Mosack Rises Late For Another Kansas ARCA Win

Connor Mosack celebrates in victory lane Saturday at Kansas Speedway. (ARCA photo)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Most people were ready to hand the trophy for the Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway to Tanner Gray Saturday afternoon, but Connor Mosack had other ideas.

After Gray dominated three-quarters of the ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.5-mile oval, Mosack used a power move to the inside of turn three to take the lead from Gray with 13 to go.

From there, Mosack fended off a late advance by Gray inside of 10 laps left en route to his second career national ARCA victory and second in a row at Kansas.

It was also the second straight ARCA win for Pinnacle Racing Group, which took the checkered flag at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway on April 28 with Connor Zilisch.

“That’s why you never give up!” said Mosack’s crew chief, Shane Huffman, on pit road after the race.

Ironically enough, Mosack defeated the same car he drove to victory with last September – the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – with his late-race heroics after Gray led 86 of the 100 laps.

Though his first win was special in its own right, Mosack tipped that Saturday’s score “means a little bit more,” since the Pinnacle team is owned by his stepfather Mark Webb.

“To [win] back-to-back here with two different teams is a huge deal, but for this win to be with the family team is really special,” said Mosack. “For how hard all these guys work … it’s awesome to see that be rewarded. It’s awesome to get another one here.”

Mosack will complete a double-duty day at Kansas by running the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday night with Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado that Kyle Busch has won in twice already this season.

All afternoon, it appeared that Gray had the keys to victory lane, as he started from the pole and led the first 82 laps uncontested. He built a 10-second lead by the halfway break and lapped all but the top four.

However, a lap-83 restart was where the race changed, as Mosack held tough on Gray’s outside for a mile and a half before taking the lead by a half car length at the flagstand.

Though Gray dove back past on the inside of turn one to reclaim the lead on lap 84, Mosack stuck within two car lengths of the leader – the closest anyone had been to Gray all race long – before making the winning move four laps later.

He found speed on the inside of the racetrack, closing on Gray in turn one before pulling alongside the No. 18 on the backstretch and side-drafting to break Gray’s momentum.

From there, a deep dive into turn three allowed Mosack to take the top spot for good. He reached the finish line .470 seconds ahead of Gray, whose runner-up effort was his career-best ARCA finish.

A trio of Venturini Motorsports Toyotas – driven by Dean Thompson, Kris Wright, and Talladega winner Jake Finch, respectively – filled out the top five finishers.

Longtime modified ace Andy Jankowiak was sixth, ahead of Rev Racing’s Andres Perez, Venturini’s Amber Balcaen, and Cook Racing Technologies’ Marco Andretti, who was the final car on the lead lap in ninth.

Toni Breidinger finished 10th, one lap down, to give owner Billy Venturini five cars inside the top 10.

Just three cautions slowed the pace Saturday, including the scheduled halfway break at lap 50.

The two yellows for cause were both brought out by Ryan Roulette, who spun in turn one at lap four and went around again in turn one with 25 laps left, setting up the race-defining final restart.

Saturday’s event was completed in one hour, 15 minutes, and 28 seconds at an average speed of 119.447 mph. It was the 28th ARCA Menards Series event all-time at the Sunflower State facility.

The next national ARCA Menard Series event is scheduled for May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., with the running of the General Tire 150.

Reigning series champion Jesse Love, now racing in the Xfinity Series for Richard Childress Racing, was last year’s winner of the Charlotte ARCA event.

The finish:

1. 28-Connor Mosack, 2. 18-Tanner Gray, 3. 55-Dean Thompson, 4. 15-Kris Wright, 5. 20-Jake Finch, 6. 73-Andy Jankowiak, 7. 2-Andres Perez, 8. 22-Amber Balcaen, 9. 17-Marco Andretti, 10. 25-Toni Breidinger, 11. 33-Lawless Alan, 12. 35-Greg Van Alst, 13. 6-Lavar Scott, 14. 32-Christian Rose, 15. 74-Mandy Chick, 16. 11-Cody Dennison, 17. 10-Ryan Huff, 18. 42-Tanner Reif, 19. 99-Michael Maples, 20. 12-Ryan Roulette, 21. 06-Kevin Hinkle, 22. 31-Brayton Laster, 23. 48-Brad Smith, 24. 03-Alex Clubb.