It’s an All Star weekend for the Monster Energy Cup Series, but before the cars take to the track to shine, the Camping World Truck Series will get the weekend started off with the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
Todd Gillialnd turned 18 in the past week and can now race in all remaining CWTS events. Drivers must be 18 in order to race at tracks over one mile in length.
Mother Nature proved to be a major hindrance during the day with off and on rain showers. NASCAR would get the track dry and the rains would come again.
After several attempts to get the track dried, NASCAR officially canceled qualifying and the field was set by truck owner points with Points leader Johnny Sauter sitting on the pole.
The starting lineup for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200:
Johnny Sauter
Noah Gragson
Todd Gilliland
Kle Busch
Grant Enfinger
Brett Moffitt
Ben Rhodes
Matt Crafton
John Hunter Nemechek
Stewart Friesen
Justin Haley
Dalton Sargeant
Matt Snider
Chris Eggleston
Cody Coughlin
Daniel Hemric
Austin Hill
Justin Fontaine
Austin Wayne Self – moved to the back of the field in a backup truck
Wendell Chavous
Jordan Anderson
Bayley Currey
Robby Lyons
Jesse Little
Norm Benning
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Parker Kligerman
Brandon Jones
Josh Reaume
Timmy Hill
Mike Harmon
J.J. Yeley
The weather has finally cleared up and the trucks are ready to race with Johnny Sauter bringing the field to the green flag.
Stages one and two are only 30 laps each with stage three lasting 74 laps for a total of 134 laps around the mile and a half track.
Johnny Sauter takes the green flag with Noah Gragson beside him but it is Johnny Sauter who leads the first race.
Lap two, Noah Gragson passes Johnny Sauter for the lead.
Lap three Johnny Sauter and Noah Gragson swap the lead back and forth. Todd Gilliland gets sideways but saves the truck, keeping the track green.
Lap four Johnny Sauter is out in front wit Noah Gragson in second.
Lap six the top five are Johnny Sauter, Noah Gragson, Kyle Busch, Brett Moffitt, and Ben Rhodes.
J.J. Yeley is off the track with mechanical issues.
Lap 14 Noah Gragson has retaken the lead of the race.
Lap 15 the top five are Noah Gragson, Johnny Sauter, Kyle Busch, Brett Moffitt, and Ben Rhodes.
Lap 20 Noah Gragson is in the lead with Johnny Sauter one second behind.
The first caution flag comes out for a flat tire on Grant Enfinger’s truck
Noah Gragson was caught speeding on pit road and Myatt Snider was charged with pitting outside his pit box.
After staying out, Johnny Sauter leads the race and brings the field down for the green flag restart with just four laps remaining in stage one.
Brett Moffitt passes Johnny Sauter for the lead of the race.
With the rest of the field on fresh tires, Johnny Sauter is falling through the field.
Brett Moffitt wins stage one for his first career stage win.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Brett Moffitt
Justin Haley
Johnny Sauter
Dalton Sargeant
John Hunter Nemechek
Kyle Busch
Parker Kligerman
Todd Gilliland
Matt Crafton
Jesse Little
Brett Moffitt brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 38 and holds on to the lead as drivers swap positions behind him.
Lap 40 the top five are Brett Moffitt, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Haley, Todd Gillialnd, and Kyle Busch.
Lap 42, John Hunter Nemechek challenges Brett Moffitt for the lead and on lap 43 John Hunter takes over the lead.
Lap 48 John Hunter Nemechek is in the lead with Brett Moffitt in second, Kyle Busch, Todd Gilliland, and Justin Haley round out the top five.
Lap 50 Brett Moffitt and John Hunter Nemechek continue to swap the lead with Nemechek out front; Kyle Busch is in third, with Todd Gilliland in fourth, and Justin Haley in fifth.
Lap 54 John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Kyle Busch right behind; Brett Moffitt, Todd Gilliland and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.
Lap 57, the top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Brett Moffit, Todd Gilliland, and Johnny Sauter.
John Hunter Nemechek wins stage two for his first stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
John Hunter Nemechek
Kyle Busch
Brett Moffitt
Todd Gilliland
Johnny Sauter
Ben Rhodes
Matt Crafton
Justin Haley
Brandon Jones
Noah Gragson
Brett Moffitt wins the race off of pit road.
Kyle Busch had crew members come over the pit wall too soon.
Brett Moffitt brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 68 with Brett Moffitt holding on to the lead with trucks getting three and four wide behind him.
Lap 71 the top five are Brett Moffitt, Johnny Sauter, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, and Stewart Friesen.
With 63 laps remaining in the race, Johnny Sauter passes Brett Moffitt to take the lead.
Lap 74 Johnny Sauter is in the lead with Brett Moffitt right behind in second; Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, and Matt Crafton round out the top five.
With 56 laps to go, Johnny Sauter holds on to the lead with Brett Moffitt in second and Noah Gragson in third.
The caution flag comes out with 54 laps remaining in the race for a one truck wreck with Justin Fontaine.
John Hunter Nemechek wins the race off of pit road.
Kyle Busch was again caught with crew members coming over the wall too soon.
After staying out, Brett Moffitt brings the field down for the green flag restart with 49 laps to go and holds on to the lead with Parker Kligerman in second. Trucks are getting four wide across the track.
On fresh tires, Johnny Sauter passes Brett Moffitt for the lead of the race with 48 laps to go.
The caution flag comes out with 47 laps to go when Josh Reaume spins out.
Johnny Sauter brings the field down for the green flag restart on 92 with Sauter holding on to the lead.
Lap 93 the top five are Johnny Sauter, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Stewart Friesen, and Brandon Jones.
Lap 96 Johnny Sauter leads the race with Noah Gragson in second; Justin Haley, Kyle Busch, and Stewart Friesen round out the top five.
Lap 100, Johnny Sauter holds on to the lead over Noah Gragson with Justin Haley in third, Kyle Busch in third, and Stewart Frieen in fifth.
Lap 104 Johnny Sauter has a half second lead on Noah Gragson with Kyle Busch in third, Justin Haley in fourth, and Stewart Friesen in fifth.
Lap 108 Johnny Sauter holds on to the lead with Noah Gragson in second and Kyle Busch in third coming on strong.
Lap 112, NASCAR puts out the caution flag for debris out on the track.
Some of the drivers bring their trucks down pit road for service.
Taking the outside lane, Johnny Sauter brings the field down for the green flag restart with only 17 laps remaining in the race. Sauter holds on to the lead with Justin Haley in second and Kyle Busch in third.
Matt Crafton’s truck is smoking and NASCAR brings out the caution flag.
Johnny Sauter brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 10 laps remaining in the race. Johnny Sauter jumps out in front to hold on to the lead with Justin Haley and Brandon Jones battling it out for second place.
Eight to go, Johnny Sauter holds on to the lead with Justin Haley in second, Brandon Jones in third, Brett Moffitt in fourth, and Kyle Busch in fifth.
Six to go Johnny Sauter has a lead of over a second as the drivers continue to battle behind him. Justin wrecked (but didn’t hit anything) but saved it and the track stayed green.
Only four laps to go, Johnny Sauter holds on to his lead of nearly a second and a half over Brandon Jones with Kyle Busch moving into third place.
Johnny Sauter takes the white flag.
Johnny Sauter gets his first win at Charlotte Motor Speedway and his third win of the season. Sounding like a teenager, the 40 year old was very excited on the radio after the win; calling it the biggest win of his life.
And for the second week in a row, Kyle Busch comes in second place as he remains tied with Ron Hornaday for the most wins in the CWTS with 50.
The unofficial results of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200:
Johnny Sauter
Kyle Busch
Brandon Jones
Brett Moffitt
Ben Rhodes
Stewart Friesen
Parker Kligerman
Noah Gragson
Todd Gilliland
John Hunter Nemechek
Matt Crafton
Grant Enfinger
Chris Eggleston
Justin Haley
Myatt Snider
Jesse Little
Cody Coughlin
Austn Hill
Dalton Sargeant
Jordan Anderson
Daniel Hemric
Wendell Chavous
Robb Lyons
Josh Reaume
Bayley Currey
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Austin Wayne Self
Timmy Hill
Mark Harmon
Justin Fontaine
Norm Benning
J.J. Yeley