MARTINSVILLE, Va. - On-track action? Check.
Playoff drama? Also check.
The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 had plenty of twists and turns at Martinsville Speedway Saturday afternoon, as Todd Gilliland took the checkered flag for Kyle Busch Motorsports the first time in his Truck Series career.
Ross Chastain, who had been below the playoff cutline entering the weekend, finished second. Johnny Sauter was third, Grant Enfinger fourth, with Timmy Hill filling the top five.
Stewart Friesen was sixth, the only other playoff contender inside the top 20 for the afternoon. Jeb Burton rebounded from an early incident to finish seventh, as did John Hunter Nemecheck, who finished eighth. Cody Rohrbaugh was ninth and Sheldon Creed 10th.
All in all, the race produced cautions, including a red flag for cleanup after a multi-truck incident in turn 2 during the second stage.
The race held big playoff implications for four of the six remaining title contenders. After winning stage 1 and finishing seventh in the second, Brett Moffitt suffered damage in a lap 123 incident that proved terminal. Engine troubles cost Matt Crafton eight laps after his truck stalled on the Frontstretch under caution. Austin Hill and Tyler Ankrum were among the trucks collected in the turn 2 dustup. Ankrum was able to complete a few laps after repairs, but was forced to retire after he failed to meet minimum speed.
Sixteen-year-old rookie Sam Mayer won stage 2 in just his second series start, beating Grant Enfinger to the green-and-white checkers.
For Gilliland, whose 2020 plans are not yet set, the win gives him a little momentum heading to the offseason.
“It means way more than it used to. Winning used to be a weekly deal. It just really makes me appreciate it more and more every single week that goes by that you don’t win. You know how hard you’re trying as well as everyone else,” Gilliland said after the race. “My whole team puts their blood, sweat and tears into this thing just as much as I do. That’s what frustrates you. You don’t really know what that next step is to get better. Once you put a whole race together, you kind of realize what goes on and attrition a little bit. Just pure speed is the other part of it. We were able to have a little bit of both…Winning always helps. Winning helps everything. I think it just helps my self confidence a lot. Being younger, I know I think I can do it at a high level, but just week after week, like I said it becomes more of a daunting task every time you go to the race track. I think even just for the drivers I’m racing with, everyone in the garage, this is a big weekend for us all and hopefully it can open some new doors.”
Gilliland sniped at team owner Kyle Busch on the radio after taking the checkered flag, “You guys are the best! Kyle Busch, you can stay in your (expletive) motor home!”
Busch has been publicly critical of the 19-year-old’s lack of wins in his second year in the Truck Series for KBM. Gilliland expanded on the comment in his post-race press conference.
“It was just kind of heat of the moment really. Just a lot of emotions,” Gilliland said. “Everyone has heard what he (Kyle Busch) said and obviously it’s true, we should’ve been running better. I’ve wanted to win for the last year and a half as well. I’m doing all I can and the guys at the shop are. It was pretty much just heat of the moment. Probably wish I didn’t say it now, but it is what it is. He said some stuff about me and it is what it is.”
When the dust cleared, Moffitt came away with a 10-point lead over Friesen. With one race to go before the championship race, Chastain and Hill sit third and fourth. Crafton is fifth, nine below the cutoff. Ankrum trails the playoff field in sixth, 15 points below the cut line.
Next week, the series is off as the Cup and Xfinity Series head to Texas, but returns at Phoenix for the race that will set the championship field on Friday, November 8.
NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Martinsville Speedway – Martinsville, VA
NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 – October 26, 2019
1. (11) Todd Gilliland, Toyota, 201.
2. (12) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 201.
3. (6) Johnny Sauter, Ford, 201.
4. (9) Grant Enfinger, Ford, 201.
5. (22) Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, 201.
6. (7) Stewart Friesen (P), Chevrolet, 201.
7. (10) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Chevrolet, 201.
8. (19) Danny Bohn, Toyota, 201.
9. (24) Jeb Burton(i), Chevrolet, 201.
10. (18) Codie Rohrbaugh, Chevrolet, 201.
11. (14) Sheldon Creed #, Chevrolet, 201.
12. (25) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 201.
13. (27) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 201.
14. (16) Gus Dean #, Chevrolet, 201.
15. (23) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 201.
16. (8) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 201.
17. (1) Christian Eckes, Toyota, 201.
18. (3) Harrison Burton #, Toyota, 201.
19. (20) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 201.
20. (15) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 201.
21. (28) Ray Ciccarelli, Chevrolet, 199.
22. (26) Natalie Decker, Toyota, 199.
23. (4) Matt Crafton (P), Ford, 193.
24. (30) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Accident, 163.
25. (5) Tyler Ankrum # (P), Toyota, Accident, 133.
26. (17) Austin Hill (P), Toyota, Accident, 127.
27. (31) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, Axle, 127.
28. (21) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, Accident, 122.
29. (2) Brett Moffitt (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 122.
30. (13) Tyler Dippel, Chevrolet, Accident, 121.
31. (29) Josh Reaume, Toyota, Brakes, 37.
32. (32) Cody McMahan, Chevrolet, Engine, 0.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 57.651 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 50 Mins, 2 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.879 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 12 for 80 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 7 drivers.
Lap Leaders: C. Eckes 1;B. Moffitt (P) 2-81;G. Enfinger 82-88;S. Mayer 89-121;R. Chastain (P) 122-157;C. Eckes 158;R. Chastain (P) 159-190;T. Gilliland 191-201;J. Sauter 202.
Leaders Summary: (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led) Brett Moffitt (P) 1 time for 80 laps; Ross Chastain (P) 2 times for 68 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 33 laps; Todd Gilliland 1 time for 11 laps; Grant Enfinger 1 time for 7 laps; Christian Eckes 2 times for 2 laps; Johnny Sauter 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 24,51,99,88,13,18,17,52,98,45
Stage #2 Top Ten: 21,98,16,45,51,02,24,13,30,52
Top 6 in Points: 1. Brett Moffitt – 3107 (4 Wins); 2. Stewart Friesen – 3097 (1 Win); 3. Ross Chastain – 3082 (3 Wins); 4. Austin Hill – 3071 (3 Wins); 5. Matt Crafton – 3062; 6. Tyler Ankrum – 3056 (1 Win).
*Advances to the Championship 4
