The Camping World Truck Series continues its eight week string of straight races with the Toyota 200 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
A double header weekend with the Cup Series, the Truck Series will race on Saturday afternoon after qualifying on Friday evening.
This weekend kicks off the Triple Truck Challenge where the winner of the race will take home an additional $50,000.
Watermelon man Ross Chastain does more than smash watermelons and win races, he also helps out his fellow drivers. Carson Hocevar arrived at Gateway minus his helmet; so Chastain has lent Hocevar his watermelon decorated helmet for the race.
This is the first time in four years that the Truck Series has made qualifying runs at WWTR.
Jake Garcia is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 33.446 seconds. Garcia is hoping the time will be good enough for his to make his debut appearance in the Truck Series.
Thirty-nine teams have rough trucks to the track for 36 starting spots.
Derek Kraus also did not make a qualifying run after some inspection issues.
With a time of 32.554 seconds, Corey Heim puts the Kyle Busch Motorsports number 51 truck on the pole for his first career pole. Points leader Zane Smith will start alongside on the front row.
Matt Mills, Blake Lothian, and Justin Carroll failed to qualify for the race.
The starting lineup for the Toyota 200:
Corey Heim
Zane Smith
Stewart Friesen
Chandlker Smith
Christian Eckes
John Hunter Nemechek
Colby Howard
Ty Majeski
Taylor Gray
Grant Enfinger
Matt Crafton
Carson Hocevar
Chase Purdy
Tanner Gray
Ben Rhodes
Matt DiBenedetto
Kris Wright
Johnny Sauter
Rajah Caruth
Tyler Ankrum
Jake Garcia
Jesse Little
Blaine Perkins
Lawless Alan
Dean Thompson
Hailie Deegan
Tyler Hill
Austin Wayne Self
Timmy Hill
Jordan Anderson
Brennan Poole
Jack Wood
Mason Maggio
Spencer Boyd
Tate Fogleman
Derek Kraus
Mason Maggio, Hailie Deegan, and Spencer Boyd will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments to the trucks.
Kurt Busch joins Vince Welch and Michael Waltrip in the FOX broadcast booth for the race.
Paralympian Oksana Masters gave a rousing command to start the engines and get the drivers moving.
Stages one and two are just 35 laps each with stage three lasting 90 laps for a total of 160 laps around the circuit’s only mile and a quarter track.
Corey Heim brings the filed down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane. Heim gets out in front for the lead as the drivers get three wide across the track.
Corey Heim leads the first lap.
Lap two, Corey Heim leads the race with Chandler Smith in second; John Hunter Nemechek is in third.
Lap four, Corey Heim leads the race with Chandler Smith and John Hunter Nemechek making it a Kyle Busch Motorsports sweep for the top three.
Lap seven, Ty Majeski gets loose but saves the truck and the track stays green.
Lap eight, Corey Heim leads the race but team mate Chandler Smith is challenging for the lead with KBM team mate John Hunter Nemechek in third.
Lap 15, Corey Heim continues to lead the race with Chandler Smith in second.
Lap 18, Chandler Smith finally gets around Corey Heim for the lead.
Lap 18, the top five are Chandler Smith, Corey Heim, John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, and Christian Eckes.
WWTR has proved to be a very challenging track for the Kyle Busch Motorsports drivers, but today they sweep the top three spots.
Lap 20, after starting the race in last place, Derek Kraus has entered the top 20.
Lap 21, Chandler Smith has a half second lead on Corey Heim; John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
Lap 26, of the three drivers who started the race from the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments, only Hailie Deegan has advanced in the field; she has moved up 10 spots to 25th, since the race start.
Lap 27, Chandler Smith has pulled out to a lead of a second and a half on Corey Heim; John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.
There are 33 trucks on the lead lap.
Lap 31, Chandler Smith now has a lead of two and a half seconds on Corey Heim; John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, and Stewart Friesen round out the top five. The top five drivers are separated by over five seconds.
With a lead of two and a half seconds, Chandler Smith wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chandler Smith
Corey Heim
John Hunter Nemechek
Zane Smith
Stewart Friesen
Ty Majeski
Grant Enfinger
Christian Eckes
Matt Crafton
Colby Howard
Drivers come down the very narrow pit road for service with Grant Enfinger winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Mason Maggio was charged with pitting outside of his pit box and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Grant Enfinger brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane on lap 44. After going side by side, Chandler Smith takes the lead from the outside lane.
Lap 45, Chandler Smith has a lead of nearly half a second on Grant Enfinger; Corey Heim, John Hunter Nemechek, Christian Eckes, and Stewart Friesen round out the top five.
The first caution flag for an on track incident comes out on lap 47 when Taylor Gray spins out after some contact from Ty Majeski. Rajah Caruth also spun out. After spinning out, Taylor Gray cannot get the truck restarted and has to be towed back to pit road.
Carson Hocevar has some damage to his truck.
Hailie Deegan got blocked in during her pit stop at the end of stage one and restarted the race from the back of the field. She has moved up to 21sth place.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 53 from the outside lane with Grant Enfinger on the inside. Chandler Smith jumps out in front for the lead. Corey Heim and Grant Enfinger battle for second.
Lap 54, Chandler Smith has a half second lead on Grant Enfinger.
The caution flag comes out on lap 54 when John Hunter Nemechek tried to make it a three wide battle with Corey Heim and Stewart Friesen. Nemechek spins out and hits the wall causing a big bottleneck. Ty Majeski, Jesse Little, and Colby Howard were all involved.
Lap 59, Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane and goes side by side with Grant Enfinger for the lead.
Lap 61, Grant Enfinger gets loose in the battle with Chandler Smith and collect Chandler Smith; bringing out the caution flag.
John Hunter Nemechek has taken his truck to the garage and is out of the race. He noted that he put himself in a vulnerable spot…and should have known better; adding that the wreck was on him.
Ty Majeski’s crew used a good bit of the “200 mile an hour tape” to repair the truck and left the roll of tape on the truck bed.
Several drivers came down pit road for service during the caution flag.
Ben Rhodes is the new lead and brings the field down for the green flag restart with Matt Crafton alongside with just two laps remaining in stage two. Rhodes jumps out in front for the lead with Matt Crafton in second and Derek Kraus in third.
Ben Rhodes wins stage two for his seventh stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ben Rhodes
Matt Crafton
Derek Kraus
Chase Purdy
Austin Wayne Self
Carson Hocevar
Hailei Deegan
Stewart Friesen
Corey Heim
Zane Smith
Hailie Deegan and Stewart Friesen made some on track contact during the caution flag.
Drivers come down pit road for service but the drivers who pitted during the caution stayed out on the track.
Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three from the outside lane with Hailie Deegan on the inside on lap 77.
Carson Hocevar leads the race with Zane Smith in second; Corey Heim, Rajah Caruth, and Hailie Deegan round out the top five.
Lap 80, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith battle for the lead with Corey Heim in third; Christian Eckes and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.
Zane Smith finally gets around Carson ocevar for the lead.
Lap 81, Zane Smith has a lead of over half a second on Carson Hocevar; Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Raja Caruth round out the top five. Chandler Smith has moved up to the top 10 in eighth after his crash.
Lap 84, Zane Smith now has a lead of a second and a half on Christian Eckes; Carson Hocevar, Corey Heim, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.
Lap 90, Zane Smith has pulled out to a two second lead on Christian Eckes; Carson Hocevar, Corey Heim, and Johnny Sauter round out the top five.
Making his series debut in the Truck Series, Rajah Caruth has run 10 ARCA Series races and has finished in the top 10 in eight of them.
Lap 92, Zane Smith has a lead of over two and a half second on second place driver Christian Eckes.
Kris Wright brings out the sixth caution flag of the race on lap 93. The drivers cannot complete the race on a single load of fuel and are now in their pit window to make it to the end of the race on fuel but may choose to wait to save their tires. Many of the teams have only one set of sticker tires remaining in the pits.
Most of the field comes down pit road for service with Carson Hocevar taking fuel only.
Rajah Cartuh was caught speeding on pit road.
After staying out on the track, Stewart Friesen brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 98 and gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 100, Stewart Friesen leads the race with Ben Rhodes in second; Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, and Zane Smith round out the top five.
Zane Smith is slowed on the track with a possible tire issue. He missed the entrance to pit road and will have to go around for another lap.
Lap 103, Stewart Friesen has a narrow lead on Ben Rhodes; Christian Eckes, Derek Kraus, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Kris Wright is out of the race.
Lap 107, Carson Hocevar spins out and brings out the caution flag. Matt Crafton barely misses slamming into Hocevar’s door.
There are 29 trucks on the lead lap.
After going two laps down with a flat tire, Zane Smith is the “lucky dog”.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service including leader Stewart Friesen who has no more sticker tires. Carson Hocevar also makes a pit stop.
Chandler Smith’s crew has trouble getting fuel into the truck.
Ben Rhodes brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 112 and gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 114, Ben Rhodes leads the race with Derek Kraus in second; Christian Eckes, Johnny Sauter, and Corey Heim round out the top five.
Having retired from full time racing, Johnny Sauter returns to run a few races each year. Going “old school” he doesn’t bother with the simulator; he just shows up and drives.
Chandler Smith’s crew isn’t sure whether or not they have enough fuel to make it to the end of the race.
Lap 118, Ben Rhodes has a narrow lead on Derek Kraus; Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Johnny Sauter round out the top five.
Lap 120, after starting the race in last place, Derek Kraus is just a half second behind leader Ben Rhodes.
The caution flag comes out on lap 124 when Colby Howard gets loose and backs into the wall. Zane Smith is the ”lucky dog” again and is now back on the lead lap.
Ben Rhodes brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with just 32 laps remaining in the race with Derek Kraus alongside. Rhodes jumps out in front for the lead.
Lap 130, Ben Rhodes has a half second lead on Christian Eckes; Derek Kraus, Corey Heim, and Matt DiBenedetto round out the top five.
Drivers get three wide across the track in a battle for position.
The caution flag comes out on lap 131 for debris on the track.
Grant Enfinger is the “lucky dog”.
Ben Rhodes brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 135 with Derek Kraus alongside. Ben Rhodes gets out in front for the lead with Derek Kraus in second.
Drivers spread out three wide across the tack back in the field.
Lap 138, Ben Rhodes leads the race with Derek Kraus in second; Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Matt DiBenedetto round out the top five.
Just 20 to go, Ben Rhodes has just a tenth of a second lead on Derek Kraus.
Lap 141, Derek Kraus comes form the outside to pass Ben Rhodes for the lead; Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Matt DiBenedetto round out the top five.
With 17 laps to go, Derek Kraus has pulled out to a half second lead after having to start the race in last place when his team had some inspection issues.
Just 14 laps to go, Derek Kraus has a one second lead on Ben Rhodes.
Tanner Gray brings his truck down pit road after some on track contact.
Christian Eckes takes second from Ben Rhodes.
Ten to go, Derek Kraus has a lead of over half a second on Christian Eckes; Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.
Ben Rhodes drops to fourth place with some major handling issues.
Eight laps remain in the race, Derek Kraus’ lead on Christian Eckes is down to under half a second; Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.
Seven to go, Christian Eckes has caught leader Derek Kraus and is battling for the lead.
Six to go, Christian Eckes passes Derek Kraus for the lead.
Five to go, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a half second lead on Derek Kraus; Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, and Johnny Sauter round out the top five.
Three to go, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Derek Kraus.
The 10th caution flag comes out with just three laps remaining in the race when Tanner Gray wrecks.
The race goes into overtime!
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout from the outside lane with Corey Heim on the inside. Derek Kraus restarts behind Eckes with KBM team mate Chandler Smith behind Heim.
Corey Heim jumps out in front for the lead with Chandler Smith right behind. The restart is under review.
Corey Heim takes the white flag. Crash in turn two and brings out the caution.
After NASCAR deemed the race start was good, 19 year old Corey Heim wins his second race of the season in only nine race starts.
Tyler Hill, Carson Hocevar, and Austin Wayne Self wreck in turn two right after Corey Heim takes the white flag. While he climbed out of the truck, Carson Hocevar is taken to the ambulance on a stretcher.
Corey Heim is a part time driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports and does not rank in the point standings.
For the third race in a row, Christian Eckes finishes second.
Making his first Truck Series start, 19 year old Rajah Caruth finishes in tenth place.
The unofficial results for the Toyota 200:
Corey Heim
Christian Eckes
Chandler Smith
Stewart Friesen
Johnny Sauter
Matt DiBenedetto
Derek Kraus
Ben Rhodes
Zane Smith
Rajah Caruth
Chase Purdy
Dean Thompson
Matt Crafton
Jordan Anderson
Tyler Ankrum
Hailie Deegan
Timmy Hill
Lawless Alan
Jack Wood
Jesse Little
Blaine Perkins
Tate Fogleman
Colby Howard
Carson Hocevar
Tyler Hill
Austin Wayne Self
Mason Maggio
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Tanner Gray
Spencer Boyd
Ty Majeski
Kris Wright
Brennan Poole
John Hunter Nemechek
Taylor Gray
Teens Rule Truck Race at WWTR
