Mullins Earns First ARCA Pole Award

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Willie Mullins will lead the 40-car ARCA Menards Series field to the green flag on Friday evening (10:30 p.m. ET) for the ARCA 200 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Leading a group consisting of heavy hitters such as Jake Finch and three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, Mullins put down a blistering lap of 183.74 mph to earn his first career General Tire Pole Award.

The Fredericksburg, Va., native has been a part-time staple on the ARCA platform since making his debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park back in 2008. Mullins has primarily attempted the two superspeedway events with the goal of usurping high-budget operations like Venturini Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, among others.

Speed was essential for Mullins and his small operation going up against a 50-car entry list, the largest field for an ARCA race at Daytona since 2016. Mullins stood his ground amidst intense pressure, all while other notable competitors endured their own struggles in qualifying.

Three-time Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen, who was in the same group as Mullins, did not get a proper launch on pit road and lost the draft. He ended up tallying the 35th best time overall, one short of getting locked into the main event.

Van Gisbergen did not have enough owner points to fall back on to qualify his way into the Daytona ARCA 200.

Two-time IndyCar Series winner Marco Andretti also failed to back up his quick time from practice the day before. Despite being in a group with Patrick Emerling and Gus Dean, Andretti could only muster a starting position of 26th for Friday’s 80-lap race.

Joining Mullins on the front row is Tim Richmond in his family-owned No. 27 Toyota, with Finch, Toni Breidinger and Ryan Huff making up the rest of the Top 5. All of those drivers were in the same group together.

Defending ARCA Daytona 200 winner Greg Van Alt will look to defend his upset victory from the 22nd starting position.

Qualifying Results