The Craftsman Trucke Series kicks off round two of the playoffs with some Thursday Night Thunder at Bristol Motor Speedway and the UNOH 200.

Last week after the race at Kansas Speedway Truck Series drivers Matt Crafton and Matt DiBenedetto were eliminated from the playoffs; leaving eight drivers to battle it out over the next four races for the championship – Christian Eckes, Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, and Zane Smith.

Thirty-eight teams brought trucks to Bristol for 36 starting spots.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Danny Bohn who posted a time of 16.078 seconds.

After running the fastest lap so far, Kaden Honeycutt spins out and gets the truck into the wall.

With a time of 15.101 seconds Christian Eckes will sit on the pole for tonight’s race with Carson Hocevar starting alongside on the front row.  Eckes edged out Hocevar by just three thousandths of a second.

Nick Sanchez did not make a qualifying run due to a control arm issue.  He will start the race from the back of the field.

The starting lineup for the UNOH 200:
Christian Eckes
Carson Hocevar
Chase Purdy
Ty Majeski
Rajah Caruth
Tanner Gray
Jack Wood
Taylor Gray
William Sawalich
Zane Smith
Corey Heim
Matt DiBenedetto
Grant Enfinger
Dean Thompson
Jake Drew
Daniel Dye
Kaden Honeycutt
Ben Rhodes
Hailie Deegan
Conner Jones
Matt Crafton
Lawless Alan
Colby Howard
Stewart Friesen
Tyler Ankrum
Timmy Hill
Carson Kvapil
Parker Kligerman
Bret Holmes
Jake Garcia
Spencer Boyd
Greg van Last
Memphis Villarreal
Stephen Mallozzi
Nick Sanchez
Bayley Currey

Justin Carroll and Danny Bohn failed to qualify for the race

Stages one and two are 55 laps each with stage three lasting 90 laps for a total of 200 laps around the half mile track.  The drivers can run 120 to 130 laps on a single load of fuel.

Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane and jumps out in front for the lead.  Carson Hocevar takes second with Ty Majeski in third.

Lap three, the top five are Christian Eckes, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski, Chase Purdy, and Tanner Gray.

A control arm is put Nick Sanchez back in the field but he is working his way through the field.  Sanchez is in 32nd place.

A half mile track, the drivers are running laps at 15 seconds; it will not be long before the leaders are lapping slower trucks.

Lap 13, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Ty Majeski; Carson Hocevar, Chase Purdy, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.

The first caution flag of the race comes out for a crash involving Jack Wood and Dean Thompson.  Wood hits the outside wall and comes down the track; Dean Thompson had nowhere to go and hit Wood.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service including Nick Sanchez who had worked his way up to 24th when the caution came out.

The crews have three sets of tires in the pits for the race.

Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green falg restart on lap 26 and holds on to the lead with Carson Hocevar in second.

Lap 27, the top five are Christian Eckes, Carson Hocevar, Ty Majeski, Chase Purdy, and Rajah Caruth.

Lap 31, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Carson Hocevar; Ty Majeski, Chase Purdy, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.

Nick Sanchez is up to 27th place with 22 laps remaining in stage one.

There are 32 truck on the lead lap.

Lap 38, Christian Eckes has a near second and a half lead on Carson Hocevar; Ty Majeski, Chase Purdy, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five. 

Zane Smith passes Rajah Caruth for fifth.

Lap 45, Carson Hocevar has closed the gap on leader Christian Eckes to under a second.

Six laps remain in stage one; Christian Eckes has a lead of under half a second on Carson Hocevar; Ty Majeski, Chase Purdy, and Zane Smith round out the top five.

There are 28 trucks on the lead lap.

Christian Eckes wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Christian Eckes
Carson Hocevar
Ty Majeski
Chase Purdy
Zane Smith
Rajah Caruth
Taylor Gray
Corey Heim
Tanner Gray
Ben Rhodes

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service including the leaders with Zane Smith staying out on the track.  Christian Eckes wins the race off of pit road with Carson Hocevar losing three spots.

Drivers are reporting that traffic is terrible and they can’t pass anyone.

After staying out on the track, Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 67 with Carson Kvapil alongside on the inside.  Smith jumps out in front for the lead with Nick Sanchez in second; Christian Eckes, Carson Kvapil, and Ty Majeski round out the top five.

Lap 72, Zane Smith has a third of a second lead on Nick Sanchez; Christian Eckes, Carson Kvapil, and Ty Majeski round out the top five.  The eight playoff drivers are in the top 12.

Greg van Last brings out the caution flag when he spins out in a single truck incident.

Grant Enfinger’s crew chief tells his driver that they do not plan to make any more pit stops.

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 81 with Nick Sanchez alongside.  Smith gets out in front with Christian Eckes on his bumper.

The top five are Zane Smith, Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, and Crson Kvapil.

Dean Thompson and Jack Wood have both been checked and released form the infield care center.

Carson Hocevar has re-entered the top 10 with all eight playoff drivers in the top eleven spots.

There are 31 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 90, Zane Smith has a lead of less than a quarter of a second lead on Christian Eckes; Nick Sanchez, Majeski, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

Lap 105, Zane Smith and Christian Eckes battle for the lead with Eckes retaking the lead; Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

Corey Heim passes Ty Majeski for fourth.  Majeski has a flat tire but is trying to make it to the end of the stage before coming down pit road.

Christian Eckes wins stage two to sweep the stages.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Christian Eckes
Zane Smith
Nick Sanchez
Corey Heim
Grant Enfinger
Taylor Gray
Carson Hocevar
Carson Kvapil
Rajah Caruth
Ben Rhodes

Christian Eckes passed Ty Majeski on the final lap of stage two to put him a lap down but Majeski is the “lucky dog” and is back on the lead lap.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service but leader Christian Eckes stayed out on the track.

Zane smith was charged with making a pit stop outside of his pit box and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Ty Majeski had to make multiple stops on pit road in order to get all of their work done.

Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with 80 laps remaining in the race.  Eckes jumps out in front of Corey Heim to hold on to the lead.  Drivers get three wide across the track.

Lap 122, the top five are Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray.

Nick Sanchez taps the wall but the track stays green.

Ty Majeski and Zane Smith are the only playoff drivers not in the top 10.

Lap 129, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Corey Heim; Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.

Thee are 30 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 146, Christian Eckes has increased his lead to over a second and a half on Corey Heim; Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray round out the top five. 

Lap 155, Christian Eckes passes Taylor Gray to put him a lap down; the next two trucks are Zane Smith and Ty Majeski.

Greg van Last is off the track.

Mired in slower traffic,, Coey Heim has closed the gap on leader Christian Eckes to just a quarter of a second.  Zane Smith goes one lap down.

Lap 160, the top five are Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray.

Christian Eckes has dominated this race but is less than a quarter of a second in front of Corey Heim; Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray round out the top five.

Grag van Last is out of the race.

Just 24 laps remain in the race; there are just 23 trucks on the lead lap with three drivers out of the race.

Twenty to go, Christian Eckes has a half second lead on Corey Heim; Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray rounding out the top five.

Fifteen to go, Christian Eckes continues to dominate the race with Corey Heim just a quarter of a second back; Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar, and Taylor Gray round out the top five with just 20 trucks on the lead lap.

Ten to go, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over halve a second on Corey Heim.

Just six laps remain in the race,  Corey Heim passes Christian Eckes for the lead among lapped traffic.

Corey Heim takes the white flag.

Regular season champion Corey Heim wins the race at Bristol to become the first driver in the championship four.  This is Heim’s third race win of the season.

The unofficial results of the UNOH 200:
Corey Heim
Christian Eckes
Grant Enfinger
Carson Hocevar
Taylor Gray
Rajah Caruth
Ben Rhodes
Chase Purdy
Nick Sanchez
Matt DiBenedetto
Jake Garcia
Carson Kvapil
Bayley Currey
Stewart Friesen
Coner Jones
Matt Crafton
Hailie Deegan
Parker Kligerman
Ty Majeski
Jake Drew
Daniel Dye
Colby Howard
Tyler Ankrum
Zane Smioth
Kaden Honeycutt
Timmy Hill
Bret Holmes
Lawless Alan
Tanner Gray
William Sawalich
Spencer Boyd
Stephen Mallozzi
Memphis Villarreal
Greg van Alst
Dean Thompson
Jack Wood