Smith and Love Find Victory Lane at New Smyrna

Much like one year ago, a late-race restart decided the ARCA Menards Series East season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on Tuesday night. This time, Sammy Smith took the upper hand to score the victory. The 2021 series champion and fast qualifier outdueled Taylor Gray to secure the win in the 200-lap event at the Florida bullring.

Throughout the race, Gray was Smith's only consistent threat for the top spot, pulling ahead on several restarts. On the final restart, however, Smith held on to the top spot to add to his win collection at New Smyrna. Smith has four career wins during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in Late Model competition, as well as a win in the Florida Governors Cup. He also entered Tuesday evening as the World Series points leader for the Super Late Model division this year. Gray would finish second, with last year's winner, Max Gutierrez, rounding out the podium.

It takes a lot of respect to race the way Jesse Love and Derek Griffith did on Tuesday night in Race 4 of the World Series of Asphalt. The two Super Late Model standouts exchanged the lead several times at New Smyrna Speedway during their 35 lap feature event, with Love eventually taking the win by .812 seconds. Griffith picked up the race lead early. Love first took the lead away off a Lap 10 restart, but Griffith fought back on the outside for three laps, and eventually took the spot right back. Love battled back to the bottom again and they again raced side-by-side for another seven laps and were joined by a charging Gabe Sommers behind them in third. Love would provide himself a little breathing room in the final laps, as Griffith’s handling seemed to fade. The win was Love’s 2nd career World Series win, with the first coming back in 2020. Sommers, Jake Finch and Justin Mondeik would complete the top 5.

OTHER ACTION……Ron Silk used a 3 wide move on a restart on lap 3, to take the win in the Tour -Type Modified feature event. Silk would have to hold off a charging Matt Hirschman over the final 10 laps to secure the victory. Jimmy Blewett, Teddy Hodgdon, and Monday night winner Craig Lutz would round out the top 5.

ARCA Menards Series East Results

1. Sammy Smith

2. Taylor Gray

3. Max Gutierrez

4. Leland Honeyman

5. Donald Theetge

6. Mason Diaz

7. Logan Misuraca

8. Willie Mullins

9. Stephanie Moyer

10. Ed Pompa

11. Christian Rose

12. Steve Austin

13. Caleb Costner

14. Tony Cosentino

15. Brad Smith

16. Zachary Tinkle

Super Late Models Results

1. Jesse Love

2. Derek Griffith

3. Gabe Sommers

4. Jake Finch

5. Justin Mondeik

6. Sammy Smith

7. Brad May

8. Ryan Preece

9. Michael Hinde

10. Memphis Villarreal

11. Austin Thom

12. Joey Miller

13. Bubba Pollard

14. Patrick Thomas

15. Steve Weaver, Jr.

16. Justin Drawdy