ARCA Series

Sammy Smith steals the win at Toledo; Nick Sanchez claims ARCA title

2 Mins read

Jesse Love was definitely the driver that everyone had to beat during Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series finale at Toledo Speedway. Love would lead a dominating 192 laps, looking like he was gonna be the driver to win.

Coming into the race, The ARCA championship would be determined by two drivers, Nick Sanchez and Daniel Dye, with both drivers only being separated by 2 points. After a streak of bad luck, Rajah Caruth, who was third in points, would be ineligible for the championship hunt, due to being several points behind Dye and Sanchez.

The first caution came on lap 38, after Amber Slagle spun in turn one. The second caution flew on lap 97, after a multiple car incident which involved Greg Van Alst, Jeffery MacZink, and Alex Clubb. Shortly after, MacZink would be involved in the third caution, after he spun in turn three, and slamming into the foam blocks on the outside of the racetrack.

Daniel Dye’s championship hopes would suddenly go downhill, after he suffered a broken ball joint on lap 134. Prior to that, he originally came down pit road earlier in the race, due to a right front shock that got broken. Just a lap later, Brandon Varney would get turned by Amber Balcaen, bringing out the fourth caution.

During the final five laps, Jesse Love, who was practically untouchable throughout the entire race, would have a hard fought battle for the lead with Grant Enfinger, who was making his ARCA return. Both drivers were side by side for nearly two laps. With two laps to go, Sammy Smith would run into the back Love, causing him and Enfinger to move up the racetrack. Smith was able to take the lead away and steal the win at Toledo. With that win, he would also claim the 2022 Owners’ championship for Kyle Busch Motorsports. At the end of the race, Love would exit his car and attempt to throw hands with Smith, but would be pulled away by his team owner, Billy Venturini.

After Daniel Dye’s troubles late in the race, Nick Sanchez would be declared as the 2022 ARCA Menards Series champion, beating Dye by only 14 points. Sanchez would become the first driver from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program to win the championship since Kyle Larson in 2012. He was also the first driver of Hispanic ancestry to win the championship.

“Well, the first part was pretty hectic,” Sanchez stated during an interview. “We had to stay out and get a point, leading a lap, and then once the 43 had a problem, it all got a lot easier. We just rode to the end of the race, and didn’t wanna get caught up in a racing incident, but obviously my guys brought me a very fast car at the end with the way it came alive, and yeah, I’m just happy to get it.”

Despite finishing second in the standings, Daniel Dye would win the 2022 Rookie of the Year award.

Taylor Gray and Rajah Caruth would finish 4th and 5th in the race, finishing out the top five. The rest of the top ten included Sanchez, Landon Pembelton, Matthew Gould, Greg Van Alst, and Amber Balcaen.

2022 Shore Lunch 200 Race Results:

PosGridNoDriverTeamMakeLapsLedPts
1518Sammy SmithKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota200347
2120Jesse LoveVenturini MotorsportsToyota20019245
3344Grant EnfingerGMS RacingChevrolet200142
4417Taylor GrayDavid Gilliland RacingFord200040
5106Rajah CaruthRev RacingChevrolet200039
682Nick SanchezRev RacingChevrolet200239
7615Landon PembeltonVenturini MotorsportsToyota200037
81240Matthew GouldNiece MotorsportsChevrolet199036
91435Greg Van AlstGreg Van Alst MotorsportsFord199035
10730Amber BalcaenRette Jones RacingFord199034
111373Andy JankowiakJankowiak MotorsportsToyota199033
121111Brandon VarneyFast Track RacingToyota199032
131542Amber SlagleCook Racing TechnologiesToyota198031
14925Toni BreidingerVenturini MotorsportsToyota195030
152048Brad SmithBrad Smith MotorsportsChevrolet187029
161906A.J. MoyerWayne Peterson RacingFord180028
172103Alex ClubbClubb RacingFord180027
18243Daniel DyeGMS RacingChevrolet163228
192465Jeffery MacZinkMacZink RacingToyota94025
201610Tony CosentinoFast Track RacingToyota86024
211712Zachary TinkleFast Track RacingFord6023
221801Tim MonroeFast Track RacingFord3022
23220Nate MoellerWayne Peterson RacingToyota2021
242355Morgen BairdVenturini MotorsportsToyota0020
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