ARCA WEST: Buddy Shepherd’s strong run spoiled in return to Kern
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
(SCREENSHOT: Flo Racing)
Buddy Shepherd finished last for the 2nd time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in last Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway when his No. 6 Hall Ambulance Toyota spent time in the garage area due to a suspension issue, allowing him to complete just 102 of 150 laps.
The finish came in Shepherd’s 12th career West Series start.
Shepherd’s first appearance on this site came at last October’s Kern race, when another suspension issue brought a premature end to his evening. While he has enjoyed tremendous success competing in the SRL Southwest Tour Series, his recent ARCA West starts have been less spectacular. Shepherd’s car had good pace, both qualifying and maintaining a spot in the Top Five for much of the evening. However, with around one-third of the race to go, he pulled behind the wall with another apparent suspension issue, as a brake fire was visible as his Jerry Pitts Racing team lifted the hood.
(SCREENSHOT: Flo Racing)
While Racing-Reference currently credits Shepherd with “running” at the finish, The Third Turn lists “suspension” as his “reason out.” Shepherd also completed 102 laps, consistent with the FloRacing broadcast showing his car already behind the wall with 47 laps remaining. Based on this, it appears that Shepherd did not return to the track to finish under power.
In total, 15 cars appeared on the entry list. Of these, it was a surprise last-place starter, as a mechanical issue prevented Trevor Huddleston from setting a lap time in qualifying, forcing him to start from last place. Jonathan Reaume was the slowest of the 14 who did set a time, clocking in at 21.320 seconds. Reaume would ultimately improve six places on his starting spot to finish eighth, the last car on the lead lap.
Following Shepherd up the running order were Joey Kennealy and Todd Souza, who crashed while battling for position with just 21 laps to go. Jake Bollman, who started on the front row and led 49 laps, had to settle for 12th after a rear axle issue forced him into the pits for repairs. David Smith rounded out the Bottom Five, completing 143 of 150 laps.
At the front of the field, Huddleston became the third driver in less than a month to charge from the last-place starting spot to Victory Lane, following in the footsteps of Ross Chastain in the Cup Series race at Charlotte and Daniel Suarez in the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City. Huddleston extends his points lead over second-through-fifth-place finishers Kyle Keller, Robbie Kennealy, Tanner Reif, and Eric Johnson Jr. These five also make up the top five in the current point standings, with Reif nine points back of Huddleston, followed by Keller (-11), Johnson (-15), and Kennealy (-18).
THE BOTTOM FIVE
15) #6-Buddy Shepherd / 102 laps / suspension
14) #9-Joey Kennealy / 128 laps / crash
13) #3-Todd Souza / 129 laps / crash
12) #19-Jake Bollman / 140 laps / running / led 49 laps
11) #05-David Smith / 143 laps / running
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 5 of 12)
1st) Cook Racing Technologies, Brad Smith Motorsports, Rise Motorsports, Performance P-1 Motorsports, Jerry Pitts Racing (1)
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 5 of 12)
1st) Toyota (3)
2nd) Chevrolet, Ford (1)
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 WEST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 5 of 12)
