Less than four hours before they take to the high banks of the 2.66 mile track at Talladega, the Craftsman Truck Series drivers hit the track to qualify their trucks for the Love’s RV Stop 250.

A total of 40 teams have brought trucks to Talladega for 36 starting spots. 

While four drivers will find themselves out of the race, one driver that will not have to worry about the race is Corey Heim who has secured himself a spot in the championship four after winning the first race in the second round of the playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The biggest news in the Craftsman Truck Series this past week was the sale of Kyle Busch Motorsports to Spire Motorsports.  Spire gets the trucks, the manufacturing company, and the team shop in the deal.  Busch earned the first win for the team in 2010 and the 100th win in 2023.

The drivers will have two rounds to qualify for the race; after the first round the top 10 drivers will make a second run for the pole.

Tricon Garage has brought five trucks to Talladega; co-owner David Gilliland is looking to make it in the race behind the wheel of one of those trucks.

Brett Moffitt is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 54.835 seconds.

Clay Greenfield was unable to get his truck fired and will not make a qualifying run.

Jack Wood in the number 51 truck is the first driver to break the 54 second mark with a time of 53.993 seconds.

After the announcement that Matt DiBenedetto would not be in the number 25 truck, Chandler Smith gets behind the wheel for the Talladega race.  Reports are that sponsor issues are behind Matty D’s premature departure.  Earlier in the season, DiBenedetto had announced that he would not be returning to the 25 truck next season.

Grant Enfinger is the only playoff driver who has won a race at Talladega.

Five of the top 10 drivers are playoff drivers but it is Chase Purdy who tops the list after the first round of qualifying. 

Chase Purdy, Nick Sanchez, Carson Hocevar, Jack Wood, Jake Garcia, Ty Majeski, Coey Heim, Dean Thompson, Ben Rhodes, and Jake Drew will all move on to round two of qualifying.

Jennifer Jo Cob, Spencer Boyd, Keith McGee, and Clay Greenfield failed to make the race.

After round two of qualifying Chase Purdy put his number four KBM truck on the pole with a time of 53.368 seconds.  Nick Sanchez will start alongside on the front row for the eighth time this season.

The starting lineup for the Love’s RV Stop 250:
Chase Purdy
Nick Sanche
Jake Garcia
Dean Thompson
Ty Majeski
Jack Wood
Carson Hocevar
Ben Rhodes
Corey Heim
Jake Drew
David Gilliland
Matt Crafton
Parker Kligerman
Rajah Caruth
Bret Holmes
Christian Eckes
Colby Howard
Zane Smith
Tanner Gray
Stewart Friesen
Lawless Alan
Tyler Ankrum
Hailie Deegan
Taylor Gray
Grant Enfinger
Greg van Last
Bayley Currey
Chandler Smith
Daniel Dye
Bryan Dauzat
Brett Moffitt
Garrett Smithley
Ryan Vargas
Tyler Hill
Cory Roper
Jason M. White

Dean Thompson and Greg van Last will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments to the trucks.  Bryan Dauzat will also be starting the race from the back of the field after missing the driver’s introductions.

Stages one and two of the race are just 20 laps each with stage three lasting 54 laps for a total of 94 laps around t he 2.66 mile track.  The drivers can run 30 to 32 laps on a single load of fuel.

None of the past five drivers to win the race at Talladega are not in the race today including defending race winner Matt DiBenedetto.  No playoff driver has won the race at Talladega; in fact, four of the most recent past winners started the race outside the top 20.

Jake Garcia is on pit road with the hood up reporting some possible clutch issues.

Earning stage points is the big conversation for the day as the playoff drivers look to improve their standings and avoid the “cut line”.

Chase Purdy brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane with Nick Sanchez alongside.  Purdy edges out in front for the lead as the drivers get three wide across the track.

Lap two, Chase Purdy leads the race with Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, Carson Hocevar, and Corey Heim rounding out the top five.

Jake Garcia has taken his truck to the garage for further evaluation and repairs.

Jack Wood was charged with jumping the start and pulling out of line too soon and will have to serve a pass through penalty.

Lap four, Chase Purdy has a narrow lead on Rajah Caruth; Nick Sanche, Christian Eckes, and Zane Smith round out the top five.  The drivers have gotten into a double file format.

Lap five, Nick Sanchez passes Chase Purdy for the lead.

Lap six, the top five are Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, Carson Hocevar, Corey Heim, and David Gilliland.  Chase Purdy has fallen out of the top 10

Lap seven the drivers have gotten three wide back in the field with Nick Sanchez out in front by a tenth of a second over Ty Majeski.

Lap nine, Nick Sanchez leads the race with Ty Majeski, Carson Hocevar, Corey Heim, and David Gilliland round out the top five.

Lap 12, Nick Sanchez continues to lead the race with Ty Majeski in second; Carson Hocevar, Parker Kligerman, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

NASCAR allows bumping and pushing but locking bumpers is not allowed.

Bryan Dauzat is off the track.

Lap 15, after having to start the race from the back of the field, Dean Thompson has entered the top 10.

After serving a pass through penalty for jumping the start, Jack Wood is in danger of going a lap down.

Lap 16, Nick Sanchez leads the race from the inside lane with Ty Majeski in second; Carson Hocevar, Parker Kligerman, and Corey Heim round out the top five.  Parker Kligerman leads the outside lane.

Lap 17, there are 32 trucks on the lead lap.

Jake Garcia returns to the track 17 laps down.

Lap 18, Nick Sanchez holds on to the lead with Parker Kligerman and Ty Majeski swapping second place back and forth.

Lap 19, Parker Kligerman and Nick Sanchez battle for the lead as the end of stage one approaches.

Nick Sanchez wins stage one for his fourth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Nick Sanchez
Carson Hocevar
Corey Heim
Ty Majeski
Bret Holmes
Colby Howard
Parker Kligerman
Tanner Gray
David Gilliland
Dean Thompson

Drivers come down pit road for service with Zane Smith having a bit of trouble getting into his pit box.  Nick Sanchez wins the race off of pit road.  There is a tire rolling down pit road.  There is a big of damage to Zane Smith’s truck.

Coming into his pit box, Zane Smith gets turned around and hits the tire carrier who hits the bed of the truck and sends two tires flying down pit road.  The tire carrier continues on with no apparent injury.

The tire changer said that he was attempting to jump over the truck; adding that he was glad that he hit the deck lid and is ready to go.

There is some cording on Corey Hiem’s tires.

Nick Sanchez brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 28 with Parker Kligerman alongside.  Sanchez gets out in front for the lead after a push from Ty Majeski.

Zane Smith is back on pit road with reports of the truck jumping out of gear.

Lap 28, the top five are Nick Sanchez; Parker Kligerman, Ty Majeski, David Gilliland, and Ben Rhodes.

Parker Kligerman passes Nick Sanchez for the lead after a push from David Gilliland.

Lap 30, the drivers are three wide with Parker Kligerman out in front.

Carson Hocevar comes up to battle with Parker Kligerman for the lead.

Lap 31, Carson Hocevar edges out Parker Kligerman for the lead as they battle back and forth.

Lap 32, Zane Smith takes his truck to the garage.

Lap 32, Carson Hocevar leads the race with Parker Kligerman in second; David Gilliland, Ty Majeski, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

Lap 36, Carson Hocevar has the lead with Ty Majeski in second; Parker Kligerman, nick Sanchez, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

Bryan Dauzat is out of the race.

Lap 37, Parker Kligerman comes up on the outside to pass Carson Hocevar for the lead; Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, and Bret Holmes round out the top five.

Leaders are single file with Parker Kligerman in the lead.

The caution flag comes out on lap 39 for a wreck involving Stewart Friesen, David Gilliland, and Tyler Ankrum.  There is significant damage to Friesen’s truck with Friesen out of the truck and sitting on the ground.

Tyler Ankrum and Stewart Friesen hit the wall hard after Friesen and Christian Eckes made contact.

Parker Kligerman wins stage two under caution.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Parker Kligerman
Nick Sanchez
Carson Hocevar
Ty Majeski
Ben Rhodes
Tanner Gray
Bret Holmes
Tay Gray
Dean Thompson
Corey Heim

Drivers comedown pit road for service with Tanner Gray winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.  Seventh place Nick Sanchez is the first driver to take four tires.

Tanner Gray brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 47 with brother Taylor alongside.  Tanner Gray gets out in front for the lead from the inside.  The drivers get three and four wide across the track in a battle for position as the laps wind down.

The top five are Tanner Gray, Colby Howard, Corey Hiem, Nick Sanchez, and Taylor Gray.

Lap 49, Tanner Gray holds on to the lead  but Nick Sanchez comes up on the outside to take the lead.

David Gilliland is out of the  infield care center but Stewart Friesen has been taken to a local hospital.

The caution flag comes out on lap 50 for a crash involving Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Matt Crafton, and Taylor Gray.  Ty Majeski also has some damage to his truck.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service.  With 40 laps remaining in the race, the drivers are not in their fuel window to make it to the end of the race.

Tanner Gray brings the field down for the green flag restart  on lap 59 and gets out in front for the lead.  Nick Sanchez on the inside battles Gray for the lead to retake the spot as they battle back and forth.

The top five are Nick Sanchez, Tanner, Chase Purdy, Colby Howard, and Christian Eckes.

The caution flag comes out on lap 59 for a crash involving Grant Enfinger and Bayley Currey.  Enfinger was one lap down and eligible for the “lucky dog” but since Enfinger was a part of the caution, he will not get the “lucky dog” and is still one lap down.

With 35 laps remaining in the race, the drivers come down pit road for service…the last time.  Taking fuel only, Nick Sanchez wins the race off of pit road.

After staying out on the track, Bret Holmes brings the field down for the green flag restart with 32 laps to go but Nick Sanchez comes up on the outside to take the lead.

Brett Moffitt takes the lead with Chandler Smith in second.

Nick Sanchez has been charged with a restart violation – laying back – and will have to serve a pass through penalty.

With 31 laps remaining in the race, Brett Moffitt leads the race with Chandler Smith in second; Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, and Jake Drew round out the top five.

Bayley Currey is checked and out of the infield care center.

Just 29 laps remain in the race;  Brett Moffitt leads the race with Christian Eckes in second.

Bret Moffitt and Chandler Smith lead the front row; but Chase Purdy comes up from the inside to take the lead.

The top five ae Brett Moffitt, Chase Purdy, Ben Rhodes, Chandler Smith, and Matt Crafton.

With 26 laps to go, Chase Purdy jumps up to pass Brett Moffitt for the lead.  The two drivers battle back and forth for the lead.

Just 25 laps remain in the race with Chase Purdy in the lead; Chandler Smith, Brett Moffitt, Jake Drew, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

The fifth caution flag of the race comes out for Jack Wood when his hood breaks loose and debris flies everywhere.

Grant Enfinger gets the “lucky dog”.  There are 25 trucks on the lead lap.

Zane Smith returns to the track 44 laps down.

Chase Purdy brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 18 laps remaining in the race but is off the pace and Brett Moffitt takes the lead.

The top five ae Brett Moffitt, Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, and Bret Holmes.

Chase Purdy reports that the engine just shut off but he got the truck recycled and is running once again.

Bret Moffitt leads the race with Ben Rhodes in second; Christian Eckes, Dean Thompson, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Fifteen to go and Rajah Caruth spins out to bring out the sixth caution flag of the race.  Ryan Vargas was also involved.

Brett Moffitt brings the field down for the green flag restart with only 10 laps remaining in the race. Moffit holds on to the lead with Christian Eckes  in second.  Drivers are three and four wide back in the field.

The caution flag comes out for a wreck involving Chase Purdy and Colby Howard.  Purdy is stopped in the grass.

Half of the field – 18 drivers – have been involved in on track incidents today.

NASCAR has red flagged the race in order to get the track cleaned up.

After a red flag condition of a little over five minutes, the caution flag is back out and the trucks are moving again.

With just three  laps remaining in the race, Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag restart.  Eckes and Brett Moffitt go side by side with Ben Rodes and Chandler Smith on their bumpers.

The caution flag comes out for the eighth time for “the big one”.  Matt Crafton, Greg van Alst, Grant Enfinger, Cory Roper, Nick Sanchez, Bret Holmes, Tanner Gray, Ty Majeski, Garrett Smithley Carson Hocevar, Rajah Caruth, and Colby Howard were all involved.  Greg van Last hits the wall head on hard.  Matt Crafton comes to a stop in Nick Sanchez’ pit box.

The race has been red flagged for a second time and will go into overtime.

Moving again, the drivers will attempt a green/white/checker overtime shootout finish.

Brett Moffitt brings the field down for the overtime shootout for the finish. Moffitt edges out in front for the lead but Christian Eckes comes up to battle for the lead after a big push from Chandler Smith.

Christian Eckes takes the white flag.

Drivers are three wide. Brett Moffitt retakes the lead.

Brett Moffitt wins the race to continue the pattern of a non-playoff driver winning the race.

The unofficial results of the Love’s RV Stop 250:
Brett Moffitt
Ben Rhodes
Dean Thompson
Chandler Smith
Corey Heim
Daniel Dye
Nick Sanchez
Hailie Deegan
Parker Kligerman
Lawless Alan
Carson Hocevar
Rajah Caruth
Grant Enfinger
Jack Wood
Garrett Smithley
Bret Holmes
Ryan Vargas
Taylor Gray
Christian Eckes
Jake Drew
Ty Majeski
Cory Roper
Colby Howard
Matt Crafton
Tanner Gray
Greg van Last
Jason M. White
Chase Purdy
Jake Garcia
Tyler Hill
Bayley Currey
Zane Smith
Tyler Ankrum
Stewart Friesen
Daivd Gilliland
Bryan Dauzat