MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R12 Recap

Michael Seals Championship in Wild Michigan Finale

The final round of the MVRL ARCA Series Season 1 brought drivers to the high-speed oval of Michigan International Speedway, but the drama kicked off well before the green flag dropped. Points leader James Lehman was absent — for good reason — as he and his wife were at the hospital awaiting the birth of their child. With no provisional points and no drop races available, Lehman’s championship lead was suddenly up for grabs, and the title hunt exploded wide open.

Qualifying Chaos and a Quick Shake-Up

The night began with a frantic qualifying session, setting the tone for a wild finale. Jack “Killer” Watts grabbed the early advantage, leading the opening lap, but William “Red Alert” Kirk quickly took control before the field could even settle in.

It didn’t take long for the action to escalate. A multi-car spin off turn two brought out the first caution, scattering the field and shaking up the running order. Justin Michael surged forward, while Charlie Widner rocketed from 18th to 7th, setting himself up as a dark horse in the title picture.

At the stage break, the entire field headed to pit road — but the strategies couldn’t have been more varied. Christopher Howell and Zack Saunders pitted early, while Justin Michael surprised everyone by making a quick stop on lap 10 and then pitting again later, clearly prioritizing fuel over a full tire change. It was a bold move, and with the long green flag runs Michigan is known for, it could’ve gone either way.

Meanwhile, others pushed their equipment to the limit. The Groover brothers were aggressive early, using every bit of tire to gain positions — but risking longevity in the process.

Mid-Race Mayhem: Aggression Boils Over

Justin Michael eventually cycled into the lead, but it didn’t last long. Charles Widner, trying to make something happen, side-drafted Howell aggressively, sending him spinning and bringing out another caution. Most of the field pitted again, this time topping off on fuel, while others tried to hold track position.

As the race resumed, Gary Offutt briefly grabbed the lead before Michael returned to the front. The action intensified in the final 30 laps as Scott Patton, Brad Slagel, and Michael Milfelt all began to claw their way into the fight.

Slagel’s night took a hit when he lost the rear off turn two and spun into the outside wall, while Widner kept pressing hard, closing the gap on the leaders as tire wear began to show. A series of small mistakes and off-track excursions from Howell, Saunders, and Milfelt gradually removed them from contention — all of which played perfectly into Michael’s patient strategy.

Tire Strategy: Risk, Reward, and Recovery

Tire management proved to be absolutely critical. With a limited number of sets and a long fuel window, many drivers opted to take fuel only, hoping for a late-race caution to bolt on a fresh set for a final push. Michael’s unconventional strategy — pitting early and focusing on track position — could have ended in disaster. He even spun off the apron early in the race, miraculously avoiding both the grass and the wall, and was able to rejoin without damage.

The track itself played a role in saving several drivers. Michigan’s wide racing surface and paved apron gave spinning cars room to recover without terminal damage, a luxury that wouldn’t have existed at a place like Pocono or Darlington.

As the field thinned and the rubber wore thin, drivers with a little extra tire left in the bank began to close. But the clean air Michael had worked so hard to maintain proved crucial, and with Widner and Patton pushing behind him, he held firm up front.

Final-Lap Fireworks and a Championship Clinched

The closing laps were filled with tension. Scott Patton gave Michael everything he had, pulling alongside in turns one and two and taking a look under him on the backstretch. But Michael held the line, managed the draft, and stayed cool under pressure.

Behind them, Widner was making one last push, trying to overtake Slagel for third and potentially steal the title if things broke his way. He would ultimately come up just short. Patton faded on the final lap, and Michael crossed the line in first — claiming both the race victory and the championship.

Widner finished fourth, locking up second in the standings, while Milfelt, who had entered the night with a mathematical shot at the title, was eliminated from contention after an off-track incident. Kirk, Watts, and Offutt all had solid drives but were out of the title picture by the final stint.

Final Thoughts

With the unexpected twist of James Lehman missing the finale, the championship was anything but decided heading into Michigan — and it showed. Tire wear, fuel gambles, caution timing, and even a bit of good old-fashioned luck played massive roles in shaping the outcome.

Justin Michael’s early spin could’ve ended his night. Instead, it became the turning point in his miraculous recovery and eventual title-clinching win. And with a new champion crowned and a new baby in the Lehman household, the MVRL ARCA Series closed out its inaugural season in dramatic, unforgettable fashion.