Jake Finch achieved a significant career milestone by capturing his first Alabama 200 victory at Montgomery Motor Speedway on Saturday night, delivering a hard-fought win for Ronnie Sanders Racing. The Jake Finch Alabama 200 victory was the result of persistence at a track where Finch has competed more than anywhere else, combining skill and strategy to finally secure the sought-after trophy.
Finch Overcomes Challenges for First Win at the Alabama 200
Entering the Alabama 200, Finch and Ronnie Sanders Racing had already established a strong partnership, having previously won the Show Me the Money track championship in Montgomery earlier in 2024. The pair came into this event with unfinished business, having finished second at last year’s Alabama 200 and nearly dominating that race. This time, Finch made the most of his experience, starting third due to the event’s invert, even though he was the fastest qualifier.
“I felt like we had a really good race car,”
said Finch, who went on to add,
“We showed our speed in qualifying and it was no different during the race.”
– Jake Finch, Driver
Describing his experience behind the wheel, Finch remarked that his No. 18 car was one of the best he has driven. This gave him confidence to seize the lead after the initial laps and control the pace for most of the night. Finch expressed pride for his team at Ronnie Sanders Racing, giving credit for their effort and the car’s outstanding performance.
Strategic Tire Choices Shape the Race Outcome
The 62nd running of Alabama’s signature event saw a mix of strategies among top contenders, with tire selection becoming a crucial factor. Kaden Honeycutt and Luke Yarbrough gambled by holding back on their extra pair of tires, hoping a late-race caution would work in their favor. Their strategy did not pay off as expected, while Dylan Fetcho took his tires earlier in the contest. It was during the pit cycle and subsequent restarts that Finch consistently regained lost track position and forged his way back to the front.
Finch captured the lead twice, once after the three-car invert on lap 53 and decisively for the final time with 49 laps remaining, passing Fetcho for the top spot. Key incidents influenced the race’s closing laps, including a caution triggered by issues for John Bolen and Steven Chunn, two strong contenders and former winners, both of whom faded from contention late.
Late-Race Drama and Final Sprint to the Checkered Flag
The final laps featured incidents typical of a high-stakes race, including a crash involving Malcolm Spears, Connor Shelton, and Jim Wall—the latter being defending series champion who endured a difficult day tempered by multiple on-track incidents. Each restart tested Finch’s focus, but he maintained composure and pulled away from the field, ultimately claiming his first hand-carved bear trophy awarded to the winner.
Fetcho mounted a comeback to finish second after using his fresh tires for the last run.
“Overall pretty good. After that pit stop, we were pretty good but ultimately just a little too tight to hold Jake off.”
– Dylan Fetcho, Driver
On the decisions made by fellow racers regarding tire strategies, Fetcho commented:
“There were guys who didn’t stop, thinking it was going to rain,”
said Fetcho.
“It really screwed them because they never got tires.”
– Dylan Fetcho, Driver
Key Performers and Next Show Me the Money Series Event
Beyond the duel for victory between Finch and Fetcho, John Bolen was considered Finch’s main early challenger, having the speed to keep up before suffering mechanical issues in the closing stages. The remaining top positions were secured by Gage Gilby, Presley Johnson, and Christopher Tullis, each delivering steady performances to complete the top five in the prestigious Alabama 200 lineup.
Jake Finch’s breakthrough win added another accomplishment to Ronnie Sanders’ legacy at this event—Marking Sanders’ fifth Alabama 200 victory, with prior wins as a driver in the 1970s and now as a team owner. Sanders’ winning record includes notable achievements with drivers like Casey Roderick and now Finch.
The Show Me the Money Series will continue its season with Round 2 scheduled for May 2 at Montgomery Motor Speedway, featuring the Spring Explosion 100. Finch’s latest success is likely to make him a driver to watch as the competition intensifies in upcoming events on Alabama’s short track racing calendar.
