Bollman Battles Back to Sixth-Place Finish at Phoenix Raceway

Jake Bollman continued his strong start to the 2026 season in the General Tire 150, battling back after damage to a solid sixth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway on Thursday night.

Driving the No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, Bollman showed speed right from the start of the race weekend. In qualifying, he turned a lap of 27.82 seconds, earning the third starting position on the grid for the 150-lap event.

When the green flag dropped, Bollman settled into the race and focused on maintaining track position around the one-mile oval. The Phoenix event marked the second race of the ARCA Menards Series season and required drivers to manage tire wear and long green-flag runs throughout the 150-lap distance.

Bollman remained competitive throughout the evening, keeping his car inside the top 10 while navigating restarts and changing track conditions. The Nitro Motorsports team worked to keep the No. 20 machine consistent during the race, allowing Bollman to stay in contention through the first half of the race.

After the halfway break, Bollman took some damage to his right rear quarter panel and bumper, limiting his side force and causing the car to face some handling issues. The team went to work under caution, repairing the damage and sending Jake back out on track without losing a lap. Jake would restart the race in 16th, the last car on the lead lap.

At the checkered flag, Bollman crossed the line sixth, securing another strong points result early in the season. The finish continued a promising start to Bollman’s first full-time campaign with Nitro Motorsports. Just one race earlier, the 18-year-old driver had opened the season with an impressive runner-up performance at Daytona, putting him firmly in the championship conversation heading into the early stretch of the schedule.

With two races completed, Bollman sits at the top of the ARCA Menards Series championship standings with 74 points, highlighting the consistency his team has shown in the opening rounds of the season.

Phoenix provided another valuable step forward for Bollman as he continues building momentum in his rookie full-time ARCA campaign. With strong speed, consistent finishes, and an early points lead, the No. 20 team leaves the desert with confidence as the season moves ahead into Kansas.