Sam Corry delivered a statement performance Friday evening at Sonoma Raceway, turning his second career ARCA Menards Series West start into a wire‑to‑wire victory in the General Tire 150. Driving the No. 25 Bruce Toyota for Nitro Motorsports, Corry started from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole and never relinquished control, leading all 47 laps on the 1.99‑mile road course.
For a young driver still settling into the series, Corry showed the poise of a veteran. Sonoma is a track that punishes mistakes, but Corry never offered the field an opening. Even on restarts and through heavy lapped traffic, he maintained a steady gap over teammate Mia Lovell, who spent much of the race as his closest pursuer. The pair ultimately delivered a 1‑2 finish for Nitro Motorsports, with Corry crossing the line 0.840 seconds ahead.
Lovell’s runner‑up finish was the best of her career, improving on her previous mark of third at Tri‑City Raceway. Her No. 15 Pine Health Toyota showed a consistent pace throughout the afternoon, and she kept Corry honest in the closing laps. Though she never mounted a full challenge for the lead, her performance underscored her rapid growth in the series and continued Nitro’s strong season on the West Coast.
Behind the Nitro duo, Eric Johnson Jr. earned a hard‑fought third‑place finish. The driver of the No. 5 Pacific Office Automation Toyota started the race from the third position but slipped outside the top ten around the midway point. Johnson and his team regrouped during the scheduled break, and he steadily climbed back through the field to match his season‑best result, previously set at Tucson Speedway. His resilience was one of the standout storylines of the afternoon.
Fourth place went to Cole Denton, who impressed in his first ARCA Menards West road‑course start. Piloting the No. 71 Jan’s Towing Ford, Denton ran a clean, composed race and capitalized on others’ mistakes to secure a top‑five finish. More importantly, he made gains in the championship standings. Denton unofficially picked up five points on series leader Trevor Huddleston and fifteen on Mason Massey, tightening the battle as the season approaches its midpoint.
Huddleston, the current points leader, endured a challenging day from the outset. A two‑way radio issue on the pace lap forced the No. 50 High Point Racing/Racecar Factory Ford to pit before the green flag, dropping him to the rear of the field. Despite the setback, Huddleston methodically worked his way forward and salvaged a ninth‑place finish, a respectable recovery given the circumstances, though not enough to prevent Denton from chipping away at his advantage.
For Massey, the afternoon was far more punishing. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet suffered rear‑gear issues shortly after the midway break, costing him twelve laps and any chance at a competitive finish. He ultimately placed 19th, a disappointing result that dealt a blow to his championship hopes.
Bill McAnally Racing experienced a mixed day, with Patrick Staropoli providing the lone bright spot. Making his first West Series start since 2014, Staropoli drove the No. 20 American Cattle Company / Tractor Supply Chevrolet to a strong fifth‑place finish. His teammates, Massey and Hailie Deegan, were both plagued by mechanical issues. Deegan also endured an off‑track excursion on the second lap and finished 20th.
Veteran driver Todd Souza returned to the series for the first time this season and delivered a solid sixth‑place result in the No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Ford. His most recent start came last year at Madera Speedway, where he finished 11th, making Friday’s top‑ten run a welcome return. Robbie Kennealy earned seventh in the No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford, marking his best career finish on a road course. His steady performance added another highlight to a day that saw several drivers achieve personal milestones.
Jeff Anton showed early speed in the No. 44 Deerpark Recycling / Squid Decals Chevrolet, climbing as high as third before two separate off‑course incidents in Turn 10 dropped him down the order. He recovered to finish ninth, though the result likely felt bittersweet given his early pace. Rounding out the top ten was Gavin Ray, who overcame a sticky throttle pedal that hampered his No. 7 Jerry Pitts Racing Toyota in the first half of the race.
After adjustments during the midway break, Ray rebounded to secure a tenth‑place finish. Corry’s dominant performance at Sonoma not only showcased his talent but also signaled that Nitro Motorsports has emerged as a powerhouse in the 2026 West Series season. With Lovell’s career‑best finish and strong showings from several rising drivers, the competitive landscape continues to evolve as the series heads north.
The next event on the ARCA Menards Series West schedule is the Portland 112 at Portland International Raceway on Saturday, August 8. The race will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and stream live on FloRacing, with live timing and scoring available at ARCARacing.com. Fans can expect another pivotal night in the championship battle as the field tackles one of the most technical road courses on the schedule.