Jake Drew was about to make history. A rookie, winless all year but unbelievably consistent, he came into the final race of the 2021 ARCA West Series just three points behind defending champ Jesse Love. By the final laps, Drew was doing exactly what he needed — leading the points, one lap from glory. And then it happened.

• What happens when your own teammate costs you a championship?
• How did a simple mistake turn a title into a heartbreak?
• Why was Jesse Love able to steal the title on the final corner?
• And how did Jake Drew bounce back after the crushing loss?

Drew’s teammate, Trevor Huddleston, thought the race was over and backed off. That split-second misjudgment allowed Love to get by, tie the points, and win the title on a tiebreaker. Drew had done everything right — except account for his teammate’s error. One year later, he returned with fire, dominated with four wins, and took what was rightfully his. But the 2021 finale remains one of the most heartbreaking near-misses in ARCA history.

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