By Michael Heilman
A new era began Monday night at New Smyrna Speedway as the ARCA Menards Series East kicked off the 2020 season with the Skip’s Western Outfitters 175. Defending champion Sam Meyer was looking to get win number one to start the season. Other drivers that were in this race were former NHRA driver Tanner Gray, Gio Scelzi, who is the son of former NHRA Top Fuel driver Gary Scelzi, Ty Gibbs, and Max McLaughlin were just some of the names in this race.
Derek Griffith dominated the race leading 144 laps until a caution came out at lap 144 when Daniel Dye in the No. 43 Ben Kennedy Racing Chevrolet hit the turn three wall with his second right-front tire failure. Griffith then made his first pit stop of the race but was penalized for “pulling up to pit,” in other words, he came up alongside the pace car as he approached pit lane and was sent to the tail end of the lead lap.
Griffith had to battle back to the front not only to catch Meyer, but he also battled Ty Gibbs for the lead. Meyer led thirteen laps before another caution came out at lap 154 when a two-car wreck involving Mason Diaz and Tanner Gray. Gray’s car hit the outside wall on the front stretch and went up on the wall sideways briefly before his car landed on all four wheels. The wreck forced the race to be red-flagged as the crew made repairs to the fence before the race could get back underway.
🚨 Three wide didn't work out 🚨#ARCAMenards | #Skips175 pic.twitter.com/6B5aymoXR2 — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 11, 2020
As the race resumed, Ty Gibbs led four laps before Meyer took the lead and led the last thirteen laps to win the race. It wasn’t easy for Meyer as he had to hold off both Ty Gibbs and Derek Griffith to secure his first win of the season. There were a total of four cautions throughout the race for only twenty-five laps. The ARCA Menards Series East now heads to Five Flags Speedway on March 14th.
A season opening 🏁 and 🏆 for @sam_mayer_ & @GMSRacingLLC!#ARCAMenards | #Skips175 pic.twitter.com/yoLhT1vyq6 — ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 11, 2020
Skip’s Western Outfitters 175 Results:
Sam Meyer
Derek Griffith
Ty Gibbs
Nick Sanchez
Giovanni Bromante
Stephen Nasse
Corey Heim
Parker Retzlaff
Chase Cabre
Max McLaughlin
Tristan Van Wieringen
Jesse Love
Gio Scelzi
Brian Finney
Holley Hollan
Gracie Trotter
Mason Diaz
Tanner Gray
Daniel Dye
Willie Mullins
Justin S. Carroll
Chuck Hiers
Robert Pawlowski
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