Sammy Smith was a force to be reckoned with Saturday in the ARCA Menards Series Herr’s 200. Smith took home the win in dominant fashion as he started on the pole and led every single lap of the event.
This is the latest triumph for the Kyle Busch Motorsports driver. Last month, Smith scored the win at Bristol Motor Speedway to secure the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East championship as well as the Sioux Chief Showdown Championship.
This marks the 18-year-old driver’s fifth ARCA Menards Series win of the season. Last year’s winner Jesse Love came home second. Love had a good car but he just didn’t have anything for Smith.
GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye, who had a rollercoaster of a day, was able to bring the No. 43 car home third after a late race move on fourth-place finisher Will Kimmel. Dye had to fight hard all race after falling a lap down before the first race break. However, coming to the caution on lap 75, Dye made a move to get past Connor Jones in the 15 to get the free pass. After some adjustments, the 43 car was able to make its move and most importantly finish ahead of Nick Sanchez.
Will Kimmel also came out and had a strong showing in this race. Kimmel looked to be the only car that had a shot for Smith at the end of the second race break. This marks Kimmel’s 131st ARCA Menards Series race and the good finish marked his first top five of the season. Taylor Gray took home fifth on the day.
Points leader Nick Sanchez came home in sixth. The rest of the top 10 consisted of Greg Van Alst, Toni Breidinger, Amber Balcaen, and Bryce Haugeberg.
Issues plagued several drivers throughout the course of the race. Championship contender Rajah Caruth had several issues and trips down pit road. Ultimately, he finished 15th.
Landon Huffman, in his ARCA return, had a strong run going until mechanical issues and contact with the wall put the No. 44 behind the wall and he finished 16th.
Looking at the ARCA Menards Series points after Salem, Sanchez holds a two-point lead over Dye heading into the season finale at Toledo next weekend. The Shore Lunch 200 at Toledo Speedway is Saturday, October 8th, at 4 p.m.
