ARCA: Sheltra regains title advantage as Buescher wins at Toledo

Chris Buescher claimed his second career ARCA series win at the Toledo Speedway this weekend, coming through from 23rd on the grid to win the Northwest Ohio Ford Dealers 200.

The 17 year-old won his first ARCA event at the circuit in May, claiming victory in the Menards 200, and has thus ensured a perfect record at the Toledo track in 2010.

Tom Hessert took the race lead from title rival Patrick Sheltra on lap four, the #77 machine going on to lead 133 laps before a broken sway bar forced him in to the pits for repairs. This ended Hessert’s shot at victory, but he returned to track to finish a fighting seventh.

Buescher made a steady climb through the field, eventually claiming the lead for good with 173 of 200 laps completed. Joey Coulter had held top spot, but a punctured front-right tyre forced him in to the pits, allowing the Roulo Brother’s Racing man a run at victory.

However Buescher didn’t have it easy as he was forced to fend off a spirited challenge from title contender Craig Goess. The #81 Eddie Sharp Racing driver battled back from an early-race skirmish to finish second, just two car lengths behind Buescher at the flag.

"It was nice to come back to Toledo," Buescher said after the race. "We've had races where we've been really competitive, but had some bad luck, so we were just really happy to pull it off today. There were a lot of guys out there that were having tyre issues and we're glad to be one that wasn't. I'm really starting to come around to this place.”

Goess meanwhile was also satisfied, having made up ground in the championship chase.

"It was a good day for us," said the New Jersey native. "I was a little bit disappointed because we were catching the leader before that last caution- we were about two-tenths of a second a lap faster. I feel like we could have definitely won if we didn't have that last caution but those things happen; that's part of racing. We were able to finish ahead of the people that are in the points race with us, so overall it was a good day."

Third place went to Sheltra, who now takes the sole lead of the championship having entered the Toledo race level with Hessert. The standings now see Sheltra just five points clear of Goess, with Hessert 15 points off top spot in third.

Nine-time Toledo winner Frank Kimmel led two laps, and spent much of the race behind Hessert in second position before a gear issue forced him in for a lengthy pitstop. His crew got the car running again, but Kimmel could only finish 21st, denting his ever-decreasing hopes of a tenth ARCA title

The series heads to Salem Speedway this weekend for the Kentuckian Ford Dealers Fall Classic, following which the season concludes with rounds at Kansas Speedway and Rockingham Speedway.

Watch ARCA highlights as part of Motors TV's winter programming.


James Weeks.