Joe Gibbs Racing had one final chance to add to its ARCA history, and Max Reaves made sure the team left Phoenix Raceway with another victory. The young driver brought the No. 18 Cook Out Toyota to Victory Lane in the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100, giving the organization a memorable result in its final ARCA appearance.
The Oct. 17 victory was Reaves’ first in the ARCA Menards Series West and his 13th across the ARCA platform during two partial seasons with JGR. The organization had already announced plans to end its ARCA operation after the 2026 season. However, there was still a race to run at Phoenix, and Reaves had an opportunity to give the team one more winning performance.
Taylor Reimer made sure the evening would not be easy. Behind the wheel of the No. 82 Chevrolet, she stayed within striking distance and led 24 laps. Reaves controlled 90 of the 114 laps, but the lead changed hands four times as the two drivers continued battling for control. Reimer got around Reaves before the halfway break, and she remained a threat as the race moved into its closing stages. Reaves eventually found an opening underneath her and reclaimed the lead.
Even so, traffic continued to complicate matters, and contact involving Andrew Chapman near lap 98 brought out a caution that sent the race into overtime. The additional laps created another opportunity for Reimer to challenge, yet the race never returned to green-flag conditions. An incident involving Helio Meza and Jade Avedisian brought out another caution, with Meza making contact with the Turn 1 wall. Rain then moved into the Phoenix area, leaving officials with little choice but to end the event under caution after 114 laps.
Reaves was declared the winner, finishing 1.135 seconds ahead of Reimer. Mason Massey finished third, followed by Gavan Boschele and Kasey Kleyn. The race featured six cautions for 37 laps. The victory added another accomplishment to a JGR ARCA program that produced more than 50 wins and four ARCA Menards Series owner’s championships in seven years. The team also secured the 2026 owner’s championship before bringing its operation to a close.
Reaves credited JGR and driver coach Bobby Labonte for helping him develop as a driver. Yet his final result at Phoenix gave him more than another career statistic. He had the opportunity to put the No. 18 Toyota in Victory Lane during the team’s final ARCA outing. The JGR program will not run another ARCA race. Reaves made certain its final appearance ended with a victory.
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