ARCA WEST: Tim Goulet anchors the field in first start of a tumultuous 2026
by Ben Schneider / LASTCAR.info Staff Writer
SCREENSHOT: FloRacing, via ARCA News Central
Tim Goulet finished last for the 2nd time in his ARCA Menards Series West career in Friday’s Kyle Busch Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his No. 31 Tim Goulet Racing Chevrolet fell out with handling issues after 20 of 167 laps.
The finish came in Goulet’s second career ARCA West start.
Goulet’s first appearance on this site came in last season’s West Series race at Tucson Speedway, where the Rise Motorsports co-owner was the lone DNF in the 13-car field and retired with handling issues after a spin. Goulet then made a handful of appearances in the national ARCA tour before he revamped his program for 2026. In the midst of an arrest warrant that resulted in an indefinite suspension for Tim, he and then-wife Rita Goulet announced their separation and split the former Rise Motorsports program into two teams. Rita partnered with Brian Weber to run four ARCA East races for the new Integrity Autosports team, while Tim maintained the “Rise” name at the newly-formed Rise Racing, which field the No. 89 on the national ARCA tour this season primarily for Bobby Dale Earnhardt.
While Goulet was reinstated in April, he did not return to the driver’s seat himself until Friday night. Despite originally announcing the national ARCA tour’s season finale at Kansas would be the Rise Racing’s last race, Goulet was one of 25 cars appeared on the entry list for the Bullring. Driving the No. 31 again, Goulet brought out the first caution when he spun out in Turn 4. He ultimately parked his car after completing 20 laps, with “handling” listed as the reason out on The Third Turn. Goulet was credited with a 24th-place finish since the 25th entry, Ray Bolinger, was unable to start the race.
After Goulet pulled behind the wall, Mia Lovell was involved in a single-car accident after losing the brakes on her No. 15 Nitro Motorsports Toyota. Her teammate, Sam Corry, later suffered misfortune of his own with a flat tire, which brought about terminal suspension damage. Rounding out the Bottom Five were Scotty Milan and Kyle Keller. Milan spent time behind the wall repairing an engine issue before returning to the track to complete 144 laps. Keller, meanwhile, made it one lap further before mechanical issues ended his evening.
Up front, Taylor Mayhew, son of former driver David Mayhew, picked up his first career ARCA West win in just his fourth series start. Mayhew, driving for Cook Racing Technologies, had started the race at the very back of the grid and led only the final lap, passing Robbie Kennealy through turns 3 and 4 in an overtime finish. Kennealy and Jan’s Racing teammate Cole Denton placed second and third, while the team’s third car driven by Quinn Davis finished 14th.
DID NOT START
25) #38-Ray Bolinger
THE BOTTOM FIVE
24) #31-Tim Goulet / 20 laps / mechanical/handling
23) #15-Mia Lovell / 34 laps / crash/accident
22) #25-Sam Corry / 112 laps / mechanical/suspension
21) #51-Scotty Milan / 144 laps / running
20) #4-Kyle Keller / 145 laps / mechanical/flat tire
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST OWNERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 11 of 13)
1st) Strike Mamba Racing (3)
2nd) Rise Racing with Earnhardt-Shearer Racing, Central Coast Racing, Shockwave Motorsports, Performance P-1 Motorsports, Nascimento Motorsports, Kart Idaho Racing, Jan’s Towing Racing, Rise Racing (1)
2026 LASTCAR ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 11 of 13)
1st) Toyota, Chevrolet (5)
2nd) Ford (1)
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 WEST DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP (After Race 11 of 13)
