Under a lightening-filled sky in southern Minnesota, local driver William Sawalich was able to get around Lavar Scott at Elko Speedway for the win in the most recent ARCA Menards Series event.
Sawalich led much of the early portion of the race, but had to recover from a mid-race spin to get back around Scott on the white flag. So, how do Scott and Sawalich stack up on this weeks edition of Frontstretch’s ARCA power rankings?
1. William Sawalich
Sawalich is fresh off of an exciting win at his home track, nudging Scott and Kris Wright at the start-finish line in a three-wide finish. But, it’s apart of a bigger story for Sawalich. He’s now won back-to-back short track races and has done so both times as the dominant car.
Sawalich led much of the early half of the race at Elko, only 45 minutes or so from his native Eden Prairie, Minnesota. However, contact with lapped driver Michael Maples sent Sawalich around, sending him to the rear of the seven car lead lap pack.
Challenged with the lack of passing on the track, it took Sawalich until the last caution, thrown with under 10 laps to go, to catch back up to Scott, eventually passing him for the win on the white flag.
Sawalich will sit out the next race at Michigan International Speedway due to age restriction rules, but will return the same weekend at Springfield, as the series endures their annual double header weekend.
Sawalich finished fifth last season on the dirt.
2. Lavar Scott
If there’s been any driver that’s turned up the heat in the middle portion of the 2024 schedule, it’s been Scott. While he’s yet to visit victory lane, he has clicked off four consecutive top-four finishes, including two runner up results.
Scott was the car to beat after Sawalich’s spin at Elko. He held the lead until a Ryan Roulette spin grouped the field back up with under 10 laps to go. When a light sprinkle began to fall from a daunting looking sky above, all seemed to be falling Scott’s way, but the race restarted, and the 20-year-old lost the race in a photo finish on the final lap.
Scott now heads to two tracks for the first time in his career in Michigan and Springfield.
3. Andres Perez
Steady and consistent as ever, Andres Perez left Elko as the points leader, with a commanding lead of over 40 points on second place and teammate Scott.
Perez was quiet at Elko, but still had top-five speed all throughout, finishing in fifth….
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