The only thing that Blaine Perkins failed to accomplish in his weekend trip to the Pacific Northwest was winning the General Tire Pole Award Saturday evening.
The 20-year-old from Bakersfield, California, came .008-seconds short of that. But a night after going wire-to-wire at Washington’s Evergreen Speedway, Perkins repeated his dominating performance in the ENEOS/NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Douglas County Speedway.
It’s the third career ARCA Menards Series West win for Perkins and his second in 24 hours.
Only a brief brief popping-out-of-gear bobble mid-race, which allowed Gracie Trotter to close on his back bumper, tested Perkins. He recovered quickly and drove away. His No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Four Star Fruit Ford crossed the finish line 1.376 seconds ahead of Trotter.
Perkins took the lead from pole sitter Geo Scelzi on lap 16 and led the rest of the way.
Between Evergreen and Douglas, Perkins led 235 of the 250 laps.
The 18-year-old Trotter exceeded her career best with her runner-up finish. She was third earlier this season at California’s Irwindale Speedwya.
Championship points leader Jesse Love finished third, despite nursing a heavily damaged race car over the final laps. The podium finish allowed Love to keep a one-point lead over Perkins after six events.
Trotter and Love’s Bill McAnally Racing teammate Scelzi finished fourth, while Perkins’ Bob Bruncati-owned Sunrise Ford Racing teammate Trevor Huddleston finished fifth.
Trotter is third in points, 27 behind Love and three ahead of Huddleston.
Jack Wood was sixth at Douglas County, followed by Holley Hollan, Takuma Koga, Bridget Burgess and Bobby Hillis, Jr.
The ARCA Menards Series West is next scheduled on track on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Colorado National Speedway.
ARCA Menards West Series
Douglas County Speedway – Roseburg, OR
ENEOS / NAPA Auto Parts 150 – August 8, 2020
1. Blaine Perkins
2. Gracie Trotter
3. Jesse Love
4. Gio Scelzi
5. Trevor Huddleston
6. Jack Wood
7. Holley Hollan
8. Takuma Koga
9. Bridget Burgess
10. Bobby Hillis, Jr.
11. Todd Souza
