FLAT ROCK — History could be made tonight at Flat Rock Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series East, as Max Reaves aims to continue a dominant start to his career in the Dutch Boy 150.

Driving for Joe Gibbs Racing and coming off two straight wins to start his series career at Five Flags Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, he is aiming to make it three straight victories tonight at Flat Rock, which would tie the series record for most consecutive wins to start a career in the series — held by road racer Will Rodgers, who won three straight starts in 2017 and 2018.

The series returns for the third straight year to Flat Rock, following victories by now-Xfinity regulars Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich. Along with the ARCA race, tonight’s action at Flat Rock will feature Street Stock and Factory Stock competition.

Other notes from tonight’s race:

— Isaac Kitzmiller, just 16 years old, comes into tonight’s Flat Rock race as the ARCA Menards Series East points leader. His team is receiving assistance from ARCA legend Frank Kimmel, who raced 15 times at Flat Rock and won twice in 1998 and 2000.

— Tyler Reif has three career ARCA Menards Series West victories and seeks his first ARCA East win tonight. In 2024, Reif won at the 0.375-mile Shasta Speedway and finished third at the quarter-mile All American Speedway, on his way to winning the West Series’ owner’s championship for Central Coast Racing.

— Zachary Tinkle sits second in the ARCA Menards Series East standings, the highest ranking in his career. He took home a career-best fourth-place finish at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

— Jackson McLerran makes his second start of the season, with two-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief Todd Parrott overseeing his effort this weekend.

— Local favorite Jeffrey MacZink makes his first start of the season at Flat Rock. MacZink, who lives just a few miles from the track, started his racing career in the Street Stock division at the track.

— The 150-lap race will be run straight through will no scheduled breaks and no scheduled pit stops. The only pit stops will be for emergency repairs or adjustments.

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The schedules for the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West have been finalized, with seven races slated for the East and eleven set for the West.

The ARCA Menards East season will commence with the series’ ninth visit to New Smyrna Speedway on Tuesday, February 15. The ARCA Menards West season kicks off a month later with a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, March 11.  

One thing is clear after this weekend: Ford has hit a home run by bringing Hailie Deegan on board.

The 18-year-old phenom has a strong racing pedigree, talent to spare, and a great attitude overall. Previously, her detractors have critiqued her willingness to use the chrome horn to get a victory. But in Saturday’s ARCA race, she showed she has the patience to go far in this sport, and not make enemies unnecessarily.

Deegan’s efforts landed her a 2^ndplace finish, sandwiched between two Venturini cars in 1^stand 3^rd, and she was happy with her effort.

“Pretty much at the end there, all I wanted to do was finish. My goal for this race was top three to top-five was a victory for me,” Deegan said. “It is a long season and I have to race against these guys week in and week out. It is best to stay on good terms with them. Second is really a win to me this weekend. Winning the first race would have maybe been a little too high of standards for the rest of the season. Everything would have been downhill. This gives me something to still work towards.”