SANTA MARIA, CALIF. (August 20, 2026) – When last year’s west coast swing started for Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing, Aaron Reutzel was on crutches, in a boot, and forced to painfully watch the Ridge & Sons Racing #87 compete without him in the seat.
One year later, Reutzel is healthier than ever and so are his chances at his first High Limit championship. As the series started the 10-race west coast swing on Thursday night, Reutzel was the man behind the wheel at Santa Maria Speedway and he drove to his ninth win of the season.
Starting from the pole position, it was anything but easy for the Clute, Texas native, who didn’t lead until the second half of the 35-lap main event. From the jump, it was all about Tanner Holmes who whipped around the outside of Reutzel and led the opening 18 laps in the Buch Motorsports #13.
Lap traffic is what shaped the full picture of the race as Holmes led Lap 18, Reutzel snuck underneath him to lead Laps 19-20, and then James McFadden snookered them both to control Lap 21 aboard the Tarlton #21. That control was short-lived as Reutzel stood up in the seat and regained command on Lap 22 before driving away for good in the final stages.
Reutzel ultimately drove away to a 1.907-second margin of victory to earn his ninth trip to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane this season. The win marked his 16th career win with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing (second all-time) and re-claimed the championship lead for the Ridge & Sons Racing #87 team.
James McFadden followed Reutzel to the stripe for his ninth consecutive top-10 finish in August with Tarlton Racing. Tanner Holmes was behind them with his fourth High Limit podium this year in the Buch Motorsports #13.
Tim Kaeding earned a career-best fourth-place finish aboard the Williams #0, while Brent Marks debuted the Chase Briscoe Racing #19 in High Limit action with a fifth-place effort.
Closing out the top-10 in the Roto-Rooter Midweek Series A-Main at Santa Maria was Sye Lynch, Tanner Thorson, Giovanni Scelzi, Tyler Courtney, and Landon Brooks.
THE ALL-IN NOTEBOOK (8/20/26)
Santa Maria Speedway (Santa Maria, CA)
Round 12 of the Roto-Rooter Midweek Series
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps – Brent Marks (11.631)
Capitol Custom Trailers QuickTime – Brent Marks (11.369)
TJ Forged Heat One Winner – Tanner Holmes
DMI Heat Two Winner – James McFadden
BR Motorsports Heat Three Winner – Kaleb Montgomery
FK Rod Ends Dash Winner – Aaron Reutzel
Winters Performance B-Main Winner – Jett Yantis
DURST Dice Roll Driver – Sye Lynch (7th-to-6th)
Jake’s Golf Carts Fastest Lap – Tanner Holmes (11.858)
Rod End Supply Hard Charger – Justin Peck +9 (20th-11th)
Whiskey Meyers Victory Lane Visitors – Ridge & Sons Racing #87
CASM Win Sticker – Aaron Reutzel (9th)
Angel Donor Charity – Texas Children’s Hospital
Lap Leader(s) – Tanner Holmes 1-18; Aaron Reutzel 19-20; James McFadden 21; Reutzel 22-35
Interstate Batteries A-Main Results (35 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[1]; 2. 21-James McFadden[3]; 3. 13-Tanner Holmes[2]; 4. 0-Tim Kaeding[5]; 5. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 6. 42-Sye Lynch[7]; 7. 88-Tanner Thorson[9]; 8. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[12]; 10. 21L-Landon Brooks[10]; 11. 26-Justin Peck[20]; 12. 9R-Chase Randall[21]; 13. 10-Dominic Gorden[16]; 14. 5-Dominic Scelzi[23]; 15. 4-Kasey Kahne[15]; 16. 26R-Levi Hillier[17]; 17. 24-Rico Abreu[18]; 18. 9-Daison Pursley[22]; 19. 88N-DJ Netto[11]; 20. 2K-Jake Andreotti[24]; 21. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss[14]; 22. 31-Jett Yantis[19]; 23. 3-Kaleb Montgomery[6]; 24. 14-Corey Day[13]
NEW Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Championship Standings (After 31/54 Races):
1. 1,876 pts – Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (Aaron Reutzel)
2. -30 pts – Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24 (Rico Abreu)
3. -48 pts – Spire Motorsports #77 (Giovanni Scelzi)
4. -117 pts – Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (Tyler Courtney)
5. -141 pts – Rudeen Racing #26 (Justin Peck)
6. -145 pts – Chase Briscoe Racing #19 (Brent Marks)
7. -265 pts – JST Motorsports #88 (Tanner Thorson)
8. -284 pts – Vermeer Motorsports #55 (Kerry Madsen)
9. -385 pts – Buch Motorsports #13 (Tanner Holmes)
10. -411 pts – Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9 (Daison Pursley)
11. -465 pts – Mosites Lynch Racing #42 (Sye Lynch)
12. -534 pts – Michael Dutcher Motorsports #17GP (Brock Zearfoss)
13. -543 pts – CJB Motorsports #5 (Brenham Crouch sub w/ Dominic Scelzi)
14. -583 pts – Chase Randall Racing #9R (Chase Randall)
15. -685 pts – Randerson Racing #24D (Danny Sams III)
UPDATED Roto-Rooter Midweek Series Points (Through 12/14 Rounds):
1. 725 pts – Brent Marks
2. -22 pts – Aaron Reutzel
3. -32 pts – Giovanni Scelzi
4. -33 pts – Rico Abreu
5. -36 pts – Tyler Courtney
6. -50 pts – Justin Peck
WHAT’S NEXT: The triple-header opening weekend of the west coast swing for Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing continues with a trip to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway on Friday, August 21 and then a stop at Placerville Speedway on Saturday, August 22. After that, the 72nd Mike Curb Gold Cup Race of Champions presented by NOS Energy Drink is the focus at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on August 27-29. Tickets are available for purchase at HighLimitRacing.com, or you can watch every lap live on FloRacing.