The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series came to Talladega Superspeedway for their round of 8 elimination race. Where two drivers would be eliminated from The Chase. Those two drivers battling to stay alive were Daniel Hemric and John Hunter Nemechek.
Cole Custer and Grant Enfinger lead the field to green. Enfinger was able to take the lead down the backstretch, and led lap 1, with Timothy Peters following behind in second. The race got off to a calm start, but Crafton went to the back early to stay out of trouble. The first caution came out on lap 13, for chaser John Hunter Nemechek who blew an engine, and ended any hopes to advance to the next round in the chase. Leaders hit pit road for their first stops, which mainly saw them taking fuel only. Brad Keselwski Racing teammates, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric stayed out for strategy, along with Matt Crafton. Timothy Peters and Cole Custer won the race off pit road. Crafton's strategy didn't work out as planned, therefore, he came down to make his stop.
Tyler Reddick and Austin Cindric took the restart on lap 19. Reddick got out in front on the backstretch to lead the outside and inside lane. But Cindric had troubles as he got shuffled in the back. Must win chaser Daniel Hemric, took the second spot, and followed closely behind. 10 laps later, the outside lane leader Timothy Peters started to close in on Reddick, On lap 32, Peters was side by side with Reddick only to take the lead one lap later. Cody Coughlin has issues with his truck as he was off the pace. He eventually, stalled on the backstretch to bring out the second caution on lap 35. Leaders came to pit road, this time Custer won the race off pit road by not taking tires. Matt Tifft was penalized for removing equipment,
Lap 39 restart, Custer and Peters lead the field into turn 1. Both of them battled side by side for a moment, but Peters took the lead away. On lap 42, Peters was leading both of the packs, but on the same lap a caution comes out for a wreck on the fronstretch. Replays show that, Ben Rhodes pushed Byron too hard, and got Townley spinning to cause the melee/ Custer, John Wes Townley, Tifft, Hemric were all involved with some damage. Bryon and Rico Abreu only had minor damage. Christopher Bell came to pit road to fix his shifter which was broken.
Green flag came back out just shortly after halfway. Peters and Byron led the pack of trucks into turn 1. Although, Ben Kennedy with help, took the lead away from Peters on lap 49. Then on lap 50, the fourth caution came out for another wreck on the frontstretch. This caution saw, Dylan Lupton get loose, and turn into the grass on the tri-oval, thus causing a chain reaction. As the 71 of Brandon Hightower, took a hard hit to the wall. Daniel Hemric was able to get his lap back with this caution. Drivers involved were the 07 of Cody Ware, 02 of Lupton, and the 71 of Hightower. Bell came back down pit road to continue to work on his shifter.
Kennedy and Gallagher led the field to green with 39 laps to go. Kennedy easily got in front to take the lead, but Enfinger came back to regain his lead. A lap later, Tifft took the top spot, but once again Enfinger chased him down for first. As things started to heat up, a big crash broke out with 35 to go in turn 1. The wreck was caused by Timothy Peters who bump drafted Ben Rhodes too hard, and Rhodes was sent spinning to the outside wall. Therefore, came back down in front of many trucks to cause the pile up. 14 trucks were involved in the wreck, they include, Cole Custer, Dylan Lupton, John Wes Townley, Cody Ware, Austin Cindric, Korbin Forrister, William Byron, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Rhodes, Chris Fontaine, and Brandon Brown.
After the big cleanup, the restart came with 27 to go. Enfinger was able to get the advantage down the backstretch. He continued to lead the field, until the sixth caution came out with 12 to go, for Hemric who spun out. Matt Crafton had cylinder issues with his truck.
Enfinger and Peters take the restart with 7 to go, just one lap later, Crafton blew an engine and brought out the caution.
With two to go for the restart, Enfinger had to hold off his GMS Racing teammates. Just before Enfinger won the race, Cameron Hayley was sent spinning to the inside wall before the overtime line.
This was Grant Enfinger's first career NASCAR win.
There were 7 cautions for 33 laps, with 15 lead changes for 9 leaders.
Enfinger led 5 times for 45 laps
Chasers results
(3rd) Timothy Peters
(5th) Ben Kennedy
(6th) Christopher Bell
(7th) Johnny Sauter
(10th) William Byron
(11th) Daniel Hemric
(22nd) Matt Crafton
(32nd) John Hunter Nemechek
Moving on to the Round of 6
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Timothy Peters
Ben Kennedy
Johnny Sauter
Matt Crafton
Eliminated From The Chase
John Hunter Nemechek
Daniel Hemric
Next race: Alpha Energy Solutions 200 at Martinsville Speedway
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