Smith Settles for Third in Pocono ARCA Race

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer 

For the second time this season, MDM Motorsports finishes 1-2-3 in the ARCA Racing Series. While Harrison Burton scored the victory and Sheldon Creed second, Zane Smith, who was an early favorite, settled for third in the General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 at Pocono Raceway.

In the waning laps of the race, Smith’s No. 41 LaPaz Margarita Mix Toyota Camry struggled to move forward. As back-to-back cautions waved, restarts became a key. Unfortunately for Smith, the line he would restart in would struggle to get moving as Brennan Poole, who was subbing for Natalie Decker, and others spun their tires. The 18-year-old driver climbed from 10^thto fourth in four laps, avoiding a near-wreck between Codie Rohrbaugh and others. Eventually, he was able to slide into third behind his teammates.

Early in the race, Smith was one of the fastest cars on track. He ran down race leader, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular, Noah Gragson. The duo gapped the rest of the field by over four seconds after 30 laps. As the 80-lap race neared the halfway point, green flag pit stops began with a fuel run lasting about 46 laps. Fortunately for Smith, a caution waved in the middle of the cycle of pit stops, he had been the only driver that had pitted to remain on the lead lap. He lined up in the lead but dropped to fifth in the mad scramble entering turn one.

Smith Tweeted his thanks to his team,

P3 today @poconoraceway just couldn’t find help on restarts but got ourselves back to the front from 10th in 4 laps. Thank you @MdmMotorsports and everyone behind the #41

— Zane Smith (@zanesmith41) June 2, 2018

The third-place finish was the sixth-straight top-five finish for Smith this season. It is also the reverse of the 1-2-3 finish that MDM Motorsports had at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville where Smith won, Creed was second, and Burton third.

Now Smith and his team will prepare to continue their top-10 streak on June 8 in the Michigan ARCA 200 at Michigan International Speedway.