Joe Gibbs Racing Driver Holds Off Taylor Reimer to Capture Victory in Rain Interrupted Finish
Max Reaves captured another major moment in his racing career Saturday night, winning the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway in a dramatic ARCA Menards Series West finish. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver survived a late challenge from Taylor Reimer and a chaotic overtime attempt to secure the victory in the 100 lap event.
Reaves entered the race from the pole position and immediately established himself as a contender. Driving the No. 18 Cook Out Toyota, he controlled the early stages before facing increasing pressure from Reimer and the rest of the field.
Reaves Battles Back for the Lead
Reimer emerged as Reaves’ biggest challenger during the middle portion of the race. She closed the gap and eventually took the lead after working past Reaves in traffic, setting up an intense fight for the win.
The race featured several cautions that repeatedly brought the field back together. Reaves regained the lead after a restart and appeared to have control heading toward the closing laps.
However, Reimer refused to back down. With 10 laps remaining, she closed in on Reaves and made an aggressive move for the lead. The two drivers made contact while battling through Turns 3 and 4, but Reaves used the crossover move to reclaim the top spot.
Overtime Drama Decides the Race
Helio Meza also entered the battle late, challenging Reaves for the lead with just three laps remaining. A caution forced the race into overtime, creating another opportunity for the challengers.
Reaves initially held his position, but another incident brought out a caution during the overtime attempt. Light rain began falling at Phoenix, leaving officials unable to complete another restart.
The race was ultimately called, handing Reaves the victory. Reimer finished second, just 0.072 seconds behind, while Mason Massey completed the top three.
Reaves Makes a Statement
The victory capped a strong performance for Reaves, who converted his qualifying speed into a race win against a competitive field. His ability to respond to Reimer’s late charge proved decisive.
For Joe Gibbs Racing, the result also provided a memorable finish to the organization’s planned ARCA program as it shifts its focus toward NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Reaves leaves Phoenix with another important victory and momentum heading into the final stretch of the ARCA West season.