The ARCA Menards Series continues its 2020 season with a doubleheader at Toledo Speedway with race one Friday night in the Menards.com 200 presented by SPxE. Earlier in the day, ARCA officials had announced that race two would take place tomorrow at noon due to inclement weather. Qualifying for race two took place shortly after race one qualifying.
Chandler Smith won the pole for Friday’s race, with Ty Gibbs next to him making up the front row. For Saturday’s race, the roles are reversed with Ty Gibbs winning the pole, and Chandler Smith starting next to him. Thad Moffitt, driver of the number 46 Richard Petty’s Performance Plus Oil car, did not start the race due to an electrical issue.
Two days. Two races. 400 laps. It. All. Starts. Now 🟢 Menards 200 presented by SPxE | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/1aELlrQlDf — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
The race began with Chandler Smith pulling ahead of Gibbs in the early going of the race. The top three cars of Smith, Gibbs, and Taylor Gray pulled away from the field fifteen laps into the race. Michael Self held off Sam Mayer and Bret Holmes for fourth place. On lap 22, Hailie Deegan passed Drew Dollar on the inside of turn three to take over the eighth position. She was able to catch both Bret Holmes and Michael Self to fight for the fifth position on lap 40.
Eight laps later, Bret Holmes took away the fifth spot from Michael Self with an inside pass off of turn two. Hailie Deegan was now challenging Self for sixth place. Deegan was able to get the sixth spot from Self a couple of laps later with an inside pass at turn three. Michael Self now had Drew Dollar creeping into his rear-view mirror as he was trying to hang on to seventh place. However, Drew Dollar got by Michael Self with an inside pass off of turn four, and now Derek Griffith was looking to take the eighth spot from Self.
A little tap & go between teammates.#ARCAMenards | @ToledoSpeedway pic.twitter.com/bgXNKONe3s — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Derek Griffith and Michael Self had a new problem on lap 55 as the leader Chandler Smith was right behind looking to put them a lap down. Smith was able to put Griffith a lap down and now was chasing Self. Meanwhile, Hailie Deegan was able to move Bret Holmes out of the way with an inside pass off of turn two for fifth place.
Michael Self was able to stay in front of Chandler Smith as the first caution came out at lap 77 for the first break. Crews were allowed five minutes to make adjustments, change tires, and add fuel during the break.
We've reached the first break at @ToledoSpeedway 1⃣ @CSmithDrive 2⃣ @TyGibbs_ 3⃣ @sam_mayer_ 4⃣ @TaylorGray17_ 5⃣ @HailieDeegan Self stays on lead lap; Griffith will get free pass@MAVTV | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/wHyvFw7MQa — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Chandler Smith led the field back to the restart on lap 79. Smith got ahead of both Sam Mayer and Ty Gibbs on the restart. On lap 84, Sam Mayer was able to take sole possession of second-place over Ty Gibbs as he began chasing down the leader. On lap 87, Bret Holmes made an inside pass on Taylor Gray to get the fifth position. Upfront, Sam Mayer caught the leader Chandler Smith with an inside move off of turn three and took the lead on lap 104.
"Just an easy run to the inside."@sam_mayer_ to the lead at halfway. Catch the finish on @MAVTV & @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/2zj5MvQ2xD — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Smith was losing sight of Sam Mayer, and by lap 116, he lost the second position to Ty Gibbs. Ty Gibbs pulled away from Smith, then Hailie Deegan caught up to him to challenge for third place. Luckily for Smith, he was able to hold onto third place as the second caution came out on lap 152 for the second break.
Dominant early. Chasing now. Can Chandler Smith flip the switch back?@MAVTV | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/HTZY6mX0C3 — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Sam Mayer led the field back to green with 46 laps to go. Mayer and Gibbs pulled away from Chandler Smith. Smith was having issues with the suspension as he lost the third position to Bret Holmes. Not long after losing the third spot, the third caution of the night came out for Chandler Smith, who stopped on the track. Because he forced the caution to come out, he had to serve a five-lap penalty, which caused him to finish the night in eleventh place.
"Trouble for Chandler Smith!" Flat tire for @SiouxChief Showdown Points Leader. pic.twitter.com/2jEWCII96R — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
Mayer would once again lead the field back to green with 38 laps to go. Ty Gibbs challenged Mayer for the lead; however, Mayer got in front of Gibbs to keep the lead and began pulling away from the field. Within five-laps, the rest of the field was now single file with Mayer continuing to pull away from Gibbs. On lap 31, Taylor Gray took the third position away from Bret Holmes with an inside pass off of turn three.
Sam Mayer led the last 97 laps to win the Menards.com 200 presented by SPxE by 1.607 seconds over the second-place finisher Ty Gibbs. This was Mayer’s first win in the ARCA Menards Series.
He's won in the East. He's won in the West. Now he's won in #ARCAMenards Series.@Sam_Mayer_ takes his first series' 🏁 Menards 200 presented by SPxE | @siouxchief Showdown pic.twitter.com/Fv6HbqroyC — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 1, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Taylor Gray third, Bret Holmes fourth, Michael Self fifth, Drew Dollar sixth, Derek Griffith seventh, Hailie Deegan eighth, Tim Richmond ninth 11 laps down, and Rick Clifton tenth 26 laps down. There was only one lead change and three cautions for 14 laps.
The new standings have Michael Self’s point lead down to eight points over Bret Holmes. Drew Dollar is third trailing 35 points, Hailie Deegan fourth trailing by 42 points. Thad Moffitt is fifth only 68 points back, Ty Gibbs is sixth 153 points behind. Ryan Huff, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, and Brad Smith wrap up the top ten in points.
Race two at Toledo Speedway in the Menards 200 Presented by Crosley Brands will happen Saturday at noon on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold Track Pass.
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