The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took center stage at Pocono Raceway today. Qualifying was cancelled due to overnight rains, therefore the field was set by the rule book. Which meant William Byron sat on the pole with John Hunter Nemechek alongside him. The race was also moved up earlier due to rain threatening the area. Christopher Bell had problems with his truck, as there was low voltage, therefore having to bring his no.4 Toyota down pit road before the start,
Shortly after, William Byron lead 32 trucks to the green flag. It didn't take long for the field to go five wide behind the race leader. The action heated up early as Austin Hill in the 02 makes contact off of turn 1, although the race continued to stay green. Just three laps later, Tyler Reddick of the no.29 spins off of turn 1 to bring out the first caution. Reddick avoided making contact with the wall. Matt Crafton came down pit road with the hood up on his truck to check for problems.
Restart lap 9. Byron and Timothy Peters battle side-by-side, but Peters was able to take the lead down in the tunnel turn. Byron battled back and takes the lead away one lap later in the same spot. As soon as that happens, Cole Custer spins off the tunnel turn to bring out the second caution on lap 11. The leaders came down pit road, while Byron Cameron Hayley, Ben Rhodes, and Daniel Hemric stay out for track position.
Bryon and Hayley took the restart on lap 15, as Byron cleared Hayley down into turn 1 when the rest of the trucks went wild on the restart. But the caution came out on the same lap, as John Wes Townley gets loose and makes contact with Christopher Bell off the tunnel turn. This brought out the third caution of the race.
Green flag lap 18, Byron gets the advantage once more. 5 laps later, a caution comes out for Carlos Contreras who stalled just before turn 1. The race leader Byron and others play strategy as he lead the field down to pit road. Nemechek won the race off pit road, with Byron following behind him.
Restart lap 27, Peters and Gallagher were on the front row and battled side-by-side, but Brad Keselowski Racing teammates Tyler Reddick, and Daniel Hemric collided with each other in turn 1. This brought out the fifth caution of the race. Replays show that Hemric got loose underneath Brandon Brown and spun out.
Byron and Gallagher took the green flag right at the halfway point. Gallagher was able to get a great start, and started to check out from the lead pack. But Austin Wayne Self spins in turn 1 and brings out another caution.
Restart lap 35, Gallagher and Rico Abreu lead the field into turn 1. Gallagher cleared Abreu down the backstretch. Just when the race looked like it was going into a long green flag run, Jordan Anderson and Ben Rhodes spin with each other in turn 1, to bring out the 7th caution of the race on lap 38. Gallagher brings his no.23 Chevy on pit road, and so does the no.8 Toyota of John Hunter Nemechek.
Green flag lap 41, Byron gets a push from Crafton, and that helped Byron pull away from the field. The race settled down just little bit, but Cameron Hayley takes away the second position from Matt Crafton with 18 to go. 4 laps later, a caution comes for Brandon Brown who scrapes the wall in turn 1. Reports were Brown had a flat tire go down.
Byron and Hayley took the green flag with 10 laps to go. Byron clears the field with help from Timothy Peters. Although, Spencer Gallagher spins in turn 3 to bring out the 9th caution of the race. Replays show the no.41 of Ben Rhodes made slight contact with Gallagher.
Byron takes the green flag with 4 to go, and with no competition behind him, Byron held onto win his fifth career truck series win this season at Pocono.
This was Kyle Busch Motorsports 7th win of the season. Kyle Busch (1, Martinsville), Christopher Bell (1, Gateway), and William Byron 5 (Kansas, Fort Worth, Iowa, Kentucky, and Pocono)
There were 9 cautions for 27 laps, with 25 trucks finishing the race.
William Byron led 3 times for 44 laps.
The Camping World Truck Series have two weekends off before returning to Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17.
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