| Race details[1][2][3][4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 20 of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series | |||
 | |||
| Date | February 16–17, 2024 | ||
| Official name | 61st Annual Hard Rock Bet 200 | ||
| Location | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida | ||
| Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.5 mi (4 km) | ||
| Distance | 84 laps, 210 mi (338 km) | ||
| Scheduled Distance | 80 laps, 200 mi (321 km) | ||
| Average speed | 98.987 mph (159.304 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Mullins Racing | ||
| Time | 48.982 | ||
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Jake Finch | Venturini Motorsports | |
| Laps | 65 | ||
| Winner | |||
| No. 55 | Gus Dean | Venturini Motorsports | |
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | FS2 | ||
| Announcers | Jamie Little, Phil Parsons, and Austin Cindric | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | MRN | ||
The 2024 Hard Rock Bet 200 was the first stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 61st running of the event. The race was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, but due to the forecasted inclement weather for Saturday, the race was moved up to Friday, February 16, immediately following the NASCAR Truck Series race on the same day.[5] The race was held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, a 2.5 mile (4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped asphalt superspeedway. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 80 laps, but was extended to 84 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wild and wreck-filled race, Gus Dean, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would hold off the field in a one lap restart, and won the race after a vicious crash occurred on the final lap. This was Dean's third career ARCA Menards Series win, and his first of the season.[6] Dean's teammate, Jake Finch, had dominated the entire race, leading a race-high 65 laps before being involved in the last lap incident. To fill out the podium, Thomas Annunziata, driving for Jeff McClure Racing, and Greg Van Alst, driving for his own team, Van Alst Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
- ^ "Entry list: Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway". ARCA. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ "Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway". ARCA. December 11, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ White, Brandon (February 16, 2024). "Qualifying results: Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway". ARCA. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Race results: Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway". ARCA. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Christie, Toby (February 16, 2024). "ARCA Moves Daytona Race to Friday Night Due to Impending Weather". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Branscum, Benjamine (February 17, 2024). "'This Is Everything' Gus Dean Takes Home A Wild ARCA Season Opener At Daytona". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.