After having to move the start of the HardRock Bet 200 for the ARCA Menards Series heartbreak fell on several drivers just three laps into the race.
After contact at the front of the pack between the No. 97 of Jason Kitzmiller and the No. 25 of Toni Breidinger in turn one on lap three in front of the field, caused a major pileup that collected a portion of the ARCA Menards Series field.
Here is a replay of the big wreck on lap three.#ARCAMenards #HardRockBet200https://t.co/bZ6saEXPNj
— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) February 17, 2024
It was a tough night for the driver of the VMS No. 25. Breidinger also ran this evening’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race where she finished 27th, four laps down. She got a blow to her title fight early on in the 2024 season.
Carnage.#ARCA pic.twitter.com/shM5Tka4mn
— RJ Starcevic (@RJStarcevic) February 17, 2024
Breidinger, her teammate Amber Balcaen, Shane Van Gisbergen, and at least ten others were caught up in the incident.
The incident comes as a major blow to the Pinnacle Motorsports Chevrolet No. 28 of Van Gisbergen as they only made the race after the No. 7 of Eric Caudell elected to withdraw from the event this evening. For the New Zealand native, he will have a chance at redemption at Daytona tomorrow in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Others collected included Kris Wright, Ed Pompa, Tanner Gray, Andy Jankowiak, Mandy Chick, and several others.
Several drivers including Andres Perez, Dale Quarterley, and Bryce Haugeberg, along with leaders of Willie Mullins and Jake Finch made it through the incident with ease.
For the Fredericksberg, VA driver, it meant even more to get that first career pole win in the ARCA Menards Series.
Of note for the ARCA Menards Series, drivers and teams can repair cars if they go behind the wall, unlike the NASCAR Cup Series.
For those involved, they’ll have to regroup and head west as the series travels to Phoenix on March 8th for the second race of the season.
