Tyler Reif takes over the West Series points lead with a flag-to-flag victory at Shasta

www.arcaracing.com July 28, 2024

ANDERSON, Calif. — Tyler Reif’s return trip to Victory Lane in the ARCA Menards Series West has felt inevitable all season.

When the 17-year-old from Las Vegas set the best speed in both practice and qualifying Saturday at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, California, the feeling of inevitability shifted specifically to the evening’s Shasta 150.

Reif delivered in resounding fashion. Starting from the General Tire Pole, he sped off into Turn 1 as the race leader and never looked back. Despite a valiant effort from second-place finisher Sean Hingorani, nobody had anything Saturday for the driver of the No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota.

RELATED: Complete Shasta race results

“It means the world to me,” Reif said in Victory Lane. “Me and this team have worked so hard this year, our first [full] year together. We’ve done nothing but grinding, being consistent and getting better and better.”

Reif’s second West Series victory marks his first racing for Todd and Kelly Souza. When Reif won the ARCA Menards Series / West Series combination event at Phoenix Raceway last year for his maiden victory, he did so in Chris Lowden’s No. 41 Ford. Reif switched to Souza’s team midway through the 2023 season.

The 2024 campaign has been strong for the driver who leaves Shasta as the new West Series points leader. He entered the Shasta 150 having scored five top fives in the first six races of the season.

Hingorani, who entered Saturday with a pair of West Series wins on his 2024 resume, drops to second in the still-tight championship race following his runner-up finish.

“I think we were better for the first bit there,” said Hingorani, the defending West Series champion. “Then we just got too free. Nothing I could do about it; just struggled with a little bit of drive. These Jerry Pitts Racing guys worked really hard all weekend. I can’t thank them enough for that.”

Trevor Huddleston, Derek Copeland and Kyle Keller finished third through fifth, respectively.

Jack Wood, Souza, Nick Joanidas, Takuma Koga and David Smith rounded out the top 10.

The West Series gets a couple weeks off before returning to action Aug. 10. at Tri-City Raceway in West Richland, Washington for the NAPA Auto Care 150.

FloRacing will show the NAPA Auto Care 150 in its entirety beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET.