Tanner Gray wins at Charlotte for first career ARCA Menards Series victory

After heartbreak at Kansas, Tanner Gray gets the win at Charlotte. It is Gray’s first ARCA Menards Series win ever. By the way, Gray is racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tonight, too. Another win coming?

Carson Kvapil put up a great fight. In the end, Tanner Gray was just too good to get beat. He had about 45 laps on his tires compared to around 10 for Kvapil. Gray did what he had to do and picked up the win at Charlotte.

Racing in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 car, Gray gets his first ARCA win. The NHRA champion is hoping to use this momentum to get the job done in the Truck Series tonight.

Repost to congratulate Tanner Gray on his ARCA WIN at Charlotte Motor Speedway! pic.twitter.com/JHHQ1WW7Gh

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 24, 2024

This season with Tricon Garage, Tanner Gray has lagged behind the other drivers. He is doing fine. Four top-10s on the season and no finishes worse than P20. However, he hasn’t had that speed necessary to compete in the front of the Truck Series on a consistent basis.

I think that winning this ARCA race was good for Tanner. It will instill a lot of confidence in him, especially beating a talent like Kvapil.

The ARCA Menards Series race was interesting. One of the better races this season. Mostly because leaders, like Tanner Gray, came and went. Gray was actually a lap down at one point due to a flat tire. He earned the lucky dog and fought his way back into the lead pack.

Then on the final restart, Gray did what he had to do. 10 laps to go in the race, Kvapil and Andres Perez bearing down on him, the JGR ARCA driver did what he had to do. Gray is better than most on restarts due to his great reaction time from his NHRA drag racing days.

That reaction time plus some skillful air blocking on Kvapil late in this race earned Gray the win. It wasn’t easy, but I don’t think Gray would want it any other way. He achieved something he has worked hard to achieve. Before this, Gray finished in the top-5 five times in 17 races. On his 18th attempt, he walks away with the win.

There has yet to be a full-time driver win this ARCA season. I’m not sure we will see someone win with talented part-timers like Gray, Kvapil, Sawalich, Zilisch, and others. Maybe one weekend some of those drivers sit out and someone like Perez takes advantage.

One race down tonight for Tanner Gray and one more to go. Gray starts on the pole tonight for the Truck Series. Will he get the job done?