The season ending for the Owens Corning 200 at Toledo Speedway on October 4, 2025, delivered a mix of dominant driving, strategic breaks, and late race drama in the ARCA Menards Series. Max Reaves, starting from the General Tire Pole in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, showcased exceptional pace throughout the 200-lap event on the 0.5-mile paved oval. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen entered as the points leader, needing only to complete a lap in practice to clinch the championship, but he pushed hard for the win in his No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet. Below is a chronological breakdown of the key moments, based on official recaps.
Green Flag and Early Laps (Laps 1–75)
The race went green after 4:00 p.m. ET under clear conditions. Reaves, who qualified with a lap time of 16.174 seconds (111.290 mph) for his third pole of the season, jumped out to an immediate lead over front-row starter Queen. By Lap 20, Reaves had built a 1.184-second advantage, methodically working through early lapped traffic while demonstrating superior handling from his Joe Gibbs Racing-prepared Toyota. The top five settled in as Reaves, Queen, Tristan McKee (No. 82 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet), Lavar Scott (No. 6 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet), and Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Venturini Motorsports Toyota). One moment was when Butterbean made a 4 wide turn as he drifted after he passed Michael Maples (No. 99 DonRay Petroleum/Maples Motorsports Chevrolet) for minor contact and managed to stay in with Becca Monopoli (No. 85 Orlando Health Ford) and Tristan McKee.
Early challenges emerged with tire issues plaguing several drivers. Jason Kitzmiller (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet), Presley Sorah (No. 31 Racing Toward A Dream Toyota), Julian DaCosta (No. 20 Venturini Motorsports Toyota), and Jackson McLerran (No. 95 JSJ Construction Toyota) all pitted for flat tires, dropping them down the order. Despite these setbacks, Isabella Robusto has gained massive points to stay in the Top 5 of the race and Max Reaves has stayed strong in the lead. The race ran caution-free until the first scheduled competition caution at Lap 76, which served as a planned break for adjustments. At this point, Willie Mullins (No. 3 CW Metals Ford) received the free pass back onto the lead lap. The running order under yellow: Reaves, McKee, Queen, Robusto, and Scott.
Mid-Race Action (Laps 76–124)
Racing resumed at Lap 80 following non-competitive pit stops, with Reaves maintaining his lead and quickly pulling away again. The field spread out, but drama struck when Scott, battling Robusto for fourth, The contact was back and fourth the lap before the incident, as Lavar Scott spun off Turn 1, sustaining heavy front-end damage to his Chevrolet inside the wall. This incident brought out another yellow, though it was the only caution the was involved in a crash. Beyond the spin Scott limped to the pits and eventually retired after 83 laps, finishing 22nd. After the 2nd Caution was done, the race resumed and Max Reaves continued to stay in the lead. The second scheduled competition caution waved at Lap 124 for another break, allowing teams to focus on tire management and setup tweaks crucial for the short track. Reaves remained unchallenged at the front, with the top five now Reaves, McKee, Queen, Robusto, and Tyler Reif (No. 23 Sigma Performance Services Chevrolet).
Late-Race Drama and Finish (Laps 125–200)
The final restart came with 70 laps remaining, and Reaves once again asserted control. Max Reaves did a much better restart to avoid future penalties. However, as the laps wound down, Queen mounted his strongest challenge. With 51 laps to go, Queen executed a clean pass on Reaves to briefly take the lead for one lap—the race’s only official lead change after the final restart. Reaves, determined to close out the season with a win, responded aggressively. In Turn 1 during the closing laps, Reaves made contact with Queen, bumping him out of the groove and reclaiming the top spot. This move allowed Reaves to pull away to a 2.255-second victory margin. During the final lap, Max Reaves passed Jackson McLerran (No. 95 JSJ Construction/ARYLCO LLC Toyota) and managed to stay up front, marking his third national series win of 2025 and sixth overall in ARCA competition.
Queen held on for second, officially securing the driver’s championship with an unofficial 106-point margin over Scott, along with the owner’s title for Pinnacle Racing Group by 16 points over Joe Gibbs Racing. McKee finished third in a strong showing for Pinnacle’s second entry, followed by Robusto in fourth (clinching Bounty Rookie of the Year as the second female to do so) and Reif in fifth. Taylor Reimer (No. 25 BuzzBallz Toyota) impressed with sixth in her first paved short-track start, while Mullins (seventh), DaCosta (eighth), Kitzmiller (ninth, after recovering from his early flat), and Becca Monopoli (tenth) rounded out the top 10—all three female drivers (Robusto, Reimer, Monopoli) finishing inside it. Through this stage, Reaves had led virtually every lap, amassing 199 of the total 200 by race’s end, highlighting his dominance.
Other notable retirements included Mike Basham (mechanical, 176 laps), Jeff Maconi (mechanical, 171 laps), Matt Kemp (early exit, 8 laps), Sorah (early exit, 2 laps), and Shane Backes (did not start). The race ran without major wrecks beyond Scott’s spin, emphasizing clean, hard short-track racing.
There was a key moment of the 2025 ARCA Menards Series awards that Isabella Robusto was named Rookie of the Year for having a lot of Top 10 finishes. It was also Team Toyota for the incredible Season of terrific talents of race car drivers.
Post-Race Reactions
Reaves reflected on the contact: “I’ve got to apologize to Queen for getting into him like that. I didn’t mean to do that. I misjudged it.” Reaves also acknowledged the team’s preparation and his growth as a driver, emphasizing the role of crew chief Mark McFarland and mentor Bobby Labonte in his success. Max Reaves expressed in his post-race Victory Lane interview that he planned to celebrate his win at Toledo Speedway by heading to Cook Out (his primary sponsor, a fast-food chain known for burgers, shakes, and more) when he goes back home. Specifically, he mentioned getting a “big double tray burger with everything on it, chicken nuggets, okra (likely fried okra), and a milkshake either M&Ms or Reese’s peanut butter flavor.”
Queen, frustrated but triumphant, said: “I passed Reaves clean, and he drives like a young kid that doesn’t know how to pass. We won the war… This is the first time Pinnacle has won both a driver’s and owner’s title on the national deal. What a dream season.” This event capped Queen’s remarkable year with eight wins, four poles, 17 top-fives, and 17 top-10s.
The Butterbean Party
After finishing second in the Owens Corning 200 at Toledo Speedway on October 4, 2025, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen clinched the ARCA Menards Series driver’s championship, marking a historic rookie season with eight wins and both the driver’s and owner’s titles for Pinnacle Racing Group. The post-race celebration was a mix of on-track excitement, emotional moments with his team, and plans for a low-key but joyful gathering. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights based on reports, videos, and photos from the event:
On-Track Burnout and Victory Lane
Queen celebrated his title by performing a massive burnout on the frontstretch in front of a packed crowd at Toledo Speedway. Smoke billowed from the tires of his No. 28 Best Repair Company Chevrolet as he spun doughnuts, with a yellow flag waving from the window. This high-energy display was a crowd-pleaser, symbolizing the culmination of his dominant season. Following the burnout, Queen climbed onto the roof of his car, pumping his fist and waving an American flag while soaking in the cheers from fans and crew.
Trophy Presentation and Team Photos
In victory lane, ARCA president Ron Drager presented Queen with the championship trophy during a formal ceremony. Queen hoisted the Menards-sponsored hardware alongside his team, expressing gratitude to ARCA, Menards, FOX Sports, and his supporters. He emphasized the significance of winning both titles for Pinnacle Racing Group in their first full national season. The team posed for photos on a stage behind the car, with a “We Build Champions” banner in the background. Queen was seen kissing the trophy in one emotional shot, surrounded by crew members, family, and sponsors raising their arms in triumph.
Interviews and Emotional Reflections
Queen gave several post-race interviews where he reflected on the season’s highs and the contact with race winner Max Reaves. In one, he quipped about Reaves’ aggressive move but focused on the bigger picture: “We won the war… What a dream season.” He credited his crew chief Steve Dawson, team owners, and sponsors like Best Repair Company and Chevrolet, while noting his journey from working as a longshoreman to full-time racing. Queen fought back tears discussing how the title exceeded his expectations from just a few years ago.
Planned Off-Track Festivities
Queen mentioned in interviews that the celebration would continue with “pounding some waffles and ice cold drinks” – a nod to his laid-back style and perhaps a reference to Waffle House, a staple for many racers. He planned to enjoy the plane ride home with his team, emphasizing the importance of seeing them celebrate after their hard work all season. No major public parties were reported immediately after, but Queen’s social media post highlighted the team’s pride: “2025 @ARCA_Racing Champions!! One heck of a season with this 28 @RacePRG team!”
Top 10 Finishers: 2025 Owens Corning 200 at Toledo Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series season finale. Below are the top 10 drivers from the race results, including their positions, car numbers, teams/sponsors, laps completed, and time differences or lap deficits to the leader.
| Position | Driver | Car No. | Team/Sponsor | Laps | Diff/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Reaves* | 18 | Cook Out Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing) | 200 | — |
| 2 | Brenden Queen (Butterbean)* | 28 | BRC Chevrolet (Pinnacle Racing Group) | 200 | 2.255 sec |
| 3 | Tristan McKee | 82 | Gainbridge/Chevrolet Performance Chevrolet (Pinnacle Racing Group) | 200 | 6.268 sec |
| 4 | Isabella Robusto* | 55 | Mobil 1 Toyota (Venturini Motorsports) | 200 | 7.791 sec |
| 5 | Tyler Reif | 23 | Vegas Fastener/Sigma Performance Services Chevrolet (Sigma Performance Services) | 200 | 17.416 sec |
| 6 | Taylor Reimer | 25 | BuzzBallz Toyota (Venturini Motorsports) | 199 | 1 Lap |
| 7 | Willie Mullins | 3 | CW Metals/Bugsy’s Fleet Repair Ford | 198 | 2 Laps |
| 8 | Julian DaCosta | 20 | Venturini Motorsports Toyota | 196 | 4 Laps |
| 9 | Jason Kitzmiller | 97 | A.L.L. Construction/Carter Cat Chevrolet | 195 | 5 Laps |
| 10 | Becca Monopoli | 85 | Orlando Health Ford | 195 | 5 Laps |
Here’s the full highlights of the race
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