Dissecting the controversial Max Reaves ARCA win at Springfield dirt track

On Sunday, the ARCA Menard's Series was racing at the Springfield Mile, a dirt track in Illinois. Toyota development driver Max Reaves had dominated the event, leading 98 of 100 laps.

However, while navigating slower traffic, the 16-year-old had to check up and suddenly Gavan Boschele had an opportunity. He sliced up the middle and took the lead with three laps to go. 

Entering the next corner, there was some contact and Boschele began to slid sideways, losing the lead and falling back to fifth. Now, while Reaves is no stranger to controversy, it doesn't appear that he blatantly ran Boschele over from the available replay, but there was certainly contact and it doesn't take much to lose traction on a dirt track.

Reaves went on to claim his sixth career victory with Isaac Kitzmiller second, Thomas Annunziata third, Taylor Reimer fourth, and Boschele rounding out the top five.

Thoughts on this battle between Max Reaves and Gavan Boschele for the win?@AlwaysRaceDaypic.twitter.com/F9F2XIfPvZ

Well, Boschele was livid afterwards. He showed Reaves the middle finger on the not-so-cool-down lap and the 18-year-old then tried to confront Reaves. Boschele had to be restrained as he tried to confront Reaves in Victory Lane, latter shouting "F*** him" as he was led away. There was also speculation that Boschele was removed from the track, but that was later debunked.

Gavan Boschele post-race comments in Springfield. #arca@arcafan_newspic.twitter.com/OyLXCvnSOy

Boschele later posted on social media: "If you can’t beat em wreck em, I’ll see everyone at DuQuoin.. That’s gonna be some fun I’ll tell you that."

The fans weren't very pleased either with boos raining down for Reaves on the frontstretch.

“This is the most sound decibels we’ve gotten on the boo scale so far,” said Reaves. “[With Boschele], he got under me off [Turn] 4 and I ran him down the straightaway. I’ve got to see the replay. I don’t know if I hit him going into [Turn] 1. If I did, my bad, but racing’s racing and we’re at a dirt track.”

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