Gio Ruggiero dominates ARCA Menards Series race at Pocono

For the 33rd time in the last 33 ARCA Menards Series races at Pocono Raceway, a different driver took the checkered flag. 

On Friday, it was Joe Gibbs Racing driver Gio Ruggiero, a full-time driver in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series who now has four victories in five ARCA starts in 2026. 

Ruggiero led 51 of the race's 60 laps around the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania venue and was never seriously challenged for the race win over the final run. He beat runner-up Gavan Boschele to the line by 13.356 seconds. 

Friday's race was the first ARCA race at Pocono since 2023. 

Notable results

Carson Brown, ARCA Menards Series points leader Jake Bollman and polesitter Lanie Buice, the seventh woman to win an ARCA pole award, rounded out the top five. 

Buice lost the lead early in the race after going high in turn 1. 

Thomas Annunziata and Daniel Dye finished sixth and seventh, respectively, after an intense battle between the two in the closing laps. Jade Avedisian, Jason Kitzmiller and Ryan Vargas completed the top 10. 

Other notable finishers include Isaac Kitzmiller in 11th, Isabella Robusto — who was plagued by two flat tires — in 13th, Brayton Laster in 17th, Michael Maples in 18th and Bobby Earnhardt in 23rd. 

Dystany Spurlock finished last (24th) after she lost brakes entering turn 1 and hit the wall.