PixelatedRESULTS: Drew Dollar Cashes in with a Win in General Tire 200 at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Alabama (June 20, 2020) — In just his fifth start, Drew Dollar drove to victory lane on Saturday, winning the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, the third race of the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season, and first for the national tour since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown racing across the nation in March.
The 19 year old rookie scored his first career win, and third on year for Venturini Motorsports (Daytona, Phoenix), after leading a majority of the race and taking advantage of some late race moves and follies that put him in position to capitalize late, emerging with the lead with two laps to go.
“It’s definitely important,” Dollar said of the win in his FS1 winner’s interview.
The final laps of the race proved to be the most chaotic, with contact between Dollar and Herbst at eight to go, and then Herbst making contact with Michael Self with two go that let Dollar advance into the lead.
“I was just hoping that the caution didn’t come out there at the end,” he said. “Bill (Venturini) let me go all the way to the checkered and I think that was the right move and we put on a good show. When you have these General Tires on this car, they’re almost indestructible, they’ve got so much grip. Me and the 18 (Herbst) go into it… I was worried about a tire rub, but no problem with these awesome General Tires.”
Ryan Repko rebounded after a poor showing in the ARCA East event last weekend in Toledo, coming away with the runner up spot in ‘Dega. Repko was out of breath during his interview and looked to be exhausted, but was still very happy with the result.
“What an awesome day,” he said. “It’s so much fun to work the draft.”
Repko was able to get to second by taking advantage of the incident between Herbst and Self.
“Just really racing hard, coming down to the win,” he said. “I thought I was going to get collected in it to be honest, so I just went really high and was able to miss it.”
Brett Holmes picked up his career best finish at Talladega in third, while Herbst and Self went from battling for the lead to salvaging a top five, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
And now… The Race Rundown…
Riley Herbst drew the pole position for the race, and led the field to green, but the first lap went to Dollar. In fact, Dollar would go on to lead the next 41 laps, as the leaders quickly went into a single file formation and pulled away from the main pack.
A mid-race break competition caution flew at lap 39, with Herbst challenging for the top spot as the field came to the yellow, but Dollar was able to hold onto the lead.
On the restart, Herbst was able to complete the pass around Dollar and by lap 43, the leaders were once again, single file.
The leaders rode patiently until eight to go.
Drew Dollar pulled out in an attempt to pass Herbst. The pair made contact, which sent Dollar backwards, falling in line in fourth place while Herbst maintained the lead.
With two to go, Michael Self, the 2020 Daytona winner, pulled out to take himself and Herbst side by side down the backstretch. Going into turn three, Herbst made contact with the rear left quarter of Self’s car, sending Self sideways in turn three. The banking caught Self just right, and was able to save the car and continue.
Meanwhile, this action allowed Drew Dollar to reassume the lead, and cruise to the win with Repko and Brett Homles following behind.
Results from the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway – June 20, 2020:
| 1. | 15 – Drew Dollar |
| 2. | 20 – Ryan Repko |
| 3. | 23 – Brett Holmes |
| 4. | 18 – Riley Herbst |
| 5. | 25 – Michael Self |
| 6. | 46 – Thad Moffitt |
| 7. | 4 – Halie Deegan |
| 8. | 97 – Jason Kitzmiller |
| 9. | 8 – Sean Corr |
| 10. | 12 – Ed Pompa |
| 11. | 69 – Scott Melton |
| 12. | 10 – Ryan Huff |
| 13. | 17 – Tanner Gray |
| 14. | 7 – Eric Caudell |
| 15. | 22 – Brandon Lynn |
| 16. | 32 – Guss Dean |
| 17. | 06 – Tim Richmond |
| 18. | 11 – Willie Mullins |
| 19. | 01 – Tommy Vigh |
| 20. | 48 – Brad Smith |
| 21. | 0 – Con Nicolopoulos |
– Daniel Vining, Twitter: @danielvining
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