DACONO, Colo. — Jesse Love earned his third ARCA Menards Series West victory of the season Saturday at Colorado National Raceway.
If the 15-year-old goes on to win the ARCA Menards Series West championship, Love may well point back to Saturday night’s ENEOS 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts as the defining moment.
Love outlasted championship challenger Blaine Perkins in a wild shootout ending to Saturday’s race.
The two contenders, who were seperated by just one point entering the race traded sheet metal and door slams throughout the final 30 laps. While Love dominated the first half of the event after winning the General Tire Pole Award, Perkins muscled his way into the lead on lap 139.
But Love was unrelenting and wrestled in right back on lap 147.
In a two-lap overtime dash, Love got the jump and drove his No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota over the finish line .328 seconds ahead of Perkins.
Love ended up leading a race-high 49 points to push his points lead back up to seven after seven events. Perkins, who had closed to within one after sweeping a pair of races last weekend, led nine laps but settled for second.
Love’s Bill McAnally Racing teammate Gio Scelzi briefly took advantage of the fracas to make a move for second but ended up third on the night, followed by teammate Gracie Trotter.
Jack Wood rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Jesse Love, Blaine Perkins, Gio Scelzi, Gracie Trotter, Jack Wood, Trevor Huddleston, Holley Hollan, Todd Souza, Takuma Koga, Bridget Burgess, Bobby Hillis Jr.