Max Reaves Wins Thrilling Monday Night PLM Feature at New Smyrna

Max Reaves joined the list of winners at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on Monday night, winning the Pro Late Model feature at New Smyrna Speedway after a fierce late-race battle.

Reaves held off Alex Labbe and defending World Series Pro Late Model champion Hunter Wright in the closing laps, prevailing in a multi-car battle for the top spot.

Reaves won the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship in 2024, but admitted Monday's battle produced all-new levels of nerves for him in the cockpit.

“That was the most nervous I’ve ever been in one of these cars," said Reaves. "We’ve struggled all week, from wrecking and just sucking. I’m just so thankful for my team, my dad and everybody, Cook Out. Cook Out makes this possible. This is awesome.

“This means as much to me as a CARS Tour win. This is everything to me.”

After the checkered flag, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte, who has been working with Reaves in his development, shared kind words with Labbe for racing with respect in the closing laps.

“He just thanked me for racing him clean and teaching him a couple of things," said Labbe. "I’m a veteran now. I wasn’t going to run him dirty. It was good racing with him and Wright behind me. A three or four-car battle, it was a blast.

“I wish I kept the lead from the start. He used me up a little bit, but that’s racing. I should have gotten a better start, that’s what cost me the race today.”

Wright entered Monday as the points leader in the Pro Late Model division, and unofficially added to that advantage with a third-place finish. Monday's podium finish was hard-fought after an eighth-place effort in qualifying.

“We got messed up a little bit in qualifying," said Wright. "We started pretty deep and picked them off, one by one. I’m thankful to be here. We got run over a little bit trying to race for the lead, I guess that’s what happens when you try to race clean around here. I had a lot of fun racing, us and the 42 [of Labbe], we had a side-by-side for a while."

While Wright gained more ground in the title fight, he isn't counting the championship as his own with two Pro Late Model races left to run during the World Series.

“We’re going to find out, I guess. Never speak too soon, it’s never over until it’s over. I’ve got a lead, not sure by how much, but we’re just out here racing for wins and having fun.”

Isaac Kitzmiller finished fourth, with Brody Monahan rounding out the top five. Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. ralled from an early incident to finish sixth, followed by Jade Avedisian, Anthony Bello, T.J. DeCaire and Cole Robie.

The Pro Late Models get Tuesday night off before they return on Wednesday for the Hart to Heart 100. That will be the penultimate race for the division at this year's World Series, with their finale coming in a 35-lap sprint on Thursday night.

-Photo credit: Jason Reasin

Pro Late Model 35 Unofficial Results