Reaves Delivers When It Matters Most
Max Reaves continued his impressive 2026 season Friday night, earning the pole position for the ARCA Menards Series West race at Phoenix Raceway. Driving the No. 18 Cook Out Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Reaves posted a qualifying lap of 27.683 seconds to secure the top starting spot for Saturday night’s race.
The result gives Reaves a valuable opportunity to compete for another victory as the season continues. He will start alongside Jade Avedisian, who qualified second with a lap of 27.695 seconds, just 0.012 seconds behind Reaves.
A Tight Battle at Phoenix
Reaves had to deliver a strong lap to claim the pole, with Avedisian putting together an impressive qualifying effort of her own. Taylor Reimer qualified third, followed by Gavan Boschele in fourth and Mia Lovell in fifth.
The narrow gap between Reaves and Avedisian sets up an interesting battle at the front of the field. Starting first provides Reaves with an important advantage, but he will need to maintain his speed and avoid mistakes once the green flag waves.
Phoenix Raceway’s one mile oval places a premium on handling, track position and consistency. Reaves will need to manage traffic and execute on restarts if he hopes to turn his qualifying performance into a victory.
Reaves Looks to Continue His Strong Season
Reaves has already enjoyed considerable success in 2026, including a victory at Salem Speedway in September. That win saw him lead all 212 laps, demonstrating his ability to control a race from the front.
Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series West race is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET, with coverage on FloRacing.
Reaves has completed the first step by earning the pole. Now, he will look to capitalize on his starting position and add another memorable result to his season.