ARCA WEST: Late spin leads to last for Jonathan Reaume, first for Kyle Keller
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
PHOTO: YourFBI Agent/Discord, via Timecard100/@Nascarcatholic on X/Twitter
Jonathan Reaume finished last for the 1st time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in last Saturday’s NAPA Auto Care 150 at Tri-City Raceway when his No. 72 Strike Mamba Racing Chevrolet completed 132 of 150 laps following a late spin.
The finish came in Reaume’s fourth career West Series start.
Reaume is the older brother of longtime NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner-driver Josh Reaume, the owner of Reaume Brothers Racing. Despite what the team name implies, only Josh has driven the team’s equipment at the NASCAR national series level. Jonathan, on the other hand, is the owner of the Strike Mamba Racing team that debuted in the ARCA Menards Series West this season.
SMR’s No. 51 entry is driven by Blake Lothian, who is currently in a battle with Robbie Kennealy for ARCA West Rookie of the Year. The team’s second car, the No. 72, has used a rotation of drivers through the first seven races. Cody Dennison ran the season-opening race at Kern County and the third race at Tucson, while Holly Clark made her ARCA West debut at the fourth race of the season at Colorado. The remaining four races have been filled with Reaume himself behind the wheel, as the team owner’s best result of eighth came at Race Five at Kern County, matching Dennison’s own eighth-place run in the season-opener.
On Saturday, however, Reaume’s race took a turn for the worse with just 10 laps to go. Leader Jake Bollman made contact with Reaume, sending the latter into a spin that brought out the final caution of the night. The ensuing restart opened the door for Kyle Keller, who passed Bollman to take his first career ARCA West victory. Keller led only the final five laps - Bollman held on to finish second while NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Greg Biffle placed third in his second series start in as many years.
Only 12 cars appeared on the entry list, matching a season-low from the first Kern race and at Colorado. Reaume’s was one of only two cars unable to break into the 19-second range during qualifying, as the SMR owner set at time of 20.123. The other, David Smith, anchored the grid with a 20.971-second lap.
Following Reaume the running order was Smith, who completed 141 laps. Reaume’s teammate Lothian rounded out the Top Ten, two laps behind the leaders, while Tyler Brown placed ninth as the first car one lap down. Rounding out the Bottom Five was series veteran Todd Souza, the final car on the lead lap in eighth place.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
12) #72-Jonathan Reaume / 132 laps / running
11) #05-David Smith / 141 laps / running
10) #51-Blake Lothian / 148 laps / running
9) #31-Tyler Brown / 149 laps / running
8) #3-Todd Souza / 150 laps / running
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 7 of 12)
1st) Performance P-1 Motorsports (2)
2nd) Cook Racing Technologies, Brad Smith Motorsports, Rise Motorsports, Jerry Pitts Racing, Strike Mamba Racing (1)
2025 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 7 of 12)
1st) Toyota (4)
2nd) Chevrolet (2)
3rd) 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 7 of 12)
