Taylor Mayhew Wins at the Bullring After Last Lap Pass

Tyler Benoit

Oct 3, 2026 12:44 AM

In the last three races of the ARCA Menards Series West season, the winner was decided by a last lap pass. And on Friday’s Kyle Busch Classic presented by Star Nursery at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring, that streak continued with a chaotic finish.

Driving the No. 17 MMI Services Chevrolet SS for Cook Racing Technologies, Taylor Mayhew made a classic bump-and-run move on Robbie Kennealy in a one lap shootout, moving him to the outside and sneaking past in the final corner to pick up his first career ARCA Menards Series West victory.

“If I’m gonna be completely honest with you, it wasn’t me, it was all the guys behind me for working their absolute butts off for getting me out here,” Mayhew said post-race.

Mayhew started from the rear after not making a qualifying lap, and began making his descent to the front of the field, reaching the top-10 by lap 30.

“We had a super fast car all weekend, and again our crew worked their butts off cause we had issues before qualifying and we weren’t able to do that,” Mayhew continued. “My dad knew Kyle [Busch] pretty well, so to have that trophy on the shelf is going to be pretty cool.”

The calamity began after last race winner Hailie Deegan blew a tire with two laps to go, forcing an overtime restart. Trevor Huddleston, who once again pulled off another strong performance, found himself in the same position as the last two races, leading until a late caution came out with under 10 to go.

And just like those races, Huddleston was the one with the bad ending. On the final lap, Mason Massey squeezed to his inside to try and get the lead. After both drivers got loose, Robbie Kennealy took advantage and made a risky move on the inside to make it three wide. Unfortunately, things did not work out for both Huddleston and Massey, as both drivers spun in the final corner, which also included Eric Johnson Jr. after getting a tap from Eric Rhead.

ARCA Menards Series officials determined that the caution came out before Kennealy took the checkered flag, resulting in a one lap shootout. After that, it was Mayhew that used the bumper to move Kennealy out of the way and take the win.

“In that moment I can’t really be mad because I probably would have made the same move,” Kennealy said post-race. “At the end of the day we all work really hard here to come and win, and that’s what he had to do to win.”

Winning the race would have been special for Kennealy, who stated that two years and two days ago from this day was the memorial for his father’s passing.

“I really wanted to win this one with it being the Kyle Busch Memorial and it being the same thing,” an emotional Kennealy continued. “We fought really hard all day and nothing to hang our heads over.”

Cole Denton, who challenged for the lead with Trevor Huddleston in the late running, brought home a third place finish. Rackley W.A.R. development driver Vito Cancilla finished fourth in his West Series debut, with Huddleston completing the top-five positions after coming back from his spin.

Mason Massey followed behind to finish sixth, with Tyler Tomassi, Eric Johnson Jr., Eric Rhead, and Andrew Chapman completing the top-10 spots.

The ARCA Menards Series West competitors will have an off-week before returning on Saturday, October 17, for the running of the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway, the second to last race of the year. The event is scheduled to be broadcasted live on FloRacing at 10 PM EST.