Toledo Speedway

Eight active NASCAR Cup Series are winners of ARCA Menards Series events at Toledo Speedway, all taking trips to Monroe Asphalt Victory Lane.

2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell took his fourth ARCA Menards Series win in Toledo in 2007, when he led 166 of 200 laps on the way to win.

In February, McDowell took to Twitter to reminisce over his win at Toledo;

That was a fun weekend. Last race of the year. Sat on the pole, won the race, then I went @NASCAR Cup Racing. I thought it was going to be easy. Great group of guys Eddie Sharp @pdonahueracing @LorinRanier put together. A lot of great memories. https://t.co/Zh1CYj7je0

— Michael McDowell (@Mc_Driver) February 28, 2023

Chris Buescher, at press time in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs round of 12, found a habit of winning at Toledo Speedway in the beginning of his racing career. The Texas native parked his #17 Ford in victory lane four times between 2010 and 2012, taking a number of impressive victories and becoming a familiar face to the Toledo Speedway crowd over a very short time. In 2010 in particular, Buescher would drive from a 23rd place starting position, ending the night with 28 laps led and a big victory.

Ty Dillon, ironically, also started in 23rd place in 2011 when he drove through the field to win his first race at Toledo Speedway. He would take this win by passing Frank Kimmel with just 11 laps to go in the event.

Todd Gilliland, now driving the No. 38 Mustang in the Cup Series, broke a number of records in his first trip to Toledo Speedway in 2015. Driving just two days after his 15th birthday, he became the youngest driver to race in ARCA Menards Series history. 

With youth came speed, and Gilliland would go on to sail to the lead and additionally become the youngest winner in series history.

Harrison Burton, now driving the famous Wood Brothers #21, took his first career ARCA Menards Series win at Toledo Speedway in 2017. He only led eight laps on the way to a wild win, in his only ARCA Menards Series national tour start that season.

Zane Smith, now driving part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series as well as in the playoffs picture for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, took his maiden win at Toledo in 2018 after taking the lead with just nine laps to go from Chase Purdy.

Chandler Smith would come to Toledo and take his first win at the track in 2019, taking the win in a rain-shortened affair featuring tight racing and rainy weather.

Finally, Ty Gibbs, now driving the #54 Joe Gibbs Racing car in the NASCAR Cup Series as a rookie of the year contender, would take his maiden victory at Toledo when he won from the pole under the lights. This victory would be en route to his first ARCA Menards Series championship effort in 2021.

The connection to the Cup Series goes deeper than just Cup winners, though! At press time, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, and Parker Kligerman all battle for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in addition to Chandler Smith, all five drivers previous winners of ARCA Menards Series races at Toledo.

This Saturday, when the ARCA Menards Series competes at Toledo Speedway, new beginnings will certainly be visible from a number of the rising stars competing in the Glass City. 

Fans will get to meet many of these future stars as a part of the Hearn Industrial ARCA Menards Series Autograph session, starting at 2:15 PM and featuring the drivers who will be competing in the final race of the ARCA Menards Series season.

Time will tell who will be next up to race against Gibbs, Smith, Burton, Buescher, McDowell, and others - but when you walk in Saturday, there is promise that you’ll get to watch a big step in the journey.

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About the Shore Lunch 200 

The ARCA Menards Series crowns a champion on Saturday, October 7th with the Shore Lunch 200 at Toledo Speedway. This historic race has created many memorable moments over the years as a season finale, with big finishes and a high amount of action. Tickets for this event are available now at local Menards stores! You can click here to learn more about where to pick up your tickets for this championship event. You can also follow along with Toledo Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

There will be a full day of on-track activity for the ARCA Menards Series, with practice at 11:45 am, General Tire Pole Qualifying at 12:30 pm, the Hearn Industrial on-track autograph session at 2:15 pm, and the green flag for the Shore Lunch 200 presented by CGS Imaging at 4:00 pm ET. There will also be a special Valley Truck Centers 50-lap ARCA Outlaw Super Late Model feature race on the card, scheduled for 1:30 pm. For complete event information please click below! 

Fans can purchase their advance discount general admission tickets to the Shore Lunch 200 for just $20 at Menards locations in Toledo, Oregon, Holland, Findlay,

Defiance, and Sandusky in Ohio, and Belleville, Taylor, Ann Arbor, and Livonia in Michigan.