Reaves made contact with Gavan Boschele as the Nitro Motorsports driver passed him for the lead, then reclaimed it when Boschele spun out in turn 1. Reaves maintained that he did not make contact with Boschele when the latter spun out, adding on Instagram that his win was “fair and square,” while Boschele unsurprisingly saw otherwise.
DID NOT START
24) #83-Brayton Laster
THE BOTTOM FIVE
23) #81-Kevin Campbell / 2 laps / mechanical
22) #19-Kenna Long / 3 laps / mechanical
21) #06-Trenton Masters / 7 laps / crash
20) #99-Michael Maples / 48 laps / mechanical
19) #03-Alex Clubb / 61 laps / running
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 15 of 20)
1st) Maples Motorsports, Fast Track Racing, Brad Smith Motorsports(2)
2nd) 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 15 of 20)
1st) Chevrolet (7)
2nd) Ford (6)
3rd) 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 15 of 20)
