ARCA: Trevor Ward performs double duty for Fast Track Racing at Elko
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
Trevor Ward finished last for the 1st time in his ARCA Menards Series career in Saturday’s Shore Lunch 250 Presented By Dutch Boy at Elko Speedway when his No. 12 Fast Track High Performance Driving School Toyota pulled behind the wall after 5 of 250 laps.
The finish came in Ward’s second career start in the national ARCA Menards Series and his third overall ARCA-sanctioned start.
Ward is among the latest of many ARCA drivers to make their debuts in the series with Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing. After competing in late models and serving as a crew member for the team throughout 2024, Ward’s ARCA debut came in the East Series race at Flat Rock Speedway, where he finished 14th in Hillenburg’s No. 9 entry. A month later, Ward made his national ARCA debut in the No. 12 for Fast Track, where he placed 23rd as a brake failure ended his race after just seven laps.
On Saturday, despite qualifying 16th on old tires, Ward’s evening was cut short once again, running only five laps before pulling behind the wall with “mechanical” listed as his reason out. Per Ward’s Instagram, he appears to have spent the rest of the evening helping service his teammate Bryce Haugeberg’s No. 11 entry in the pits. Ward will return to the driver’s seat this coming weekend at Lime Rock Park, still seeking additional sponsorship at what could be considered a home track for the New England native.
All told, 24 cars appeared on the entry list. Of these, Brad Smith anchored the field in qualifying, posting a lap time of 18.220 seconds, over a second behind Quinn Davis, whose 17.138-second lap saw her share the last row with the longtime ARCA veteran in her national ARCA debut. Smith finished 18th after retiring due to overheating issues, while Davis, who finished ninth in her East Series debut at Nashville, nearly scored another top-ten finish with an 11th-place result, ending up just one lap behind Alex Clubb.
Following Ward behind the wall was Michael Clayton, who pulled in after 11 laps completed. Dale Shearer retired from the race two laps later, with The Third Turn’s result page suggesting he was unable to meet minimum speed. Matt Kemp, driving the Fast Track No. 9 that Ward drove in his East Series start, made it 15 laps before he pulled behind the wall as well. Rounding out the Bottom Five was Brian Clubb, whose 39 laps marked the second-most he’s ever completed in an ARCA race and most since last year’s Elko race (94).
Up front, Max Reaves continued the impressive start to his ARCA career by winning his first national ARCA race. Reaves held off challenges from runner-up Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Lavar Scott, who briefly took the lead on the final restart before fading to seventh in the closing laps.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #12-Trevor Ward / 5 laps / mechanical
23) #5-Michael Clayton / 11 laps / mechanical
22) #98-Dale Shearer / 13 laps / too slow
21) #9-Matt Kemp / 15 laps / mechanical
20) #86-Brian Clubb / 39 laps / fatigue
AUTHOR’S NOTE: While the collaborative effort from Jeff Smith’s Berlin last-place finish used Fast Track Racing owner points, it was primarily a Brad Smith Motorsports entry. For the sake of consistency with ARCA’s standings, Fast Track has been credited with the last-place finish in our standings below.
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 20)
1st) Fast Track Racing (3)
2nd) CCM Racing, Brad Smith Motorsports, Wayne Peterson Racing, Kimmel Racing, Clubb Racing Inc. (1)
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 20)
1st) Ford (5)
2nd) Toyota (3)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Click HERE throughout the 2025 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.
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 8 of 20)
