Starting first and finishing first can be a straightforward day. Not so for Christian Eckes, who spent his race recovering from an early speeding penalty after winning the first stage.
But on the final overtime restart, Eckes started out front and this time stayed there to win Saturday’s Fr8 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He had the lead in hand when the race ended under caution.
“It’s been a tough offseason,” Eckes said after getting out of the truck. “I’m driving harder than I ever have—I have a lot to prove. The people know who they are.”
It’s his first season with small-team McAnally-Hilgemann Racing after leaving ThorSport. The victory marks his first with the team and only his second in the truck series.
“I’m really happy. Thanks to (crew chief) Charles (Denike), everybody on this team. They work so damn hard. This is what makes it all worth it. I’m pumped. It’s going to be a really good year.”
Nick Sanchez finished runner-up, unable to pass Eckes on the final restart. John Hunter Nemechek, Bayley Currey, and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top five.
Rhodes was strong in the middle of the race, with him and his ThorSport teammates finishing Stage 2 in the top three spots, but he said the complexion of the race changed as it went on.
“The racing changed a lot at the end of the race,” he said. “The track got rubbered up. It got a little locked down on the bottom. You had the ability to push a lot harder and side force and aero became less of a thing. Mechanical grip started to reign supreme at the end and with that came a lot more aggressive racing, so I’m disappointed with the finish.”
Matt DiBenedetto, Chase Purdy, Timmy Hill, Matt Crafton and Jack Wood completed the top 10.
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns for the XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, March 25th.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – Fr8 208
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, Georgia
Saturday, March 18, 2023
1. (4) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 137.
2. (20) Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 137.
3. (24) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 137.
4. (30) Bayley Currey(i), Chevrolet, 137.
5. (3) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 137.
6. (10) Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 137.
7. (9) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 137.
8. (18) Timmy Hill, Toyota, 137.
9. (8) Matt Crafton, Ford, 137.
10. (17) Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 137.
11. (2) Ty Majeski, Ford, 137.
12. (32) Hailie Deegan, Ford, 137.
13. (33) Bret Holmes #, Chevrolet, 137.
14. (35) Ryan Vargas, Toyota, 137.
15. (25) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 137.
16. (19) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 137.
17. (34) Akinori Ogata, Toyota, 137.
18. (12) Jake Garcia #, Chevrolet, 137.
19. (7) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 137.
20. (1) Zane Smith, Ford, 137.
21. (27) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 137.
22. (14) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 137.
23. (28) Josh Reaume, Ford, 137.
24. (11) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 137.
25. (22) Rajah Caruth #, Chevrolet, 137.
26. (13) Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 136.
27. (15) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, Track Bar, 134.
28. (23) Layne Riggs, Toyota, 134.
29. (26) Mason Massey, Ford, 134.
30. (16) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 131.
31. (5) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, Accident, 127.
32. (21) Lawless Alan, Chevrolet, Accident, 126.
33. (29) Kaden Honeycutt, Ford, 123.
34. (6) Corey Heim, Toyota, Accident, 83.
35. (31) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, Accident, 52.
36. (36) Keith McGee(i), Ford, Transmission, 7.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 92.344 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 17 Mins, 5 Secs. Margin of Victory: Caution Seconds.
Caution Flags: 11 for 58 laps.
Lead Changes: 17 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Z. Smith 0;C. Eckes 1-32;M. Crafton 33-44;K. Honeycutt 45;M. Crafton 46-62;K. Wright 63;J. Nemechek(i) 64-79;T. Hill 80-81;J. Nemechek(i) 82-103;J. Wood 104;J. Nemechek(i) 105-112;J. Wood 113;J. Nemechek(i) 114-120;B. Rhodes 121-122;N. Sanchez # 123-128;B. Rhodes 129;N. Sanchez # 130-134;C. Eckes 135-137.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): John Hunter Nemechek(i) 4 times for 53 laps; Christian Eckes 2 times for 35 laps; Matt Crafton 2 times for 29 laps; Nick Sanchez # 2 times for 11 laps; Ben Rhodes 2 times for 3 laps; Jack Wood 2 times for 2 laps; Timmy Hill 1 time for 2 laps; Kris Wright 1 time for 1 lap; Kaden Honeycutt 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 19,38,23,88,25,98,52,99,4,35
Stage #2 Top Ten: 88,98,17,99,11,38,16,23,52,2
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