Brenden Queen fends off Corey Heim for his third 2025 ARCA Menards Sequence victory on Friday within the Henry Ford Well being 200 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway.
BROOKLYN, Mich. – Incomes one other ARCA Menards Sequence checkered flag on Friday night required Brenden Queen to placed on a defensive clinic.
Brenden Queen Third 2025 Victory
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence driver Corey Heim, a late addition to Friday’s race, was a relentless presence in Queen’s rearview mirror through the closing levels of the Henry Ford Well being 200 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway. The one issues Queen may do had been break the draft and dump as a lot soiled air on Heim’s entrance bumper as he may.
Queen withstood Heim’s spirited cost to assert his third ARCA Menards Sequence victory throughout seven profession begins. The ultimate laps had been marked by loads of stress and included contact with Gio Ruggiero on the ultimate restart. Nonetheless, the at all times jovial Queen was elated to rejoice a win in his first journey to Michigan.
“I’ve a lot respect for [Heim] and Gio [Ruggiero],” Queen mentioned. ‘What occurred with me and Gio going into [turn] three [on the last restart], I’m unsure if I turned in early. If it was my fault, I’m sorry. We had been racing for the win there.”
“I knew I used to be going to have to carry off Heim Time there, but it surely’s Bean Nation time tonight!”
Recognized for his effectivity on brief tracks on the East Coast, all three of Queen’s checkered flags have come on tracks bigger than a mile-and-a-half.
Queen opened his maiden ARCA Menards Sequence marketing campaign with Pinnacle Racing Group by prevailing at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. It could be practically three months earlier than Queen returned to Victory Lane, as he capped off a near-perfect day at Kansas Speedway by besting William Sawalich in a one-lap shootout.
Overcoming the Challenges
Misfortune at Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway prevented Queen from getting into Michigan with the ARCA Menards Sequence factors lead. With Queen’s deficit to Lavar Scott solely 4 factors, all he wanted was a flawless outing within the Henry Ford Well being 200 to swing momentum again in his favor.
Briefly shedding the highest spot to Ruggiero on the primary restart of the day was Queen’s solely mishap round Michigan’s two-mile format. Queen utilized the uncooked pace of his No. 28 PRG Chevrolet to assert his first Basic Tire Pole Award and lead essentially the most laps, but a victory was removed from assured, with Heim making use of relentless stress.
Corey Heim Returns to ARCA Menards Sequence
Heim, who was substituting for an in poor health Jake Finch within the No. 25 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, had not run an ARCA Menards Sequence occasion since successful at Kansas in 2022. Discovering correct steadiness with the automotive took time for Heim, however he recommended crew chief Shannon Rusch for the changes that helped get him ready to problem Queen.
“Our vehicles had been very equal, so I feel [it came down to] observe place,” Heim mentioned. “Not having run one among this stuff in a very long time, it’s powerful to dial that in. That final run was by far our greatest. We form of struggled with it for the primary two stints. The No. 28 was actually, actually fast, and Butterbean did an incredible job as nicely.
“It’s actually powerful to beat that, so props to these guys.”
With the ability to fend off Heim for the victory may probably be essential to Queen’s championship hopes if one development stays intact.
Three of the final 4 ARCA Menards Sequence winners at Michigan have gone on to win the sequence championship. The one one among that group not to take action was Connor Zilisch in 2024, who was driving a part-time schedule with PRG.
With three victories already to his identify this season, Queen is rising as a favourite for the 2025 ARCA Menards Sequence title, as he now holds a six-point benefit on Scott. Queen admitted to being shocked however grateful for his ongoing racing journey, one which began on his house observe, Langley Speedway, and will probably take him to larger issues.
“It’s insane,” Queen mentioned. “I’m representing all my guys again at Langley [Speedway]. They work so laborious. It began again in Legends vehicles with Phil Warren serving to me, then going to [Lee Pulliam’s team]. I’m tremendous happy with this Pinnacle Racing Group. [This win] goes to those guys and everybody else again on the store.
“We now have unbelievable vehicles each week, they usually make me look good.”
Lawless Alan completed behind Queen and Heim in third, with Ruggiero and Scott rounding out the highest 5. The remainder of the highest ten included Thad Moffitt, Tyler Reif, Jason Kitzmiller, Isabella Robusto, and Eloy Falcon.
Up Subsequent
After three consecutive intermediate races, the ARCA Menards Sequence heads again to a brief observe subsequent weekend when the sequence invades Michigan’s Berlin Raceway. The Berlin ARCA 200 begins at 7 p.m. ET, with FS1 offering reside, flag-to-flag protection.
