The ARcA Menards Series race weekend started at Michigan International Speedway with a bang as Cleetus McFarland captured the pole, but it ended on a quieter note when rain brought the event to an early conclusion after just 57 laps on Friday (June 5). When the race was called, Gio Ruggiero found himself in the right place at the right time, earning the victory and reclaiming the top spot in the Frontstretch Power Rankings.
Outside of McFarland starting on the pole, the race featured some fresh faces at the front of the pack. Lanie Buice and Gavan Boschele both turned in impressive performances, finishing inside the top five. Was it enough to earn a spot in this week’s rankings?
1. Gio Ruggiero
Ruggiero has made four ARCA starts this season and has won three of them. While he did not reach victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway, he led the most laps and managed to salvage a top-five finish despite the late-race chaos.
Although his racecraft has been called into question at times, most notably after spinning Dystany Spurlock late in the race and capitalizing on the resulting caution to win at Kansas Speedway in April, there is no questioning his speed. Currently boasting an average finish of 2.0 in ARCA competition, he comfortably claims the top spot.
2. Jake Bollman
Much like his mostly white paint scheme, there has not been a lot of flash to Jake Bollman’s start to the season, but he has been consistent. This race at Michigan could serve as a momentum builder, as he not only finished second but also led six laps, marking the first time he has led a race all season.
Bollman currently holds a 25-point advantage in the ARCA driver standings over his Nitro Motorsports teammate, Thomas Annunziata. Prior to this weekend, Annunziata appeared to be gaining momentum and was steadily closing the gap in the championship battle. However, Bollman’s second-place finish at Michigan helped him maintain a comfortable cushion at the top of the standings, at least for another week.
3. Thomas Annunziata
After recording two 26th-place finishes in his first four races, Annunziata appeared to be on the outside looking in of the ARCA championship conversation. However, a third-place finish at Watkins Glen International, followed by a runner-up finish at Toledo Speedway leading up to last weekend, quickly changed the outlook. Annunziata’s championship hopes had arrived.
After these strong performances reignited the hype that surrounded the Nitro driver at the start of the season, expectations were high entering MIS. However, a tire issue in qualifying put him behind the eight-ball, and his car never reached the level he was hoping for. At one point, he even told his crew chief that he had no confidence in the car.
Despite those challenges, Annunziata brought home a sixth-place finish. Rather than forcing the issue, he took what the car gave him and maximized his day from a points standpoint. That approach is critical in a championship fight. His ability to salvage a strong result from a difficult weekend should be viewed as a reason for optimism, not concern.
4. Gavan Boschele
When it was announced that Gavan Boschele was joining Nitro, team owner Nick Tucker expressed his excitement, stating, “He’s one of the most naturally gifted young racers we’ve worked with.”
With victories in both dirt and pavement racing, Boschele’s skill set was expected to translate perfectly to the diverse tracks on the ARCA schedule.
In his three ARCA starts, he has backed up that expectation by earning top-five finishes in every race, finishing third at Kansas, fourth at Watkins Glen, and third at Michigan. Boschele has lived up to the hype he entered the series with, showing a great ability to learn quickly and find speed at intermediate tracks despite being only 18 years old. The future looks bright for Boschele.
5. Lanie Buice
Taking the last spot in this week’s rankings is Buice, who is another rising star. Her two starts in the ARCA race at Kansas and at Michigan both resulted in fifth-place finishes.
At the end of the day, despite her strong run, she felt like the shortened race represented a missed opportunity, which is understandable because at times she looked like the fastest car on the track.
She told Frontstretch post-race, “I really wish we could have run that one out. I think we could have had a really good shot at it.”
Despite the disappointment, she stayed positive, stating, “I get to race Pocono next weekend and I just have a good stretch of racing coming up and lots of opportunities to continue to learn and try to win some races.”
It will be exciting to see what she can do in her next start.
Paint Scheme of the Race
With Connor Mosack in the Pinnacle Racing Group No. 28 Chevrolet, an attention-grabbing paint scheme was added to the field. The scheme features purple, blue, and yellow and really stands out on the track. Aesthetically, the scheme is not for everyone as it is very busy. Mosack ran a similar scheme in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and Sheldon Creed featured the same sponsor in ARCA.
If the colors do not do it for you, the cause will. The car is sponsored by the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers by pairing them with local teams, clubs and community groups.
Mosack ran well in the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation No. 28. He led laps early and settled for a fourth-place finish.
You can find all of Frontstretch’s video coverage from Michigan on the Frontstretch Grassroots YouTube channel.
Next up, ARCA heads to The Tricky Triangle of Pocono Raceway for the first time since 2023. Will someone from the top five win, or will someone else break through?
Find out on Friday, June 12, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage will be provided by FOX Sports 1.
Cool to see the battle for second. Remember “experts ” at Daytona declared Isabella Robusto the champion, and all others were racing for second. I assume she has at least five wins so far…