Love, BMR Honored For ARCA West Championship

November 18, 2020

ARCA Menards Series Virtual Championship Celebration

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2020) – Jesse Love and Bill McAnally Racing were honored as champions of the ARCA Menards Series West on Tuesday during the ARCA Menards Series Virtual Championship Celebration.

Love – a 15-year-old from Menlo Park, California, who became the youngest champion in series history, as well as the youngest champion in the history of any NASCAR national or touring series – was recognized for his achievements during the awards ceremony that was streamed live on ARCARacing.com.

BMR was recognized with its 10th series championship, which established a new record for winning championships in the series and for NASCAR Regional Touring overall.

Love, driver of the No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry, led the way among the four rookies in BMR’s lineup of drivers in 2020. Gracie Trotter, in the No. 99 ENEOS Toyota Camry, finished third in the championship standings – just six points out of second.

Giovanni Scelzi, driver of the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/Curb Record Toyota Camry, finished fifth in points. Holley Hollan, driver of the No. 50 JBL/NAPA Filters/NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Camry, ended the year ninth in the standings.

In addition to winning the championship, Love swept the year-end awards in the series. Topping that list was the Bounty Rookie of the Year award. With three victories, he received the General Tire Victory Bonus for winning the most races. For the 369 laps he led, he won the Valvoline Lap Leader Award. And for the four poles he won, Love received the season-long General Tire Pole Award.

He also led in other statistics – including the best average finish of 3.9 and the best average start of 3.7. He also ranked first for laps completed, with 1,238 laps. With nine top-five finishes, he led that category, as well.

Trotter – a 19-year-old from Denver, North Carolina - scored her first career series win at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to become the first female winner of an ARCA Racing sanctioned event. In addition to the win, she had seven top-five and 11 top 10 finishes. She was the only series driver to finish in the top 10 in all 11 series races in 2020.

Trotter completed 1,236 laps this season – which ranked second, just behind Love. In addition, she led 95 laps. In finishing third in points, she matched the highest position by a female driver in the final standings in the ARCA Menards Series West or East.

Scelzi – an 18-year-old from Fresno, California – also captured his first career series win in his rookie year, with a thrilling late-race pass at Roseville. He finished the year with a win and a pole award, along with seven top fives and nine top 10s.

Hollan, 19, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, had a consistent season in her first year of racing on asphalt. She wrapped up her rookie season with seven top 10 finishes in 10 races.

It was BMR’s 10th series championship, with five of those titles coming in the past six years. Previous series championships were in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. In terms of victories, BMR now has 104 wins overall in the ARCA Menards Series West and East.

2020 BMR Drivers:

Jesse Love

No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry

Age: 15

Hometown: Menlo Park, Calif.

2020 season series stats:

Races: 11 starts, 3 wins, 4 poles, 9 top fives, 10 top 10s

Average finish: 3.9 (rank 1st)

Average start: 3.7 (rank 1st)

Laps completed: 1,238 (rank 1st)

Laps led: 369 (rank 1st)

Series standings: 1st