Make it three straight wins for Ty Gibbs under the ARCA Menards Series banner. After winning at Kansas Speedway, Gibbs led every lap en route to victory in the ARCA Menards Series East race at Dover International Speedway. On Saturday night (May 22), Gibbs dominated the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo Speedway to score his third win of this season and 11th of his career.
It is Gibbs’ second career win at the half-mile short track in Toledo, Ohio. He previously won an East series race there last year.
“Gibbs was not to be denied!” MAVTV reporter Dave Rieff remarked in victory lane as Gibbs emerged victoriously from his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Indeed, Gibbs was second-quickest in the practice session, won the pole, and led the most laps in this race.
“We had a really good night,” Gibbs told MAVTV. “We had a couple of issues there at the end. Got moved but it’s hard racing there. I really enjoy racing myself. I work really hard at it.”
Corey Heim finished second after Gibbs overtook him late in the race.
.@TyGibbs_ back to the lead with fewer than 20 laps to go at @ToledoSpeedway! pic.twitter.com/SgU43ezGR0
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) May 23, 2021
Gibbs beat Heim by 1.833-seconds after the two faced a close battle for the lead.
“It was hard racing,” Gibbs said. “The 20 [Heim] was a little excited. It was their only shot to see the front and they took it. I would’ve done the same thing. We were fast enough to pass him without touching him, which I feel is the respectful way. We put on a good show at the end.”
Heim used a bump and run to move Gibbs shortly after the final restart of the race.
LEAD CHANGE@CoreyHeim3 wrestles P1 from @TyGibbs_ ?@MAVTV | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/mHfaIIyuIs
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) May 23, 2021
It was the first time Gibbs hadn’t led all the laps in an ARCA event since Heim won at Talladega Superspeedway whereas Gibbs was collected in a wreck and finished a career-worst 27th place.
Rookie Nick Sanchez finished third to tie his career-best finish set at Talladega earlier this year.
In his second ARCA start of this season, Jesse Love tied his career-best finish of fourth, set at Winchester Speedway last year. Meanwhile, Thad Moffitt finished fifth as the last driver on the lead lap. Moffitt reiterated he lacks sponsorship for five races as he seeks to compete full-time this season.
With only half of the top 10 in points competing in this race, three drivers scored their first career ARCA top 10 finish.
Cole Williams finished sixth in his first start since the Toledo race in 2016. In his series debut, A.J. Moyer finished 15 laps down in ninth place. Lastly, 62-year-old Dick Doheny finished 10th.
Herr’s Potato Chips 200 Results
Unofficially, Heim leads Gibbs by 16 points with now a quarter of this season complete. Gibbs has won two straight main ARCA races. Heim was the most recent driver to win back-to-back races, winning last year’s season finale at Kansas Speedway and this year’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
After racing at the home track of ARCA, these drivers will head to the home track of NASCAR as they will compete at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Neither Gibbs nor Heim has won there. For Gibbs, he is seeking to win three straight main ARCA races, last achieved by Sam Mayer last year.
About the author
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.
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