The first chase race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took place today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. William Byron started on the pole, with Timothy Peters alongside in second.
Byron and Peters led the field to green, Byron was able to get out in front, with the high line advantage. Byron led lap 1, but a caution flew early for the no.10 of Caleb Roark, who spun off of turn 4 and hit the water barrels on the entrance of pit road.
The restart came on lap 10, Byron once again got out front as teammate Christopher Bell followed in hot pursuit. As soon as that happened, another caution came out for a crash on the backstretch. The 63 of Akinori Ogata got loose off of turn 2, and got into the 49 of Josh Wise causing damage to both trucks.
Byron and Bell took the restart on lap 15, Byron with a strong truck was able to drive away. Timothy Peters also took second position away from Bell. As it looked like the race started to get in a green flag run, a caution came out on lap 24 for chaser Daniel Hemric. Hemric cut a left rear tire down, and spun out in turn 1, which brought out the 5th caution of the day. Chaser Ben Kennedy pits under caution for tires and fuel. Hemric reported he was loosing breaks.
The green flag came back out on lap 29. Byron as he's shown early, got out with the lead down the backstretch. Troubles continued for Hemric as he brought his truck behind the wall. The intensity settled down just a little bit until lap 51, as John Hunter Nemechek spun out in turn 3 and brought out the caution. Leaders came down pit road, Christopher Bell took two tires, and won the race off pit road. The rest of the field played different strategy, as Byron lost a few positions by taking four tires.
Cody Coughlin stayed out and took the restart on lap 56. Although, it didn't take long for Byron to regain the lead once more. Just a couple of laps later, Cole Custer goes around in turns 1 and 2, to bring out another yellow. Replays show that Custer got loose underneath a truck, which caused Custer to spin out.
Bell and Coughlin led the field to green on lap 62. Bell goes to the top, with Byron running him down. Byron took the lead again on lap 69. The race went green for 33 laps until the caution clock expired on lap 102. This caution brought the leaders down pit road once again. Byron took four tires, and won the race off pit road.
Restart with 67 to go, Byron checked out on the field, and continued his domination. 7 laps later, Stewart Friesen spun in turn 4, to bring out the caution once more.
Byron took the green flag with 57 to go. The race went green for 10 laps, until Austin Wayne Self spun in turn 1 and hit the wall, which brought out the 8th caution of the race.
Byron and Bell led the field to green with 40 to go. Byron had no troubles getting out front by passing his teammate for the lead. With the a long green flag run, Daniel Hemric finally came down pit road, and put his truck behind the wall. With 3 laps to go, Christopher Bell started to close in on race leader William Byron, as Byron was running into lap traffic. Byron was able to fend off a late charge by Bell to win the first truck chase race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
This was Byron's 6th win of the year, and is now locked into the next round of The Chase.
Byron led 2 times for 161 laps.
There were 8 cautions for 41 laps, along with 3 leaders for 3 lead changes.
Chasers Results
2nd) Christopher Bell
3rd) Matt Crafton
5th) Timothy Peters
9th) John Hunter Nemechek
10th) Johnny Sauter
11th) Ben Kennedy
28th) Daniel Hemric
The Chase continues next Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the DC Solar 350.
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