Corey Heim
Corey Heim, driver of the No. 20 Craftsman Toyota, celebrates winning the Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen for the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York, on Aug. 6, 2021. (Brett Carlsen/ARCA Racing)

Four drivers split ARCA’s special awards at Watkins Glen

www.arcaracing.com August 11, 2021

Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim have been locked in a battle for the ARCA Menards Series championship since the green flag dropped at Daytona to kick off the 2021 season. Friday’s Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen from New York’s Watkins Glen International promised to be the latest installment of their tight battle.

With 2016 series champion Chase Briscoe returning as part of a plan to help the NASCAR Cup Series rookie gain experience at the 2.45-mile road course, it appeared he would join Gibbs and Heim as the clear favorites to take home the trophy. Sure enough, the race at the front of the field was dominated by these three drivers. After 41 laps, it was Heim who celebrated in Victory Lane.

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Ty GIbbs
Ty Gibbs celebrates winning the General Tire Pole Award ahead of the Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen for the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International. (Brett Carlsen/ARCA Racing)

A 45-minute practice/qualifying session was first up on Friday’s slate to determine who would be the General Tire Pole Award winner. Heim had to settle for second in qualifying, because Gibbs laid down an untouchable lap at 119.754 mph to claim his ninth pole of the year.

Gibbs was almost a second quicker than Heim, the outside polesitter, and he also broke the late Blaise Alexander’s track record from 2001 in the process.

One driver who did not enjoy General Tire Pole Qualifying was New York state’s own Andy Jankowiak, who pulled up lame with rear-end issues on his first lap at speed. He spent much of the precious hours before the race attempting to repair his car, and while the end result was disappointing, Jankowiak did earn K&N Filters Hard Charger honors for driving to a 16th-place finish after starting 27th.

Gibbs led the first 14 laps of the race until Briscoe took the top spot on Lap 15. The latter was still in front when the midway break was called early due to a crash involving Drew Dollar and Dale Quarterley, making Briscoe the seventh different Richmond Water Heaters Halfway Leader in 2021.

Following the restart, a spirited battle between Gibbs and Heim ensued as they fought for second behind Briscoe. Heim got the better of Gibbs just as Briscoe ducked into the pits unexpectedly on Lap 24, and what Heim anticipated to be a pass for second turned into the pass for the win. Heim’s pass was voted the Reese’s Sweet Move of the Race.

Heim’s lead was never in serious jeopardy, and he led the final 18 circuits to earn the event’s Valvoline Lap Leader distinction. Despite his performance at the Glen, Heim still faces a tremendous deficit to Gibbs in the yearlong lap leader standings. Gibbs has led 989 laps this year, more than three times as many as Heim (318).

For coaching his driver to the victory, Shannon Rursch of the No. 20 Venturini Motorsports team was named the Cometic Crew Chief of the Race. The battle between Heim and Gibbs extends to the top of the pit boxes, as well, as Rursch and No. 18 team leader Mark McFarland are tied atop the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year standings.

Gibbs may have a slight edge in the overall championship hunt with a two-point lead over Heim, but the Bounty Rookie of the Year battle is much more definitive. After being named the Bounty Rookie of the Race at Watkins Glen, Heim now leads Gibbs by 18 points in the rookie standings.

Heim’ win at Watkins Glen also marked the 12th for Toyota in 13 ARCA Menards Series races this season, meaning Toyota has clinched the Manufacturers’ Title for 2021.

The Clean Harbors 100 at The Glen was the seventh event of the 10-race Sioux Chief Showdown. Gibbs’ lead in the duel for the prestigious in-season championship shrunk to eight points over Heim. With three Showdown races remaining, Nick Sanchez and Thad Moffitt are clinging to longshot chances behind the lead duo. Sanchez is 34 points behind Gibbs, and Moffitt is 37 points back. The Sioux Chief Showdown will return at the Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 29 for the Sprecher 150.

The ARCA Menards Series will take an off week before embarking on a doubleheader weekend at Michigan International Speedway and the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The Henry Ford Health System 200 at Michigan is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 20, and the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds will go green at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 22.

Both races will broadcast live on MAVTV Motorsports Network with live streams available on NBC Sports Gold’s TrackPass. Additionally, MRN Radio will provide a live radio call at Michigan.