Seventeen-year-old Carson Brown captured his first career win in the ARCA Menards Series national series during Thursday night’s race at Phoenix Raceway. Brown, competing in his debut national start, dominated the event by leading all but two laps after starting from the pole, sealing the victory in a thrilling two-lap overtime finish against Tristan McKee. The intense battle came following a late-race caution that extended the race beyond its scheduled distance.
Race Overview and Key Moments
The second race of the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season took place on a rare Thursday evening, featuring a strong field of 40 entrants. This event was combined with the ARCA West Series, allowing drivers from both series to earn points. Mason Massey, the reigning West Series winner from the previous week at Kern Raceway, qualified 14th. Brown, part of the RCR developmental program, clinched the pole position with a lap time of 27.67 seconds, averaging 130.105 mph, with 2024 Watkins Glen winner Tristan McKee starting alongside him on the front row.
The race began with immediate drama as a first-lap crash in Turn 2 involved Bobby Hillis Jr., bringing out an early caution that became a pattern throughout the race. Additional cautions occurred frequently, including incidents on Laps 13, 22, and 27 involving drivers Dustin Hillenburg, Eric Johnson Jr., Isabella Robusto, and others, contributing to a challenging race environment. Despite these interruptions, Brown maintained control and led through a significant green-flag run of 43 laps until the scheduled halfway break at Lap 76.
Mid-Race Challenges and Multiple Cautions
After the competition break, the race resumed on Lap 84 but soon returned to caution conditions following a multi-car collision on the backstretch. Contact between Taylor Mayhew and Mia Lovell caused Lovell to spin, resulting in a crash that collected several drivers including Julian Dacosta, Isabella Robusto, Taylor Reimer, and Robbie Kennealy. Shortly thereafter, Gavin Ray crashed in Turn 2 following contact initiated by Mayhew, further contributing to the race’s numerous cautions.
Despite the setbacks, Brown continued to lead comfortably as the race approached its final stages. However, the dramatic tension heightened when a last-minute caution appeared just before the white flag due to Dustin Hillenburg spinning, leading to an overtime restart. This setup a high-pressure two-lap sprint to the finish for the win.
Final Showdown and Podium Results
In the overtime shootout, Tristan McKee pressed Brown aggressively but was unable to execute a pass. Brown preserved his lead cleanly and crossed the finish line first, taking a commanding victory in his national series debut. McKee finished second, followed by Thomas Annunziata, Trevor Huddleston, and Mason Massey rounding out the top five.
The race featured nine caution periods totaling 53 laps, with two lead changes between Brown and McKee. The remaining top ten finishers included Jake Bollman, Isaac Kitzmiller, Taylor Mayhew, Max Reaves, and Robbie Kennealy.
Post-Race Reflections from Carson Brown
Speaking to FS1 after the victory, Brown expressed gratitude to his team and supporters:
“All the guys back at PRG (Pinnacle Racing Group), big thank you to them,”
Brown said. He continued,
“Distributing Wire Cable, just everyone who makes this happen. Andy’s Frozen Custard. Just couldn’t do it without all of them. Man, that green-white-checkered made it a little hairy there. Made a little contact off (Turn) 2, but just glad I can kind of persevere there and make it to the finish line.”
Upcoming ARCA Season Event at Kansas Speedway
The ARCA Menards Series national platform will return to action on Saturday, April 18, at Kansas Speedway. The race will be broadcast live on FS1 and MRN Radio starting at 12:30 p.m. ET. Following this strong performance at Phoenix Raceway, drivers like Brown and McKee will aim to continue building momentum as the season progresses.
