A late restart propels Gio Ruggiero to his second ARCA Menards Sequence victory at Kansas Speedway on Saturday within the Tide 150.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In two begins to this point within the 2026 ARCA Menards Sequence season, Gio Ruggiero discovered Victory Lane in each.
Gio Ruggiero: Victory at Kansas
Ruggiero’s second win of the 12 months proved barely tougher than his season-opening triumph at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. After fading in the course of the remaining lengthy inexperienced flag run, Ruggiero used two extra time restarts to cycle again to the entrance and emerge victorious Saturday within the Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway.
A number of elements motivated Ruggiero’s drive to win. Not solely was he decided to beat the loss in velocity his automotive skilled within the closing levels, however he additionally needed to reward the exhausting work his total crew put in each on and off the monitor.
“You simply acquired to do no matter it takes to win,” Ruggiero stated. “That’s what I did. I assumed we had a extremely sturdy automotive, and I simply couldn’t let these guys down and lose the race. My crew chief Matt Ross simply had a child, so I wanted to get him a pleasant present, [which was] to win. I undoubtedly executed on these final restarts and did what it took.”
Ruggiero ended up making his personal luck, turning Saturday’s Tide 150 in his favor, albeit unintentionally.
Gio Ruggiero Forging a Path to Victory
Whereas looking for his approach across the slower automotive of Dystany Spurlock with three laps remaining, Ruggiero hit her rear bumper, sending her spinning into the infield. Spurlock efficiently saved the automotive out of the wall, however the spin introduced out a warning and compelled extra time.
Standing in Ruggiero’s approach for the following restart was Jack Wooden, who possessed one of many quickest automobiles at Kansas and had handed Ruggiero for the lead a couple of laps earlier. By lining up because the second automotive on the within row, Ruggiero was assured he may overtake Wooden if he timed his restart.
Every thing went in response to plan for Ruggiero. He dove beneath Wooden on the frontstretch apron to re-take the lead. Wooden’s race ended shortly afterwards when he was changed into the surface retaining wall following contact with Gavan Boschele, leaving Daniel Dye as the subsequent driver as much as problem Ruggiero.
Dye saved Ruggiero in his sightlines in the course of the second and remaining extra time restart, utilizing the excessive line to generate momentum. Regardless of his greatest efforts, Dye was unable to search out his approach across the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 and settled for second whereas Ruggiero took the checkered flag.
Ruggiero’s triumph gave Gibbs’ ARCA Menards Sequence program its third victory at Kansas. Ty Gibbs earned the group’s first ARCA Kansas win in 2021, with Tanner Grey answerable for the group’s second checkered flag there within the 2024 season.
For as nice as Ruggiero’s day was, he did categorical some regret over the circumstances that arrange the extra time restarts. Ruggiero needed to discover a clear avenue round Spurlock however was happy with turning a miscue on his behalf into one other accomplishment for a storied group like Gibbs.
“I used to be making an attempt to work lapped visitors actually aggressive to catch the leaders, or attempt to run them down,” Ruggiero stated. “I used to be actually combating a free stability. Simply type of misjudged it, however I feel [Spurlock] turned down, unsure if she was making an attempt to go to the highest or the underside. Simply set to work on that stuff, however I’m completely happy to get the win.”
ARCA Menards Sequence factors chief Jake Bollman loved one other strong outing, coming dwelling third. Boschele adopted his Nitro Motorsports teammate dwelling in fourth, with Lanie Buice finishing the highest 5.
The remainder of the highest ten finishers within the Tide 150 consisted of Jason Kitzmiller, Jade Avedisian, Monty Tipton, Thomas Annunziata, and Spurlock.
Subsequent Up
The ARCA Menards Sequence instantly jumps again into motion subsequent weekend when the collection tackles the most important monitor on the calendar, the two.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. Saturday’s Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 commences at 11:30 a.m. CT/12:30 p.m. ET with FS1 offering reside protection.
