Zane Smith Drives Away to Win at Kansas

Zane Smith was ready to run away from the field in the race he dominated. Smith led 108 out of 134 laps in the Heart of America 200, but a late-race restart increased the intensity for the finish. Regardless, he drove away from the pack after choosing the inside lane to record his third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory of the season. 

“It was really just an unbelievable truck,” said Smith. “So dang cool. That was one of my easier ones I’ve ever had to win, but that late-race restart scared me a little bit.”

It’s the Front Row Racing driver’s sixth career win and first win at Kansas. He was cutting through lapped traffic with a comfortable margin when Dean Thompson’s crash bunched the field back up. 

Ty Majeski ended up second, a career-best for the driver a week after his previous-best of fourth at Darlington. He said his truck was “just a little bit too free to be able to attack the way I needed to to get by the 38” of Zane Smith. He added that “He was class of the field all night. I really struggled on restarts, but once we got going, I could pick up the spots. Really good truck.”

Grant Enfinger finished third, while Chandler Smith recovered after being put a lap down in the first stage after running out of fuel. He praised his team for the result: “It’s unbelievable the work ethic they have and it’s showing. We pulled through adversity tonight. That’s what championship caliber teams do and that’s what we did tonight. I’m really looking forward going forward.”

Christian Eckes, who rounded out the top five, said: “We just weren’t where we needed to be but in the same aspect really proud of the team for executing well today and putting ourselves in position today to have a decent run.”

Polesitter John Hunter Nemechek lined up at the front for the restart, but wound up sixth. “I spun tires. Didn’t get a good push from behind. It’s on me,” he said. “I spun the tires. That’s pretty much it.”

Photos: NASCAR at Kansas Speedway Saturday May 14, 2022

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – 22nd Annual Heart of America 200
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, Kansas
Saturday, May 14, 2022

1. (4) Zane Smith, Ford, 134.
2. (3) Ty Majeski, Toyota, 134.
3. (21) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 134.
4. (6) Chandler Smith, Toyota, 134.
5. (17) Christian Eckes, Toyota, 134.
6. (1) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 134.
7. (12) Matt Dibenedetto, Chevrolet, 134.
8. (8) Derek Kraus, Chevrolet, 134.
9. (10) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 134.
10. (15) Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 134.
11. (11) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 134.
12. (7) Riley Herbst(i), Ford, 134.
13. (14) Chase Purdy, Toyota, 134.
14. (5) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 134.
15. (16) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 134.
16. (20) Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 134.
17. (18) Hailie Deegan, Ford, 134.
18. (9) Tanner Gray, Ford, 134.
19. (25) Lawless Alan #, Chevrolet, 134.
20. (35) Tate Fogleman, Toyota, 133.
21. (33) Tyler Hill, Toyota, 133.
22. (19) Dean Thompson #, Chevrolet, 133.
23. (23) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 133.
24. (22) Jesse Little, Chevrolet, 132.
25. (24) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 132.
26. (13) Jack Wood #, Chevrolet, 131.
27. (26) Timmy Hill, Toyota, 130.
28. (31) Ryan Huff, Toyota, 130.
29. (32) Trey Hutchens, Chevrolet, 130.
30. (29) Josh Reaume, Toyota, 129.
31. (30) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 127.
32. (27) Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, 126.
33. (2) Corey Heim #, Toyota, 124.
34. (28) Matt Mills(i), Chevrolet, Axle, 91.
35. (34) Jesse Iwuji(i), Chevrolet, Too Slow, 24.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 127.709 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 34 Mins, 26 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.653 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 4 for 19 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Hunter Nemechek 1-3;Z. Smith 4-21;C. Heim # 22-32;T. Majeski 33;C. Heim # 34-37;Z. Smith 38-63;B. Rhodes 64-67;Z. Smith 68-92;C. Heim # 93-95;Z. Smith 96-134.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Zane Smith 4 times for 108 laps; Corey Heim # 3 times for 18 laps; Ben Rhodes 1 time for 4 laps; John Hunter Nemechek 1 time for 3 laps; Ty Majeski 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 51,66,38,18,4,19,99,88,15,42
Stage #2 Top Ten: 38,51,4,66,99,42,15,19,91,52

Owen Johnson