Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Three-Wide Thriller Goes To Max Gutiérrez

Written by 
Published in Racing
Monday, 08 February 2021 21:18

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – With five laps to go in Monday night’s Jeep Beach 175 at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, a red flag for rain paused the action on the half-mile oval for well over an hour.

And the long wait for the last few laps was worth every second, especially for Max Gutiérrez.

The 18-year-old ARCA Menards Series East rookie from Mexico City, Mexico, passed both Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith on the final stretch of the last lap of the 2021 opener to win a three-wide photo finish.

Not a bad way for one to earn his first victory on the ARCA Menards platform.

“The last corner, they were battling for first,” Gutiérrez said after the race of his move to steal the win from Gray and Smith, the latter of whom was attempting to pass the former in turn four before the No. 30 ToughBuilt Ford entered the equation. “I saw an opportunity, and I took it.

“I’m very happy, very proud of the team. That’s a great, great win to start the championship.”

Gutiérrez, who plans to race the full ARCA Menards Series East season for car owner and crew chief Mark Rette, is a six-time Super Kart Champion (2008-13) who won Rookie of the Year honors in Mikel’s NASCAR Truck Series in Mexico in 2017 before capturing the series championship a year later in 2018.

In 2019, he advanced to the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series, where he won two races in 10 starts while also competing in select Late Model Stock Series events. Last season in the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series, he won five of his 12 races and earned 10 top-five finishes.

Now he is an ARCA Menards winner — in epic fashion. His margin of victory over Smith on Monday night was 0.046 seconds.

“Just a last lap deal,” said Gray, the third-place finisher Monday night. “(Smith) tried to move me and didn’t do it right.”

Smith, though, did not have enough to cross the stripe first after Gutiérrez had stolen the inside lane on the final stretch.

“I can’t believe it,” said Rette, the co-owner of Rette Jones Racing. “I’m so proud of Max and his determination, not to mention the work by everyone on this Rette Jones Racing team. I knew we had a shot if we timed it right and Max did his job when it counted most, and we’re winners again in the ARCA Menards Series East.”

Gutiérrez’s win was the product of the second of two overtime attempts at the end of Monday night’s East Series season-opener, the first of which ended in Turn 1 of the first lap when Mason Diaz spun.

The final lap was the only one Gutiérrez led.

Smith ended up second ahead of Gray in third. Mason Diaz and Joey Iest rounded out the top five.

The finish:

Max Gutiérrez, Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray, Mason Diaz, Joey Iest, Daniel Dye, Colt Hensley, Brandon Oakley, Parker Retzlaff, Willie Mullins, Rajah Caruth, Richard Garvie, Jack Wood, Carson Kvapil, Dick Doheny.

Read 246 times

Soccer

Brawl breaks out after NYCFC win over Toronto

Brawl breaks out after NYCFC win over Toronto

TORONTO -- Rookie Malachi Jones and Andrés Perea scored second-half goals and Matt Freese made nine...

Undefeated Al Hilal win Saudi Pro League title

Undefeated Al Hilal win Saudi Pro League title

Undefeated Al Hilal won a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title on Saturday with a 4-1 victor...

Chelsea stage late comeback to beat Forest 3-2

Chelsea stage late comeback to beat Forest 3-2

Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson lifted Chelsea to a 3-2 Premier League victory a...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Anunoby out for G4; G5 hopes dim, sources say

Anunoby out for G4; G5 hopes dim, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe New York Knicks ruled OG Anunoby out for Sunday's Game 4 agains...

MSG: Oakley not invited back to Knicks games

MSG: Oakley not invited back to Knicks games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA spokesperson for Madison Square Garden said Charles Oakley has no...

Baseball

Ohtani removed in 7th after 'his back tightened up'

Ohtani removed in 7th after 'his back tightened up'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN DIEGO -- Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani wa...

Yanks' Cole reaches 89 mph in 3rd bullpen session

Yanks' Cole reaches 89 mph in 3rd bullpen session

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG Fla. -- New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole threw 29 pi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated