WINCHESTER, Ind. – After a frustrating defeat to Sam Mayer Thursday night, Ty Gibbs made the comment to media members that he’s “built to finish first, not second.”
Less than 48 hours later, Gibbs backed up that assertion with a commanding ARCA Menards Series performance at Winchester Speedway.
Starting from the pole at the high-banked half mile, Gibbs was never challenged en route to victory in the Toyota 200 presented by Crosley Brands.
The grandson of NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Joe Gibbs led all but one lap and raced away into the distance following the final competition break of the day at lap 150. He cruised underneath the checkered flag .966 seconds ahead of runner-up Michael Self in the No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota.
Saturday marked Gibbs’ fifth ARCA Menards Series win of the year, tied for the series lead in that category with Mayer.
Gibbs also snapped a three-race string of victories by Mayer, who wasn’t in the field at Winchester.
Self chased Gibbs the entire way, but couldn’t muster enough speed to stay with Gibbs on restarts due to being stuck on the less-preferred bottom groove.
The Utah veteran’s runner-up finish did, however, extend his point lead over third-finishing Bret Holmes from one marker to three with just three races remaining before the end of the championship trail.
Self edged ahead coming to a lap-80 restart, leading the 79th circuit ahead of Gibbs for an extra point.
Holmes tried to wrest second place away from Self with 40 to go, pitching his Chevrolet inside of Self’s Toyota, but got loose and washed up into Self – nearly causing both cars to spin out in the process.
From there, Holmes spent the balance of the race fending off 15-year-old Jesse Love, who came home fourth in his debut for Venturini Motorsports.
Taylor Gray filled out the top five, the last driver on the lead lap. Drew Dollar was one lap down in sixth.
Mike Basham, Eric Caudell, Brad Smith and Con Nicolopoulos all posted career-best finishes Saturday, crossing seventh through 10th, respectively.
The ARCA Menards Series season continues Sept. 26 at Memphis Int’l Raceway.
The finish:
1. Ty Gibbs, 2. Michael Self, 3. Drew Dollar, 4. Jesse Love, 5. Taylor Gray, 6. Drew Dollar, 7. Mike Basham, 8. Eric Caudell, 9. Brad Smith, 10. Con Nicolopoulos, 11. Rick Clifton, 12. Hailie Deegan, 13. Owen Smith, 14. Wayne Peterson.