For the third week in a row, NASCAR travels to a short track…and this time it’s a triple header weekend when all three series will race on the track known as the paperclip – Martinsville Speedway.
The Craftsman Truck Series brings 34 trucks to Martinsville. With a field of 36 starting spots, all of the drivers will make the race.
The drivers are being divided into two groups for a 15 minute practice session before making a qualifying run.
Thad Moffitt is on pit road with a flaming tire. Brakes are essential at Martinsville and can get very hot very fast.
Matt Crafton will be making his 550th consecutive start when he takes the green flag at tonight’s race. Friesen’s number 52 truck is painted in a rainbow pattern for Autism Awareness.
Australian Cam Waters is making his Truck Series debut at Martinsville.
Rajah Caruth had to serve a five minute penalty and will have only 10 minutes of practice after missing the driver’s meeting at COTA. Even with a shortened practice time, Caruth still ended practice in the top 10.
During his practice run, Ty Majeski posted a time of 19.85 seconds.
Not much has changed at Martinsville over the past 70 plus years. Drivers are still asking for adjustments to turn better and need more grip.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Blake Lothian with a time of 20.862 seconds around the half mile track. Due to some radio issues, Lothian did not get to make a practice run.
Cam Waters post the first sub 20 second qualifying time at 19.762 seconds.
Justin Carroll and Thad Moffitt will not make qualifying runs.
With a time of 19.502 seconds, Layne Riggs set a new track record. Joey Logano posted a time of 20.504 seconds for the record back on 2015.
Christian Eckes just set a new track record with a time of 19.437 seconds!
And Ty Majeski just broke that one with a time of 19.417 seconds! And puts his number 98 truck on the pole. Christian Eckes will start on the front row beside Majeski.
The top three drivers set new track records while making their qualifying runs.
The starting lineup for the Long John Silvers 200:
Ty Majeski
Christian Eckes
Layne Riggs
Corey Heim
Nick Sanchez
Ben Rhodes
Jake Garcia
Dean Thompson
Tyler Ankrum
Jack Wood
Chase Purdy
Taylor Gray
Sammy Smith
Stewart Friesen
Bayley Currey
Kaden Honeycutt
Rajah Caruth
Ty Dillon
Tanner Gray
Grant Enfinger
William Sawalich
Cam Waters
Daniel Dye
Matt Crafton
Matt Mills
Lawless Alan
Timmy Hill
Bret Holmes
Mason Massey
Spencer Boyd
Stephen Mallozzi
Blake Lothian
Justin Carroll
Thad Moffitt
Stages one and tow of the race are 50 laps each with stage three lasting 100 laps for a total of 200 laps around the half mile track. The drivers can run 140 to 150 laps on a single load of fuel. Some of the teams are considering making just one pit stop in the race.
Blake Lothian had to make an unscheduled trip down pit road with a possible fluid leak.
On a cool Virginia night, Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane with Christian Eckes alongside. Christian Eckes gets out in front for the lead from the outside lane with Ty Majeski in second.
Lap two, Christian already has a quarter of a second lead on Ty Majeski; Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, and Ben Rhodes rounding out the top five.
Lap eight, the brake rotors are already glowing from heating up with use.
Lap 10 Christian Eckes holds on to the lead with Ty Majeski in second; Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.
Lap 13, all 34 drivers ae on the track and on the lead lap.
Lap 14, Christian Eckes has led every lap so far with Ty Majeski in second; Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.
Australian driver Cam Waters was scheduled to make just the Martinsville race, but will now be running in the race at Kansas.
Lap 17, leader Christian Eckes has encountered slower traffic.
Lap 20, leader Christian Eckes ahs begun lapping slower traffic.
Lap 25, the top five drivers continue to be Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, and Nick Sanchez.
Thad Moffitt brings out the first caution flag of the race on lap 29 when he backs it into the wall.
A few drivers come down pit road for service and adjustments.
The teams have three sets of tires in the pits.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 36 from the inside lane with Ty Majeski alongside. Eckes gets out in front to hold on to the lead.
Jack Wood gets off the track but gets it going again.
Lap 38, the top five are Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, and Nich Sanchez.
Blake Lothian is off the track.
Lap 44, there has been very little movement among the drivers for position.
Dean Thompson had to restart the race from the back of the field after his crew came over the wall too soon.
Lap 47, Christian Eckes has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Ty Majeski; Layne Riggs, Corey Heim. And Nick Sanchez round out the top five.
Christian Eckes wins stage one for his second stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Christian Eckes
Ty Majeski
Layne Riggs
Corey Heim
Nick Sanchez
Ben Rhodes
Tyler Ankrum
Jake Garcia
Kaden Honeycutt
Chase Purdy
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service; leader Christian Eckes stays out on the track.
Ty Dillon was caught speeding on pit road. Stephen Mallozzi was charged with his crew coming over the wall too soon.
Grant Enfinger had to make a second trip down pit road with a flat tire.
Layne Riggs had a slow stop when the crew had trouble with the jack.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 61 and gets out in front to hold on to the lead.
The top five are Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Nick Sanchez, Chase Purdy, and Kaden Honeycutt.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
The caution flag comes out on lap 67 for an on track incident but all of the drivers get moving again. Tanner Gray and Matt Crafton were involved. Crafton reports that he has some sort of steering issue. Justin Carroll and Mason Massey stopped short of getting involved in the wreck.
Lap 69, pit road is open but leaders stay out; while a few drivers come down for adjustments.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 74 and holds on to the lead.
The top five are Christian Eckes, Chase Purdy, Tyler Ankrum, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia.
Layne Riggs spins out after some on track contact and brings out the fourth caution flag of the race on lap 77. He gets the truck moving again.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Matt Mills crews has issues with the jack on his pit stop.
Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia have yet to make a pit stop.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 84 with Chase Purdy alongside. Eckes holds on to the lead while a battle for second ensues.
Lap 85, the top five are Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
Lap 89, Christian Eckes ahs a one second lead on Christian Eckes; Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia round out the top five.
Lap 94, Christian Eckes has increased his lead to nearly two seconds on Tyler Ankrum; Chase Purdy, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia round out the top five.
Ty Majeski passes Jake Garcia for fifth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 98 when Daniel Dye gets into Spencer Boyd and collects up Layne Riggs.
Stage two ends under caution with Christian Eckes sweeping the stages.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Christian Eckes
Tyler Ankrum
Chase Purdy
Ty Majeski
Kaden Honeycutt
Jake Garcia
Dean Thompson
Bayley Currey
Taylor Gray
William Sawalich
Drivers come down pit road including the drivers who have yet to make a pit stop.
Ty Dillon was charged with a safety violation.
After leading the first half of the race, Christian Eckes will restart the race in 19th.
Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 110 with William Sawalich alongside. Ty Majeski takes the lead with Taylor Gray in second; William Sawalich, Nick Sanchez, and Stewart Friesen round out the top five.
Lap 113, Ty Majeski has a lead of over half a second on Taylor Gray; Nick Sanchez, Stewart Friesen, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Lap 117, Christian Eckes has moved up to 13th; TY Majeski has a one second lead on Taylor Gray.
Lap 122,Christian Eckes has entered the top 10.
Lap 123, Ty Majeski has a near two second lead on Taylor Gray; Nick Sanchez, Stewart Friesen, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Lap 129, Christian Eckes started stage three in 19th place, he is now in a battle with Corey Heim for sixth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 133 when Kaden Honeycutt spins out but stays on the lead lap. Honeycutt had made contact with Daniel Dye when he spun out.
A few drivers back in the field come down pit road for service and adjustments.
Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 140 with Nick Sanchez alongside. Majeski gets out in front.
Christian Eckes passes Stewart Friesen for fourth.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
Lap 143, the top five are Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Christian Eckes, and Stewart Friesen.
Dean Thompson gets into the wall after contact form Grant Enfinger and brings out the caution flag with 54 laps remaining in the race. Dean Thompson is out of his truck and walks to the ambulance for the mandatory ride to the care center.
Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 46 laps remaining in the race. Christian Eckes restarts second on the outside lane. Nick Sanchez edges out front from the outside lane but Ty Majeski comes up on the inside to retake the lead. Christian Eckes takes third.
Lap 157, Bret Holmes and Justin Carroll wreck; bringing out the caution flag after a three wide battle.
Leader Ty Majeski reports that he can’t launch on the restarts.
Kaden Honeycutt and his crew chief have been “invited” to visit the NASCAR hauler after the race.
Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with 36 laps remaining in the race. Majeski holds on to the lead while Nick Sanchez and Christian Eckes battle for second.
The caution flag comes out for a pile on the track with Lawless Alan, Jack Wood, Cam Waters, and Jake Garcia were all involved.
Stephen Mallozzi is stopped on the track as the drivers choose for the restart.
Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christian Eckes on thee outside with 28 laps to go. Majeski and Eckes go side by side in a battle for the lead.
Christian Eckes retakes the lead with 27 laps to go; Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Taylor Gray, and Tyler Ankrum round out the top five. It took Eckes 63 laps to retake the lead form 19th at the start of stage three.
Caution flag number 10 comes out when Cam Water has water coming out of the hood, Layne Riggs spins out after contact from Grant Enfinger. Waters slams into the back of Jake Garcia who had slowed down for the wreck.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green falg restart with just 17 laps to go. Eckes jumps out in front. Ty Majeski loses second place while he continues to have issues on the restart.
The top five are Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, and Chase Purdy.
Ten to go! The caution flag comes out for a big crash. Matt Mills is driving around the track with his hood sticking in the air. Grant Enfinger, spins out Stewart Friesen in a big cloud of smoke.
Daniel Dye barely escapes the crash as he slides by up against the wall.
The hood on Matt Mills truck came up again and NASCAR has called him back on to pit road. It is too cold for the barer bond to hold.
Christian Eckes brings the field down for the shootout to the end with just three laps remaining in the race. Eckes jumps out in front as drivers battle for position. Ty Majeski takes second.
Christian Eckes takes the white flag!
Leading the most laps, Christian Eckes wins his second race of the season to become the first repeat winner of the season. Christian Eckes wins the coveted Grandfather clock.
The unofficial results of the Long John Silver 200:
Christian Eckes
Ty Majeski
Chase Purdy
Nick Sanchez
Tyler Ankrum
Taylor Gray
Rajah Caruth
Sammy Smith
Kaden Honeycutt
Corey Heim
Mason Massey
Matt Crafton
Daniel Dye
Ben Rhodes
Layne Riggs
Tanner Gray
Bayley Currey
Jack Wood
Stewart Friesen
Timmy Hill
Jake Garcia
Grant Enfinger
Ty Dillon
Bret Holmes
Spencer Boyd
William Sawalich
Thad Moffitt
Stephen Mallozzi
Matt Mills
Cam Waters
Lawless Alan
Justin Carroll
Dean Thompson
Blake Lothian