Michael Self defeats Hailie Deegan in Daytona ARCA race

Michael Self celebrates
Michael Self celebrates

Michael Self’s 2019 season ended one spot short of a championship.

In the 2020 season opener, he made sure to put the field on notice, dominating from the pole to win the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire for the second time in the last three years.

“It’s unbelievable. I can tell you the second time is every bit as sweet as the first," he said. “And to do it with this group of people around me. Sinclair Oil, Toyota, my family here, a bunch of my friends here. It’s no secret, it’s a little extra special to come to Daytona. And to do it here with these guys makes it more special on top of that. Just a truly amazing day for us a little bit surreal."

The victory is the third straight Daytona win for Venturini Motorsports (Self in 2018, Harrison Burton in 2019) and fourth overall for the organization.

In her DGR-Crosley and Ford debut, Hailie Deegan drove her way to a runner-up finish, her best career result and tying the best result for a female in the ARCA Menards Series.

“Pretty much at the end there, all I wanted to do was finish," she said. “My goal for this race was top three to top-five was a victory for me. I was totally fine finishing second. I wasn’t going to try to do anything to Michael. It is a long season and I have to race against these guys week in and week out. It is best to stay on good terms with them."

Self’s Venturini teammate, Drew Dollar, finished third in his first career series start, with Sean Corr and Thad Moffitt rounding out the top five.

Jason White scored a career-best finish of sixth, with Riley Herbst, Willie Mullins, Bret Holmes and Scott Melton completing the top 10.

Next up for the ARCA Menards Series is a trip to Phoenix Raceway on March 6. It will also be the first race of the 10-race Sioux Chief Showdown.

LUCAS OIL 200 RESULTS

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Status
1 1 25 Michael Self Venturini Motorsports Toyota 80 Running
2 7 4 Hailie Deegan * Monster Energy Ford 80 Running
3 5 15 Drew Dollar * Venturini Motorsports Toyota 80 Running
4 20 8 Sean Corr NESCO Chevrolet 80 Running
5 33 46 Thad Moffitt DGR Crosley Ford 80 Running
6 4 12 Jason White * Powder Vent Exc/YourGMCTruckStore Chevy 80 Running
7 6 18 Riley Herbst Monster/Terrible Herbst/ORCA Toyota 80 Running
8 21 3 Willie Mullins Crow Wing Recycling/Bugsy's Repair Ford 80 Running
9 18 23 Bret Holmes Holmes II Excavating Chevrolet 80 Running
10 23 69 Scott Melton Melton McFadden Insurance Agency Ford 80 Running
11 22 9 Thomas Praytor AIDB/Max Force Trucking Chevrolet 80 Running
12 9 28 David Gravel * Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet 79 Running
13 31 87 Chuck Buchanan Jr. * Spring Drug Chevrolet 79 Running
14 32 0 Con Nicolopoulos GreaiRailing.com Chevrolet 76 Running
15 25 09 Benny Chastain Robert B. Our Company Chevrolet 75 Running
16 11 17 Tanner Gray * Ford Performance Ford 70 Oil Leak
17 26 7 Eric Caudell Tethertech Safety Ford 67 Running
18 27 06 Tim Richmond GreaiRailing.com Toyota 55 Running
19 17 11 Chuck Hiers Ashley Homes/Gleckler Lumber Toyota 49 Accident
20 8 22 Connor Hall * Chad Bryant Racing Ford 47 Overheating
21 30 10 Ryan Huff * Land & Coates/HB Hankins Toyota 41 Transmission
22 13 20 Ryan Repko * Venturini Motorsports Toyota 40 Accident
23 14 32 Gus Dean Win Tron Racing Chevrolet 40 Accident
24 16 61 J.J. Pack Black Draft Distillery/Ice Boxx Toyota 39 Transmission
25 10 30 Dominique Van Wieringen * Durobyte Ford 39 Accident
26 19 52 Natalie Decker Durobyte Ford 38 Accident
27 12 77 Jacob Heafner * Chad Bryant Racing Ford 38 Accident
28 2 02 Andy Seuss Robert B. Our Company Chevrolet 38 Accident
29 24 01 Josh Ferrier John Ferrier Racing Chevrolet 38 Accident
30 3 63 Dave Mader III Diamond C Ranch/PRW LLC Chevrolet 38 Accident
31 29 48 Brad Smith Copraya.com Chevrolet 17 Oil Leak
32 15 97 Jason Kitzmiller * All Construction Chevrolet 11 Engine
33 28 88 Scott Reeves * Reeves Racing Chevrolet 0 Drive Train

*Rookie