TALLADEGA, Ala. – When Lawless Alan joined Venturini Motorsports at the start of the 2025 season, his goals were simple.
He wanted to win races and contend for the ARCA Menards Series championship.
After just three races, he can put a checkmark alongside one of those goals.
Alan, driving the No. 20 Toyota, was the leader on the final lap when a multi-car crash brought a premature end to the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway and Alan was declared the winner.
RELATED: Results from the General Tire 200 at Talladega
“First thing I’ve got to say is God is so good,” Alan said after his first ARCA Menards Series victory in his 10th start. “I didn’t have any sort of plan after Phoenix last year. Then Toyota called me, and we put this deal together with Venturini and AUTOParkIt and I am so thankful to them.”
Alan was among the contenders throughout the General Tire 200. He started second and led early and often but constantly found himself under attack by Joe Gibbs Racing’s William Sawalich.
The two traded the lead multiple times throughout the race, but Alan had an advantage that Sawalich didn’t.
Alan had teammates.
With 18 laps left Alan got a push from his teammate Isabella Robusto that allowed him to go three-wide with Jason Kitzmiller and Sawalich for the lead. The move shuffled Sawalich out of the lead group and gave Alan command of the race.
He remained in command when caution flag waved with five laps left when Michael Maples crashed after contact in the middle of the pack.
That incident set up a one-lap dash to the finish with Alan leading Thad Moffitt, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty.
When racing resumed Alan had help behind him from Robusto, who was able to push Alan out just far enough that when a multi-car crash behind the leaders ended the race, it was Alan who was declared the winner ahead of Moffitt.
The win by Alan doubles as retribution of sorts for the 25-year-old from Van Nuys, California, who was in contention to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Talladega one season ago before finishing fifth.
That race stuck with Alan so much that he made a screenshot from the event the wallpaper on his phone. Now with a win at Talladega on the books, Alan is excited to change the wallpaper on his phone to something more celebratory.
William Sawalich (18) and Lawless Alan (20) leads the ARCA Menards Series field at the start of the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday afternoon. (Photo: Shanna Lockwood/ARCA Racing)
“Finally, I got that monkey off my back,” said Alan, who gave Venturini Motorsports a victory one week after team officials announced the organization’s sale to Nitro Motorsports. “I can change my wallpaper to something happy. I think this is the worst possible thing that could have happened to the competition because I’ve got the confidence that I can do it now.
“There are no what ifs, I can do it. Man, that feels good.”
RELATED: Cleetus McFarland delivers top-10 finish at Talladega
Moffitt, whose runner-up finish is the best of his ARCA career, believed that had the caution flag not waved he would have beaten Alan on the final lap.
“It sucks, but it’s good at the same time. I’m just dejected,” said Moffitt, driver of the No. 46 Toyota for Nitro Motorsports. “I thought I won that race. I thought I got through the (restart) box better. I thought I got down to Turn 1 better. He just had his teammate behind him to push him down into (Turn) 1.
“It sucks. Nitro is going to win races this year though.”
Robusto finished third to give Venturini Motorsports two cars in the top three. Andy Jankowiak was fourth, followed by Kitzmiller in fifth.
Lavar Scott, Jake Finch, Bryce Haugeberg, Sawalich and YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland were sixth through 10th, respectively.
The ARCA Menards Series season continues Friday, May 9 with the running of the Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET live on FS1.
