DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Corey Heim was the class of the ARCA Menards Series field Saturday at Daytona International Speedway as he cruised to victory in the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire.
Heim started from the pole and led nearly the entire distance, only giving up the lead during a round of pit stops during the first half of the race.
However, he did have to survive a restart with one lap left that brought the entire field back to his rear bumper. With teammate Parker Chase running with him, Heim was able to hold the top spot when the green flag waved.
Down the backstretch Heim remained in control when contact between Toni Breidinger and Drew Dollar sent Dollar into the outside wall, destroying the front of his race car. Dollar was uninjured in the crash.
The race stayed green, with Heim leading Chase back to the checkered flag to give Venturini Motorsports its fifth-straight win in the ARCA opener at Daytona.
“My team made it easy on me,” said Heim, who also won the opener at Daytona last year. “I had great teammates with me the whole way. Venturini Motorsports — the most organized team out here. Toyota Racing has helped me get here, Crescent Tools … It just all came together for this race, and it worked out.”
Daniel Dye made a late charge to finish third in the No. 43 Chevrolet for GMS Racing. Sean Corr, driving a tribute car to the late Bob Keselowski, finished fourth. A third Venturini Motorsports entry piloted by Gus Dean finished fifth.
The finish:
Corey Heim, Parker Chase, Daniel Dye, Sean Corr, Gus Dean, Andy Jankowiak, Mason Diaz, Dave Mader III, Toni Breidinger, Ryan Huff, Rajah Caruth, Dale Quarterley, Brayton Laster, Willie Mullins, Chuck Hiers, Amber Balcaen, Jason White, Tim Richmond, Drew Dollar, Nick Sanchez, Michael Lira, Greg Van Alst, D.L. Wilson, Zachary Tinkle, Benny Chastain, Bryan Dauzat, Brian Kaltreider, Brad Smith, Con Nicolopoulos, Scott Melton, Christian Rose, Max Gutierrez, Bryce Haugeberg, Jason Kitzmiller, Will Kimmel, Eric Caudell.
