Corey Heim, driver of the #20 Craftsman Toyota, climbs out of his car in the garage area after qualifying for the Dutch Boy 150 for the ARCA Menards Series at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 1, 2021. (Jason Hanna/ARCA Racing)
Corey Heim, driver of the #20 Craftsman Toyota, is the ARCA Menards Series championship points leader heading into this weekend at Toledo Speedway. (Jason Hanna/ARCA Racing)

PIT BOX: Championship race begins to pick up speed in Toledo

Four races into the 2021 season, and the ARCA Menards Series Victory Lane has been a back-and-forth affair for Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim.

That pattern will be put to the test Saturday, as the series begins a string of three consecutive race weekends at three entirely different venues. First up is the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo Speedway. The Ohio half-mile is the home track for ARCA Racing, which has its offices in nearby Temperance, Michigan.

The race is also the first of 10 for the Sioux Chief Showdown

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The 18-year-old Heim, driving the No. 20 Craftsman Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, is the championship points leader. He’s won three of the last five ARCA Menards Series races and finished second and third in the other two. Those races, as well as this past weekend’s ARCA Menards Series East race at Dover International Speedway, have been won by 18-year-old Gibbs.

In fact, after a wreck on Lap 61 at Talladega SuperSpeedway, Gibbs’ No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has led the last 225 laps he’s been on the track between ARCA Menards and ARCA Menards Series East.

Fans will be able to attend Saturday’s race. Tickets are $20 at participating Menards Stores through 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 419-727-1100 until 5 p.m. Friday ($25); Race day tickets are $30 adults, kids 6-12 are $5, under 6 are free. The race will also air live on MAVTV.


Herr’s Potato Chips 200

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Herr's Potato Chips 200

While Sam Mayer swept all three ARCA Menards Series races at Toledo, Gibbs had his share of success there.

In a unique, rain-delayed doubleheader in July, Gibbs finished second in the first race and then led 107 laps in the second. A spin shortly after he lost his lead and the rain under ensuing caution that ultimately halted the race after 127 laps and relegated him to 10th. He finished third when the series returned in September.

But Gibbs also won the ARCA Menards Series East race at Toledo last June in the first race after the hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also finished second in 2019.

Heim on the other hand, finished 10th in his only start at the track.

Thanks to the 27th at Talladega, Gibbs arrives at Toledo 23 points back of Heim.

Drew Dollar, second in points, is not entered, opening the door for challengers to move up.

Kyle Sieg, who has a top-10 finishes in all four ARCA Menards Series races thus far this season, heads into the weekend five points back of Gibbs and will make his Toledo debut in the No. 28 RSS Racing Chevrolet for his family-owned team.

Both Thad Moffitt and Nick Sanchez have experience at Toledo, and sit fifth and seventh, respectively in points.

Gracie Trotter is back in the No. 25 Mobile 1 Toyota for Venturini, while 2020 ARCA Menards Series West champion Jesse Love will pilot the team’s No. 15 JBL Toyota. Former USAC Midget standout Adam Lemke will make his series’ debut for Rette Jones Racing in the No. 30 JRCTransportation.net Ford.

The complete entry list for Saturday’s Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo Speedway can be viewed here.

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RACE FACTS

RACE Herr’s Potato Chips 200
PLACE Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio
DATE Saturday, May 22, 2021
TIME 8 p.m. ET
TV/LIVE STREAM MAVTV / TrackPass
RADIO ARCARacing.com
TRACK LAYOUT Half-mile paved oval
LAPS 200
MILES 100
EVENT SCHEDULE Saturday, May 22: Garage opens at 11 a.m.; Practice at 4:15-5 p.m.; General Tire Pole Award Qualifying at 6 p.m.; Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at 8 p.m. (All times ET)
TWITTER @ARCA_Racing, @NASCARRoots, @ToledoSpeedway, @MAVTV
HASHTAG #ARCAMenards

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CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 is limited to 24 plus provisional positions. This event will be run under the 2021 ARCA Menards Series rules, procedures, regulations and specifications.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive laps qualifying. No adjustments or repairs may be made on car after taking the green flag at Start/Finish line. All cars must make a qualifying attempt, and all drivers must practice before they can qualify.

RACE PIT STOP: Break pit stop procedure. Breaks at or near the conclusion of laps 75 and 125. All cars will be required to make at least one pit stop prior to last 10 laps of race. No adding or moving tires to or from pit box once race has started.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Per the ARCA Rulebook, the maximum number of tires allowed in pit box for use in race is six (6).