At Toledo Speedway on Saturday, the ARCA Menards Series concluded its 2025 season with Brenden Queen earning the driver championship crown. Queen’s outstanding performance throughout the campaign established him as one of the ARCA Menards 2025 standouts, marked by a series of impressive victories and consistent finishes.
Queen’s Season Overview and Performance Metrics
Driving the No. 28 Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group, Queen captured eight wins in a 20-race schedule. His triumphs included major tracks such as Daytona, Kansas, Michigan, Dover, DuQuoin, Salem, and the penultimate event at Kansas Speedway. Leading a total of 843 laps, he secured 17 top-five and top-10 finishes without experiencing a single DNF (Did Not Finish), underlining his remarkable consistency and driving skill.
Prospects for Queen’s 2026 Racing Career
While Queen’s plans for the 2026 season remain unconfirmed, industry speculation points toward a move to Kaulig Racing in either the Craftsman Truck Series or the O’Reilly Auto Parts Xfinity Series. To date, he has already competed in three starts across these two NASCAR national series, leaving fans and analysts eager to see how he will progress next season.
Other Notable Performers and Rising Talents in 2025
Brent Crews secured the second spot in wins with an impressive four victories, despite racing in less than half the season with only nine starts. Crews achieved five top-five and seven top-10 finishes while leading 542 laps, ending the year 11th in driver standings. His strong performances during limited appearances highlight his potential for future seasons.
Lavar Scott finished second in the championship race, trailing Queen by 106 points. Piloting the No. 6 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet, Scott amassed 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, although back-to-back DNFs in the final races at Kansas and Toledo hampered his bid for the title.
The top 10 standings also featured drivers including Jason Kitzmiller, Isabella Robusto, Lawless Alan, Alex Clubb, Michael Maples, Brayton Laster, Brad Smith, and Tony Cosentino, showcasing a highly competitive and deep field throughout the year.
Emerging Stars and Female Achievements
Max Reaves, only 15 years old, stands out as a youngster with a bright future. He secured three national ARCA wins in 2025, alongside another three victories in the ARCA East division. Across seven national events, Reaves led 613 laps, finished four times in the top five, and six times in the top 10, culminating in 15th place in the driver points.
Other race winners this season included Lawless Alan, Austin Green, Treyten Lapcevich, Thomas Annunziata, and Tristan McKee, reflecting the depth of talent that extended across the series.
Isabella Robusto earned recognition as the second female to win Bounty Rookie of the Year in the ARCA Menards Series history after competing in the Owens Corning 200. Robusto concluded the season with nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, a noteworthy achievement for the rising driver pronounced Rob-oost-o.
Looking Ahead: Changes and Expectations for the 2026 Season
The ARCA Menards Series will return in 2026 with a 20-race schedule across 19 distinct tracks, including the traditional opener at Daytona’s 2.5-mile superspeedway in Florida, broadcast live on FOX. The calendar features notable additions such as the return of Chicagoland Speedway and Pocono Raceway. A strategic reshuffling moves Toledo Speedway from the season finale to May, while Kansas Speedway will host the final race on September 25, airing live on FS1.
This adjustment in dates aims to steer clear of scheduling conflicts with college football and MLB playoffs during October, ensuring maximum viewership for all 20 races, which will continue to be broadcast across the FOX family of networks. These changes set the stage for another competitive and engaging season.
