NEWTON, Iowa — On a day where several ARCA Menards Series championship contenders struggled, Ty Gibbs just kept rolling along.
The 17-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, dominated the Shore Lunch 150 in yet another impressive performance from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
Gibbs led 135 laps en route to his second straight win and the third in his last four starts. Throw in an ARCA Menards Series East win earlier this summer and the West finale to close out 2019, and Gibbs has won five of his last eight starts across all three.
While he fended off challenges from Jasper, Georgia’s Chandler Smith, Hailie Deegan and Sam Mayer at various points of the race, his No. 18 Toyota finished 1.410 seconds ahead of Mayer. Mayer appeared to be closing fast in the final laps but scrapped the wall and was unable to complete the final charge.
Bret Holmes finished third, followed by Chandler Smith and Taylor Gray.
Because he isn’t 18 yet, Gibbs is not running the full ARCA Menards Series schedule. Over the last two years, he has eight wins and eight runner-up finishes in 25 starts across the ARCA Menards Series as well as the East and West series. More importantly, he won round three of the Sioux Chief Showdown and gained ground on Smith.
Series championship points leader Michael Self overcame electrical issues to finish sixth. Max McLaughlin and Kory Swanson, who were both making their series debut, were seventh and eighth, respectively. Gracie Trotter finished ninth and Thad Moffitt 10th.
Drew Dollar, who entered the event tied with Holmes for second in points, and Hailie Deegan, who was fourth, both had mechanical problems. Dollar had engine issues and wound up 17th, while Deegan had a second-place run ended by broken trackbar and finished 18th.
ARCA Menards Series
Iowa Speedway – Newton, IA
Shore Lunch 150 – July 18, 2020
1. Ty Gibbs
2. Sam Mayer
3. Bret Holmes
4. Chandler Smith
5. Taylor Gray
6. Michael Self
7. Max McLaughlin
8. Kody Swanson
9. Gracie Trotter
10. Thad Moffitt
11. Gio Scelzi
12. Jesse Love
13. Tim Richmond
14. Rick Clifton
15. Scott Melton
16. Howie DiSavino III
17. Drew Dollar
18. Hailie Deegan
19. Brad Smith
20. Mike Basham
21. Dick Doheny
