The 2023 Menards 250 was the 7th stock car race of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 8th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, in Elko New Market, Minnesota at Elko Speedway, a 0.375 mile (0.604 km) permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. In a wild and controversial race that had an exciting battle between Jesse Love and William Sawalich, Jesse Love, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would hold off a fast-charging Sawalich in the final 20 laps of the race to earn his sixth career ARCA Menards Series win, and his fourth of the season. Love dominated the entire race as well, leading 235 of the 250 laps.[4] Sawalich, who started on pole, led 15 laps of the race until getting spun by Sean Hingorani on lap 150.[5][6] To fill out the podium, Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Hingorani, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Saturday, June 24, at 3:40 PM CST, and would last for 20 minutes.[7] William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 14.439, and an average speed of 93.497 mph (150.469 km/h).[8] A second session was scheduled to be held at 4:10 PM CST, but was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Qualifying
Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 24, at 5:20 PM CST. The qualifying system used is a single-car, two-lap system with only one round. Whoever sets the fastest time in that round wins the pole.[7] Qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. The starting lineup would be determined by practice speeds. As a result, William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would earn the pole.[9]
Race results
| Fin[10] |
St |
# |
Driver |
Team |
Make |
Laps |
Led |
Status |
Pts |
|---|
| 1 |
2 |
20 |
Jesse Love |
Venturini Motorsports |
Toyota |
250 |
235 |
Running |
48 |
| 2 |
1 |
18 |
William Sawalich |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
Toyota |
250 |
15 |
Running |
44 |
| 3 |
4 |
15 |
Sean Hingorani |
Venturini Motorsports |
Toyota |
250 |
0 |
Running |
41 |
| 4 |
3 |
25 |
Conner Jones |
Venturini Motorsports |
Toyota |
250 |
0 |
Running |
40 |
| 5 |
9 |
2 |
Andrés Pérez de Lara (R) |
Rev Racing |
Chevrolet |
250 |
0 |
Running |
39 |
| 6 |
8 |
01 |
Davey Callihan |
Fast Track Racing |
Toyota |
250 |
0 |
Running |
38 |
| 7 |
18 |
45 |
Tony Cosentino |
Tamayo Cosentino Racing |
Ford |
249 |
0 |
Running |
37 |
| 8 |
6 |
10 |
Willie Mullins |
Fast Track Racing |
Ford |
249 |
0 |
Running |
36 |
| 9 |
7 |
55 |
Toni Breidinger |
Venturini Motorsports |
Toyota |
248 |
0 |
Running |
35 |
| 10 |
10 |
32 |
Christian Rose (R) |
AM Racing |
Ford |
246 |
0 |
Running |
34 |
| 11 |
11 |
66 |
Jon Garrett (R) |
Veer Motorsports |
Chevrolet |
242 |
0 |
Running |
33 |
| 12 |
15 |
12 |
Ryan Roulette |
Fast Track Racing |
Ford |
240 |
0 |
Running |
32 |
| 13 |
13 |
11 |
Bryce Haugeberg |
Fast Track Racing |
Ford |
233 |
0 |
Running |
31 |
| 14 |
16 |
31 |
Rita Goulet |
Rise Motorsports |
Chevrolet |
217 |
0 |
Running |
30 |
| 15 |
12 |
06 |
A. J. Moyer |
Wayne Peterson Racing |
Toyota |
216 |
0 |
Running |
29 |
| 16 |
5 |
30 |
Frankie Muniz (R) |
Rette Jones Racing |
Ford |
199 |
0 |
Accident |
28 |
| 17 |
14 |
03 |
Casey Carden |
Clubb Racing Inc. |
Ford |
113 |
0 |
Valve |
27 |
| 18 |
17 |
48 |
Brad Smith |
Brad Smith Motorsports |
Chevrolet |
3 |
0 |
Throttle |
26 |
| 19 |
19 |
43 |
Jalen Mack |
Tamayo Cosentino Racing |
Chevrolet |
0 |
0 |
Fuel Pump |
25 |
| Official race results |
Standings after the race
- Drivers' Championship standings
- Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.
|
References
- ↑ "Entry list: Menards 250 at Elko Speedway". ARCA. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Starting lineup: Menards 250 at Elko Speedway". ARCA. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- ↑ "Race results: Menards 250 at Elko Speedway". ARCA. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ↑ Calloni, Josh (June 24, 2023). "Jesse Love Wins at Elko Speedway for Fourth ARCA Win of 2023". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ↑ Wingard, Luke (June 24, 2023). "William Sawalich Scores Eventful Runner-Up Finish as Venturini Motorsports Rivalry Intensifies". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ↑ Christie, Toby (June 24, 2023). "Video: Jesse Love Sideswipes William Sawalich; Sean Hingorani Then Turns Sawalich". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- 1 2 "Schedule of events: Menards 250 at Elko Speedway". ARCA. May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Practice results: Menards 250 at Elko Speedway". ARCA. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- ↑ Wingard, Luke (June 24, 2023). "William Sawalich On Pole For ARCA Menards 250 at Elko". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- ↑ "2023 Menards 250 - The Third Turn". The Third Turn. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
