Gio Ruggiero gets third ARCA Menards Series victory in rain-shortened race at Michigan International Speedway in the Henry Ford Health 200.
BROOKLYN, Mich -Joe Gibbs Racicng brought Pinnacle Racing Group’s hot streak at Michigan International Speedway to an end on Friday afternoon with Gio Ruggiero piloting their No. 18 Toyota to victory in the Henry Ford Health 200.
Gio Ruggiero: Third Victory
A great push from Gavan Boschele on what proved to be the final restart of the day propelled Ruggiero ahead of ARCA Menards Series points leader Jake Bollman, just past the halfway point. Inclement weather brought the race to an end shortly thereafter, helping Ruggiero earn his third win in four ARCA Menards Series starts this year.
The triumph also denied PRG the chance to win its third consecutive Michigan ARCA Menards Series race.
Restarts proved to be important during the Henry Ford Health 200 when it came to gaining track position. While Ruggiero admitted his car could have been better, he capitalized on the influx of restarts, which rewarded him with another victory.
“It was cool that Gavan [Boschele] got to push me at the end of the race and help me get the lead,” Ruggiero said. “We executed on every restart, I felt like. Our car drove good, but I felt like we were still a little bit behind on speed. We still got it done. Definitely a good day for us.”
Currently in his second full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with Tricon Garage, Ruggiero has made the most of his opportunities to compete on the ARCA Menards Series platform with Joe Gibbs Racing.
After scoring two top fives with Gibbs in 2025, Ruggiero opened 2026 by delivering the JGR ARCA Menards Series program its first win at Daytona International Speedway. Ruggiero backed that performance with another trip to victory lane at Kansas Speedway.
Rain-Shortens the Race
Rain was rapidly approaching Michigan right as the Henry Ford Health 200 reached the halfway point. Ruggiero had been patient all day following Bollman, who took the lead on the penultimate restart. But a caution for a spin by Bobby Earnhardt created the opening Ruggiero was waiting for.
Ruggiero took the lead from Bollman on the restart and held it until a multi-car crash slowed the field moments before Mother Nature arrived to bring a premature end to the 100-lap event.
Ruggiero would have preferred to end the Henry Ford Health 200 under green, especially with rain having impacted his last two race weekends. Yet Ruggiero seamlessly adapted to the changing conditions with guidance from crew chief Matt Ross, remaining stalwart through the intense late-race restarts.
“I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing every week,” Ruggiero said. “You’ve just got to capitalize, execute and get the track position when you can. Obviously I knew the rain was coming, but I didn’t know it was going to be this bad. It’s awesome to get the win.
“Hopefully tomorrow I can go get the Truck race win and park it in Victory Lane.”
The Henry Ford Health 200 Results
Following Ruggiero in the runner-up position was Bollman, who further bolstered his advantage in the ARCA Menards Series standings. Boschele came home in third after pushing Ruggiero to the lead, with the PRG teammates in Mosack and Buice completing the top five.
Rounding out the top ten finishers were Thomas Annunziata, Isabella Robusto, Will Kimmel, Wesley Slimp, and George Siciliano.
Cleetus McFarland, who earned the pole for the Henry Ford Health 200, was collected in the final accident of the afternoon, but finished 14th as the last car on the lead lap.
The ARCA Menards Series Point Standings
Jake Bollman leads Thomas Annunziata in second place by 25 points. In third place is Ryan Vargas (-28). Andy Jankowiak and Isabella Robusto round out the top five.
Next Up
The ARCA Menards Series returns to Pocono Raceway for its first event at the historic venue since 2023. The Pocono ARCA 150 starts at 3 pm ET on Friday, June 12th, on FS1.
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