Ty Gibbs celebrates winning the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 presented by Federated Car Care for the ARCA Menards Series East at Toledo Speedway on Saturday, June 13, 2020. (Barry Cantrell/ARCA Racing)
Ty Gibbs collected the Bounty Rookie of the Race with his win in the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 presented by Federated Car Care for the ARCA Menards Series East at Toledo Speedway on Saturday, June 13, 2020. (Barry Cantrell/ARCA Racing)

Ty Gibbs Adds Special Awards Haul To Toledo Win

www.arcaracing.com June 17, 2020

Following a four-month layoff between races, the ARCA Menards Series East returned to the track on Saturday for the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo, and the drivers delivered an exciting show that was well worth the wait. Race winner Ty Gibbs (No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota) could never build much of a lead over rival Sam Mayer (No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet), with no more than a few feet separating the two drivers all day long. Despite their close proximity on the track, Gibbs was able to pull away from Mayer in one category: ARCA’s special awards, with Gibbs collecting the majority of the honors on the strength of his victory.

The day started in Mayer’s favor, though, when he sped to the top spot in General Tire Pole Qualifying thanks to a lap clocked at 112.402 miles per hour. The pole was the fourth of Mayer’s ARCA Menards Series East career as well as his first of the season. Mayer joined Derek Griffith (No. 2 Chad Bryant Racing Ford) as the first two polesitters of the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East season.

RELATED: QUALIFYING: General Tire Pole Run For Sam Mayer | Ty Gibbs Finishes The Job To Earn Toledo Win

Gibbs got right to work when the green flag waved, making his way to the lead from his third-place qualifying effort in just ten laps. Gibbs and Mayer swapped the lead back and forth throughout the race, but Gibbs always assumed the position when it counted. Gibbs was the Valvoline Lap Leader for the afternoon with 183 laps led from the 204 laps that were contested.  Mayer led the other 21 laps. Gibbs jumped to the top of the season-long lap leader standings with 187 laps led between the races at New Smyrna and Toledo. Derek Griffith, who did not compete at Toledo, holds second with 144 laps led while Mayer holds down third with 48 laps led. Gibbs was also the Richmond Water Heaters Halfway Leader, adding his name to the list next to New Smyrna halfway leader Griffith.

The 17-year old Gibbs was named the Bounty Rookie of the Race for his win, boosting him to the top of the yearlong Bounty Rookie Challenge standings. Gibbs has 84 points, giving him a five-point buffer over Nick Sanchez (No. 6 Universal Technical Institute Toyota) in the battle for that award.

RELATED: 2020 ARCA Menards Series East | ARCA Menards East Series Rookie and Contingency Standings for 2020

Justin S. Carroll (No. 91 Carroll Automotive Toyota) was saddled with a mechanical DNF in the season opener at New Smyrna, but bounced back at Toledo to finish well. Carroll had to come from the back of the grid to get his best result in over two years, earning the K&N Filters Hard Charger award for gaining the most positions over the course of the race as he drove to a sixth-place finish from his 12th-place starting position.

The ARCA Menards Series East will return to action at the Berlin Raceway at 8 p.m. ET on July 25. This will be the second ARCA Menards Series East race at Berlin, the first coming in 2017 when Todd Gilliland won the 150-lap event. The race will be available live on TrackPass from NBC Sports Gold for all subscribers, and an edited version of the telecast will air on NBCSN on August 13 at 6 p.m.