AVONDALE, Ariz. — Brent Crews received a second opportunity on Friday night at Phoenix Raceway and he took advantage of it.
A yellow flag as the field raced to the white flag, gave Crews, who was second the chance to steal the victory in the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 at the one-mile oval.
In his first start for Joe Gibbs Racing, Crews muscled his way past Brenden Queen in turn three to claim the victory.
Besting Queen on the ARCA Menards Series platform was something Crews took pride in as he celebrated his victory.
“I raced Brenden [Queen] the whole year last year,” Crews said. “We raced him for CARS Tour wins, and then coming here to the ARCA Menards Series at a track like Phoenix to race for the win was really special. A great job to [Pinnacle Racing Group]. They had a winning car today, so I’m grateful for the caution at the end.”
The third triumph in the ARCA Menards Series for Crews required more patience and diligence compared to his other wins at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
On Friday, just like at DuQuoin, Crews had to battle for a victory beyond regulation, this time as the one playing offense. A stellar restart on Crews’ behalf kept him within striking distance of Queen during the initial launch, which set him up for the race-winning move.
Queen, who was three weeks removed from winning the Daytona 200 displayed frustration about the finish.
“The only way they could beat us was to knock us out of the way,” Queen said. “Honestly, I’m going to look at it as ‘I have to do a better job on that restart’. In my defense, I never should have let him get close enough. I gave him the bottom in [turn] one to try and not get hit because he had such a run off [turn] two because I cleared him.
“I almost wish I wouldn’t have cleared him and stayed door-to-door, then I could have run him up the hill or something.”
Treyten Lapcevich finished third, with Lawless Alan and Lavar Scott completing the top five.
The finish:
Brent Crews, Brenden Queen, Treyton Lapcevich, Lawless Alan, Lavar Scott, Kole Raz, Thad Moffitt, Patrick Staropoli, Robbie Dennealy, Cporey Day, Eric Johnson Jr. Trevor Huddleston, Tanner Reif, Andy Jankowiak, Kyle Keller, Cody Dennison, Blake Lothian, Adrian Ferrer, Tyler Reif, Tim Viens, Michael Maples, Brayton Laster, Tim Monroe, Jake Bollman, Jonathan Reaume, Tony Costentino, Jason Kitzmiller, Alex Clubb, David Smith, Brad Perez, Isabella Robusto, Ryan Vargas, Brad Smith, Alex Malycke.
