Daytona International Speedway is no stranger to wild and unpredictable races, but the 2025 ARCA Menards Series opener took chaos to an entirely new level. The Ride The Dente 200 delivered everything from massive wrecks to post-race controversy, ultimately ending with Brenden “Butterbean” Queen surviving the mayhem to secure his first-ever ARCA victory. Meanwhile, IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves endured a war of attrition before his Cup Series debut, dodging several multi-car crashes before ultimately finishing fifth after heartbreak on the final lap.

Timeline of events: A wreck wreaked marathon

The race began with Venturini Motorsports’ Lawless Alan leading the field to the green flag. However, it didn’t take long for the first incident to unfold, as Alex Clubb went to the garage on Lap 1. Soon after, Tim Viens followed suit, marking the first of many casualties in an event that would see over half the field either crash out or suffer severe damage.

By Lap 5, the first of many major wrecks erupted. A massive crash collected multiple contenders, including former IndyCar driver Katherine Legge, NASCAR YouTuber-turned-driver Cleetus McFarland, and young prospect Corey Day. However, Helio Castroneves miraculously escaped the carnage, setting the tone for his ‘night of survival’.

The race continued under caution before another restart on Lap 25, but it was brief. On Lap 23, a shocking statistic emerged: ‘half the field had already been eliminated or heavily damaged’. That number only grew as the race progressed.

Lap 41 saw yet another caution at Daytona, this time involving Scott Melton and Castroneves. However, the Brazilian superstar again managed to keep his car in contention. Meanwhile, Butterbean Queen and JGR’s prodigy William Sawalich positioned themselves as prime contenders as the laps wound down.

With just seven laps to go, the wreck-fest escalated at Daytona. An astonishing 22 cars were listed as out of the race or behind the wall. The final stretch became a survival test, with Butterbean Queen, Sawalich, and Castroneves among the few remaining competitive drivers.

Helio’s heartbreak (or glory) and Butterbean’s triumph

As the white flag waved, Castroneves found himself in prime position, running second with a chance at an improbable ARCA victory. However, in a shocking sequence, he was passed in the final moments and then, weirdly enough, wrecked after the checkered flag when AJ Moyer ran over him. Despite the chaos, Castroneves managed to finish fifth—a remarkable feat considering the sheer number of wrecks he dodged throughout the race.

At the front, Butterbean Queen seized the opportunity, holding off Sawalich to take the checkered flag. It was a massive moment for the young driver, who celebrated the biggest victory of his career with a now-iconic declaration: “We’re going to the Waffle House tonight!”

Final results: The survivors of an accidental last man standing derby

Despite the mayhem, ten drivers managed to finish in the top ten, led by Queen and Sawalich. Jason Kitzmiller, Lavar Scott, and Helio Castroneves rounded out the top five. The full top ten was as follows:

1. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
2. William Sawalich
3. Jason Kitzmiller
4. Lavar Scott
5. Helio Castroneves
6. Kole Raz
7. AJ Moyer
8. Andy Jankowiak
9. Ryan Roulette
10. Bryce Haugeberg

While Queen celebrated his victory, controversy brewed post-race. The No. 20 team was called to the hauler for failing to obey official orders, and the post-checkered flag incident involving Moyer and Castroneves raised eyebrows.

This ARCA Day Race will go down as one of the most chaotic ARCA races in recent memory. From early-race carnage to last-lap heartbreak, it was a relentless test of survival that left fans on the edge of their seats. While Butterbean Queen emerged victorious, drivers like Castroneves proved their mettle in an unforgettable showdown at Daytona.

So, what did you think of the race, was it fun? Let us know in the comments.