By Sarah Talker,Total Apex Sports
Copyright yardbarker
There’s something magical about coming home to race. It’s a feeling that never gets old in this sport, no matter how many times you’ve experienced it. For Blake Lothian, getting behind the wheel of the No. 22 Ford F-150 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway isn’t just another race weekend.
It’s a homecoming that’ll tug at your heartstrings. The young driver from Wellesley, Massachusetts, is set to make his 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut with Reaume Brothers Racing, and the emotion in his voice when discussing it reveals everything you need to know about what this opportunity means to him.
The Circle of Racing Dreams
“It’s the first track I ever raced at in karting,” Lothian shared when the announcement came down. “I grew up watching my idols of the sport racing on the big track at New Hampshire. Getting to race where I watched my first ever NASCAR race is a full circle moment for me.”Those words hit different when you’ve been around racing long enough to understand the journey.
Every driver has that moment when they’re just a kid with big dreams, watching their heroes battle it out on Sunday afternoons. For Lothian, New Hampshire, isn’t just another mile-and-a-half oval, but it’s where those dreams first took root. The partnership with Eastern Bank as his sponsor adds another layer of meaning to this homecoming.
Having local support behind you when you’re racing in your backyard creates a connection that goes beyond just business. It’s about community, about local folks getting behind one of their own as he chases his NASCAR dreams.
Lothian’s Winding Road Back to the Trucks
This isn’t Lothian’s first rodeo in the Truck Series, but it’s been a long time coming. His last appearance in NASCAR’s third division came at Martinsville Speedway back in April 2024, where he wheeled the No. 20 for Young’s Motorsports. Before that, you’d have to go all the way back to 2022 to find his other Truck Series attempts. Interestingly enough, four of those five total attempts came with the same Reaume Brothers Racing team he’s rejoining now.
The numbers tell a story of persistence and determination. Four starts in five attempts over the years, and now he’s back for what could be his fourth official Truck Series race if he makes the field. That’s not the kind of resume that screams “sure thing,” but it’s exactly the kind of story that makes NASCAR special. This sport has always been about giving guys opportunities to prove themselves, regardless of their background or bank account.
Building Experience in ARCA West
While Lothian hasn’t been running Trucks regularly, he certainly hasn’t been sitting idle. He’s been grinding it out full-time in the ARCA Menards Series West with Strike Mamba Racing, a team that happens to be owned by Jonathan Reaume, brother of Reaume Brothers Racing owner Josh Reaume. That family connection probably doesn’t hurt when it comes to getting another shot in the Truck Series.
Currently sitting sixth in ARCA West points with four top 10 finishes, Lothian has been putting in solid work on the West Coast. ARCA West might not get the attention of Cup Series racing, but it’s where drivers learn their craft, develop their skills, and prove they belong at the next level. Every lap matters when you’re trying to climb the NASCAR ladder.
The Reaume Brothers Racing Challenge
Lothian will be stepping into a challenging situation with the No. 22 team. He’ll be the 13th different driver to pilot that Ford F-150 this season, which tells you everything you need to know about the revolving door nature of smaller teams in the Truck Series. The truck’s best finish so far has been an eighth-place run by Jason M. White in the season opener at Daytona – respectable, but certainly room for improvement.
That’s the reality for drivers like Lothian and teams like Reaume Brothers Racing. They’re not rolling into the track with the same resources as the big-budget operations, but they’re fighting for every position, every point, and every opportunity to prove they belong. It’s pure NASCAR grit in its most authentic form.
The Emotional Weight of Opportunity
What gets me about stories like this is the emotional weight these opportunities carry. For Lothian, this isn’t just about making another start or adding another line to his racing resume. This is about proving to himself and everyone watching that he belongs in NASCAR’s national series. It’s about validating all those hours spent in ARCA West, all those dreams that started as a kid watching races at New Hampshire.
The pressure of racing at your home track adds another dimension entirely. You’ve got friends and family in the stands, local media following your every move, and the weight of representing your community on your shoulders. Some drivers thrive under that kind of pressure; others let it get to them. We’ll find out which category Lothian falls into when that green flag drops.
Looking Toward the Future
Whether this turns into a regular ride or remains a one-off opportunity depends entirely on how Lothian performs. That’s the harsh reality of NASCAR, because you’re only as good as your last race, and opportunities like this don’t come around every day for drivers grinding their way up through the ranks.
The connection between Strike Mamba Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing, facilitated by the Reaume family, creates some interesting possibilities for the future. If Lothian can put together a solid run at New Hampshire, it might open doors for additional opportunities down the road.
NASCAR has always been about giving drivers chances to prove themselves, and Blake Lothian is about to get another one of those precious opportunities. Sometimes that’s all a driver needs – just one chance to show what they can do when everything comes together.
