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Wreck-Fest at Daytona: Butterbean Queen Survives Mayhem to Win ARCA Opener, Castroneves Endures Wild Ride

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
February 16, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Wreck-Fest at Daytona: Butterbean Queen Survives Mayhem to Win ARCA Opener, Castroneves Endures Wild Ride

NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Coke Zero Sugar 400, Jul 7, 2019 Daytona Beach, FL, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon 3 driver Clint Bowyer 14 driver Denny Hamlin 11 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 17 driver Chase Elliott 9 and driver Ryan Blaney 12 wreck out of turn one during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports, 07.07.2019 14:58:35, 13014014, Clint Bowyer, Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway, Chase Elliott, NASCAR, Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxDavidxMercerx 13014014

The 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway was pure carnage from start to finish, pushing the limits of chaos, controversy, and survival. The Ride The Dente 200 delivered a spectacle that will be remembered for massive wrecks, shocking twists, and an improbable first-time winner in Brenden “Butterbean” Queen.

Meanwhile, IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves endured a war of attrition before his highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series debut, dodging multiple race-ending crashes and fighting to an impressive fifth-place finish, only to be wrecked after the checkered flag in a bizarre ending.

The Wreck-Filled Gauntlet Begins

Right from the green flag, Daytona’s unpredictable nature took hold. Venturini Motorsports’ Lawless Alan led the field to the start, but before fans could settle in, Alex Clubb was already heading to the garage on Lap 1.

Shortly after, Tim Viens followed suit, marking the beginning of a brutal survival race that would claim over half the field before the checkered flag.

By Lap 5, Daytona struck with its first major wreck, collecting former IndyCar driver Katherine Legge, NASCAR YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland, and rising star Corey Day.

Amidst the chaos, Helio Castroneves miraculously escaped the carnage, setting the stage for his night-long battle to simply stay in the race.

Field Decimated by Halfway Mark

As the laps ticked down, the attrition rate skyrocketed. By Lap 23, a shocking statistic emerged—half the field was either out of the race or severely damaged.

Yet the crashes kept coming. Lap 41 saw another major caution, involving Scott Melton and Castroneves, but once again, the Brazilian superstar found a way to keep his car in the fight.

As chaos reigned, Butterbean Queen and JGR prospect William Sawalich emerged as the two strongest contenders, setting up a dramatic final sprint.

Final Laps: Castroneves’ Heartbreak, Queen’s Glory

With seven laps to go, Daytona turned into a complete wreck-fest. By this point, an astonishing 22 cars were either wrecked or behind the wall, leaving a tiny group of survivors to fight for the win.

As the white flag waved, Castroneves was running second, poised for a Cinderella story ARCA win. But in a stunning final-lap sequence, he was passed in the closing moments, then bizarrely wrecked AFTER the checkered flag when AJ Moyer ran into him in a surreal post-race incident.

Despite the contact, Castroneves still managed to secure a top-five finish, an impressive feat given the sheer number of wrecks he dodged throughout the race.

Butterbean Queen’s Career-Defining Victory

At the front, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen held off Sawalich to capture his first-ever ARCA victory, a moment he celebrated in true racer fashion:

“We’re going to the Waffle House tonight!”

Queen’s unforgettable win capped off one of the wildest, most wreck-filled ARCA races in Daytona history.

Top 10 Finishers: Who Survived the Chaos?

  1. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
  2. William Sawalich
  3. Jason Kitzmiller
  4. Lavar Scott
  5. Helio Castroneves
  6. Ryan Roulette
  7. Andy Jankowiak
  8. Cody Dennison
  9. Toni Breidinger
  10. Scott Melton

Post-Race Controversy: Moyer-Castroneves Wreck & ARCA Hauler Summons

Even after the checkered flag, controversy followed. The No. 20 team was called to the ARCA hauler for failing to obey official orders, and the post-race wreck between Moyer and Castroneves raised serious questions.

Was it a misjudgment or intentional contact? Either way, it added another layer to an already insane race.

Final Takeaway: A Daytona ARCA Race for the Ages

From relentless wrecks to last-lap heartbreak, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series opener will be remembered as one of the wildest races in series history.

Butterbean Queen claimed glory, Castroneves proved his resilience, and Daytona once again reminded everyone why it remains NASCAR’s most unpredictable battleground.

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