June 27, 2021 (Concord, NC) – Corey Heim and his high-powered Venturini Motorsports (VMS) JBL Toyota team held off Ty Gibbs on Friday to claim their third win of the season in the ARCA Menards Series General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 at Pocono Raceway.
Heim’s timely victory provided the teenager with critical points in what’s shaping up to be a tight championship battle. Heim holds a slim 4-point advantage over Gibbs for the top spot with 12-races remaining on the schedule.
“This JBL Camry was phenomenal today,” said Heim, who picked up his fourth career ARCA Menards Series victory Friday at Pocono. “I dedicate this one to (crew chief) Shannon Rursch; he hit the balance perfect on that last stop. I tried to do the best I could for feedback. He hit it right on the dot.”
Heim took the green flag for the final restart Friday at Pocono Raceway thinking he was in the wrong position. Turns out he was in the perfect place at the right time, and 17 laps later, he took the checkered flag to win on the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval. Heim’s Pocono win also marks VMS’ 75th ARCA Menards Series victory all-time.
On that last restart, knowing the inside was the preferred lane, race leader Ty Gibbs dipped low in an attempt to block a charging Chandler Smith (No.25 Safelite Toyota) at the drop of the green flag. Gibbs and Smith made contact and drifted to the inside wall, sending Smith back up the race track. Somehow, Smith amazingly avoided other cars and saved his own from a spin.
Smith had to pit after his contact with Gibbs; the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular finished 12th a couple laps down.
Drew Dollar (No.15 Sunbelt Rentals Toyota) continued to be a model of consistency on the track finishing third for his fifth top-five finish in seven ARCA Menards Series races this season.
The ARCA Menards Series returns to action Saturday, July 10, for the Menards 250 at Minnesota’s Elko Speedway. That race, scheduled to start at 9 p.m. CT / 10 p.m. ET, will broadcast live on MAVTV Motorsports Network with live streaming available on NBC Sports Gold’s TrackPass.
