The ARCA Menards Series was back at it Saturday afternoon for race two at Toledo Speedway for the Menards 200 Presented by Crosley Brands. The race was initially scheduled to take place at 6 pm; however, due to inclement weather, ARCA Menards officials moved the race up to noon. Qualifying for race two took place yesterday with Ty Gibbs grabbing the pole while yesterday’s pole-sitter Chandler Smith started second to make up the front row.
Before the race got underway, there was one driver change, and that was Austin Green substituting for Giovanni Bromante in the number 74 Bromante Visconti Motorsports Chevrolet.
☁ is clear.#Menards200 is 🟢#ARCAMenards race 🔟 | @SiouxChief Showdown race 5⃣ pic.twitter.com/DUY9uMOc8N — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Ty Gibbs led the field to the green flag to start the race. Immediately, Chandler Smith and Ty Gibbs were side-by-side battling for the lead. On the next lap, the first caution came out as Taylor Gray got loose and around his car went at turn two. The rain began to fall steadily as the pace car brought the cars to pit road, only completing six laps as the race was now in a rain delay. After several hours of trying to dry the track, ARCA officials decided to postpone the race to noon Sunday.
🚨 Early trouble for @TaylorGray17_ Good news: He avoids the wall. And everybody avoids hitting him.#ARCAMenards | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/qs2iFCy7wj — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
☂@TyGibbs_ is the race leader. But cars are on pit road & covers are out.#ARCAMenards | @ToledoSpeedway pic.twitter.com/oPB2lEmwyL — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Sunday morning, track crews were drying the track as the rain did let up enough for the race to resume. ARCA officials had the cars run five laps under caution before they turned them loose to continue the race. Ty Gibbs was out in front 40 laps into the race while Sam Mayer got by Chandler Smith with an inside pass off of turn two for second place. The top five remained unchanged as the second caution of the day came out at lap 76 for a race break.
.@TyGibbs_ running out front 40 laps into Menards 200. Friday's winner Sam Mayer just took P2 from Chandler Smith. 4⃣ Bret Holmes 5⃣ Michael Self ⏱ RACE CENTER: https://t.co/iqeEBBBgaJ#ARCAMenards | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/VtfzTpVjDC — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
Lap 75 Break. 1⃣ @TyGibbs_ 2⃣ @sam_mayer_ 3⃣ @CSmithDrive 4⃣ @bretholmes_2 5⃣ @michaelself ⏱ RACE CENTER: https://t.co/iqeEBBBgaJ#ARCAMenards | @ToledoSpeedway — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
Ty Gibbs led the field back to green on lap 80. Gibbs got ahead of Mayer to remain in the lead; however, Mayer stayed with Gibbs. Gibbs continued to lead until the third caution of the day came out for rain at lap 103.
Back to 🟢 And @TyGibbs_ back to the lead. ⏱ RACE CENTER: https://t.co/iqeEBBBgaJ#ARCAMenards | @ToledoSpeedway pic.twitter.com/yxm7xPffMt — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
💯 laps at @ToledoSpeedway @TyGibbs_ gets Richmond Water Heaters Halfway Award Yellow for 🌧 on Lap 103#ARCAMenards | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/RFAPfgP2or — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
Despite the rain, the race got back underway at lap 117. During the restart, Mayer and Gibbs were side-by-side until Gibbs got loose at turn three slightly tapping Mayer as the caution would come out again on lap 120. The rain picked up, and ARCA officials called the race at lap 127 as Sam Mayer completes the sweep at Toledo Speedway, winning the Menards 200. Mayer led the last 13 laps of the race.
Back to 🟢 Right back to 🚨@TyGibbs_ lost the lead to @Sam_Mayer_ on the restart & then spun trying to get it back.#ARCAMenards | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/PjhQFTTAoO — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
"I'm liking this place a lot more than last year." 🔊 from race winner @sam_mayer_ on @ToledoSpeedway#ARCAMenards | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/c4M5pI1mhq — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 2, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Chandler Smith second, Bret Holmes third, Michael Self fourth, Derek Griffith fifth, Hailie Deegan sixth, Austin Green seventh, Thad Moffitt eighth, Drew Dollar ninth, and Ty Gibbs tenth. There were five lead changes and four cautions for 38 laps. Michael Self’s point lead is now just down to seven points ahead of Bret Holmes. The next race for the ARCA Menards Series will be at Michigan International Speedway for the VizCom 200 next Sunday at 1 pm on MAVTV.
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