Strong Defense Late Gives Queen ARCA Win At Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Brenden Queen was the bookend to Friday’s Henry Ford Health 200 for the ARCA Menards Series at Michigan Int’l Speedway.

After earning the General Tire Pole Award at the two-mile oval to start the afternoon, Queen dominated both the first and the final segments of the 100-lap race en route to his third victory of the year.

Queen led the first 42 laps, through the first competition caution, then re-took the lead from NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series interloper Gio Ruggiero on the lap-78 restart that kicked off the run to the finish.

It was Ruggiero who soared around Queen following the first race break, but it was Queen who got the last laugh, leading a race-high 65 laps in total after his decisive pass for the win and taking back the ARCA point lead in the process.

With Friday’s romp, Queen became the 38th driver to win at the two-mile Michigan oval in 44 ARCA races there. The box score didn’t tell how hard he had to work for it at the end, however.

After surviving contact with Ruggiero on the last restart, Queen then had to withstand a furious assault from Truck Series star Corey Heim, a late addition to the field who was tabbed as the fill-in at Venturini Motorsports for an ill Jake Finch.

Though Heim closed from more than a second back and had several peeks to Queen’s inside during the final 11 laps, he couldn’t pull even with Queen, who ultimately took the checkers in front by a narrow .313-second margin.

After a celebratory burnout, Queen’s enthusiasm bled into both his post-race interview and his subsequent fence climb in front of the assembled fans, capping a perfect day for the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet team.

“I have so much respect for [Heim] and Gio [Ruggiero],” said Queen, who led both practice and qualifying prior to his victory. ‘What happened with me and Gio going into [turn] three [on the last restart], I’m not sure if I turned in early. If it was my fault, I’m sorry. We were racing for the win there.

“I knew I was going to have to hold off ‘Heim Time’ there, but it’s Bean Nation time tonight!”

Heim was chasing his 10th career ARCA Menards Series victory in his first start since winning at Kansas Speedway in September of 2022.

Though the final result didn’t pan out, Heim was pleased with how his Shannon Rursch-led team made the No. 25 Phoenix Construction Toyota better throughout the race.

“Our cars were very equal, so I think [it came down to] track position,” Heim said. “Not having run one of these things in a long time, it’s tough to dial that in. That last run was by far our best. We sort of struggled with it for the first two stints. The No. 28 was really, really quick and Butterbean [Queen] did a tremendous job as well.

“It’s really tough to beat that, so props to those guys.”

Heim’s Venturini teammates Lawless Alan and Ruggiero crossed third and fourth, respectively, followed by Rev Racing’s Lavar Scott in fifth.

Ruggiero attributed his late fade to damage from the contact with Queen, after pulling away from him during the second segment of the race and leading all 35 laps where Queen wasn’t out front.

“It was just hard racing for the lead and the win,” said Ruggiero of battling Queen. “I think clean air was everything there at the end. Proud of all the Venturini guys; they brought such a fast car for me. When we were out front, we were really good and led some laps … I’m just disappointed in myself, really.

“I feel like I kind of threw that one away there at the end. Had we kept the lead, I think we could have held it to the finish.”

Thad Moffitt, Tyler Reif, Jason Kitzmiller, Isabella Robusto, and Eloy Falcon closed the top 10. Of those, only Falcon was off the lead lap at the checkered flag.

Other than losing the lead mid-race to Ruggiero, Queen’s only other nervous moment came on the backstretch with six to go, when he lost time briefly while passing the slower car of Ryan Roulette.

After that, it was a master class in defense by Queen all the way to the checkered flag.

The short-track standout – a three-time Langley Speedway track champion and last year’s CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion – hopes that history holds true in terms of success at Michigan leading to overall success on the ARCA platform.

Three of the last four ARCA winners at MIS – Ty Gibbs (2021), Nick Sanchez (2022), and Jesse Love (2023) – went on to capture the season championship in the same year.

And while Queen hopes that becomes the case for him as well, he’s also just as appreciative of being able to represent the hard-working short track community on a stage as big as the one that ARCA provides.

“It’s insane,” Queen said. “I’m representing all my guys back at Langley [Speedway]. They work so hard. It started back in Legends cars with Phil Warren helping me, [then] going to [Lee Pulliam’s team]. I’m super proud of Pinnacle Racing Group. [This win] goes to these guys and everyone else back at the shop.

“We have unbelievable cars every week and they make me look good.”

Michigan kicked off a string of four straight race weekends for the national ARCA field, which heads next to Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich., on Saturday night, June 14.

Broadcast coverage of the 200-lap event is slated for 7 p.m. ET, live on FS1 and the FOX Sports App.

The finish:

1. 28-Brenden Queen, 2. 25-Corey Heim, 3. 20-Lawless Alan, 4. 18-Gio Ruggiero, 5. 6-Lavar Scott, 6. 46-Thad Moffitt, 7. 23-Tyler Reif, 8. 97-Jason Kitzmiller, 9. 55-Isabella Robusto, 10. 2-Eloy Falcon, 11. 93-Caleb Costner, 12. 67-Ryan Roulette, 13. 11-Morgen Baird, 14. 68-Regina Sirvent, 15. 99-Michael Maples, 16. 73-Andy Janowiak, 17. 31-Derek White, 18. 76-Kole Raz, 19. 06-Brayton Laster, 20. 03-Alex Clubb, 21. 48-Brad Smith, 22. 10-Tony Cosentino, 23. 12-Mike Basham, 24. 65-Jeffrey MacZink, 25. 9-Matt Kemp, 26. 86-Jeff Maconi, 27. 0-Nate Moeller.