The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off a triple header weekend of road course racing at Watkins Glen International in central New York with the Mission 176 at the Glen.
A full field of 36 drivers are entered into the race including four Cup Series drivers – Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, and Christopher Bell in the 52 truck substituting for the injured Stewart Friesen. Though not in the truck, Stewart’s name is still over the window.
After being released from Spire Motorsports, Kaden Honeycutt will be in the 02 truck this week before taking over the driving duties in the 52 for the remainder of the season. Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch and Parker Kligerman are also in the field.
Only eleven drivers in the field have driven trucks on the course at Watkins Glen.
The drivers get a full 50 minute practice session before making a qualifying run.
Five minutes into practice Connor Zilisch has put the number 45 truck at the top of the leaderboard. Several drivers occupied the top of the leaderboard during practice with Connor Zilisch topping a list with three Cup Series drivers in the top six. The top 12 drivers posted a practice time of under 73 seconds.
There are just two more races remaining in the regular season for the Truck Series including Watkins Glen; it is the fifth and final time that Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch will be in a Truck Series race.
Grant Enfinger pulled out to make a practice run and reported a problem in the rear of the truck…he had a broken axle. The team hopes to make repairs in time to get a little more practice before qualifying.
Chris Buescher’s truck is having some fuel pump issues and it will have to be changed after practice. Buescher will start the race from the back of the field.
Ty Majeski’s crew also made some unapproved adjustments and will also be starting the race from the back of the field.
The drivers will be divided for two group qualifying sessions of 20 minutes. The groups will be merged based on time to determine the pole and starting grid for the race.
Frankie Muniz and Kaden Honeycutt will not make a qualifying run and will start the race form the back of the field.
Kyle Busch has made a total 179 starts at Watkins Glen, this is his first start running the circuit in the Truck Series.
Layne Riggs brushed the wall on his qualifying lap.
With a time of 70.953 seconds, Corey Heim puts his number eleven truck on the pole with Christopher Bell alongside.
The starting lineup for the Mission 176 at the Glen:
Corey Heim
Christopher Bell
Sammy Smith
Andres Perez
Gio Ruggiero
Layne Riggs
Ross Chastain
Chandler Smith
Ben Rhodes
Connor Mosack
Kyle Busch
Tanner Gray
Tyler Ankrum
Connor Zilisch
Jake Garcia
William Sawalich
Daniel Hemric
Perker Kligerman
Brent Crews
Rajah Caruth
Chris Buescher
Dawson Sutton
Jack Wood
Matt Crafton
Matt Mills
Timmy Hill
William Lambros
Toni Breidinger
Wesley Slimp
Spencer Boyd
Derek White
Grant Enfinger
Ty Majeski
Frankie Muniz
Kaden Honeycutt
Gian Buffomante
Stages one and two of the race are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 32 laps for a total of 72 laps around the 2.4 mile course. The drivers can run 32 laps on a single load of fuel.
Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Christopher Bell alongside with Heim jumping out in front for the lead. Drivers are getting three and four wide across the track.
Rajah Caruth is on pit road, reporting that there might be an axle issue.
The top five are Corey Heim, Christopher Bell, Andres Perez, Sammy Smith, and Layne Riggs.
Lap three, Corey Heim has pulled out to a one second lead on Christopher Bell.
Lap four, Kaden Honeycutt has moved up nine spots since the race start after starting from the back of the field.
Rajah Caruth has taken his truck to the garage.
Lap five, Corey Heim has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Christopher Bell; Andres Perez, Sammy Smith, and Layne Riggs round out the top five.
Lap 10, Corey Heim continues to lead the race with a near two second lead on Christopher Bell; Andres Perez, Sammy Smith, and Layne Riggs continue to round out the top five.
Lap eleven, after starting the race in 14th place, Connor Zilisch has entered the top 10 in eighth.
The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap eleven when William Lambros is stopped on the track. Lambros got the truck going again after a push from track officials.
Drivers come down pit road for service; drivers can make it to the end of stage two from here. Corey Heim wins the race off of pit road with Layne Riggs coming out second.
Frankie Muniz was caught speeding on pit road and Chandler Smith was charged with an uncontrolled tire on pit road. Both drivers will restart the race from the back of the field. Kaden Honeycutt and Dawton Sutton were charged with too many crew members over the wall. Gian Buffomante was caught speeding on pit road.
Kyle Busch takes his truck to the garage with a broken steering box and is out of the race.
Chris Buescher reports the fuel pump issue was not repaired with the new pump.
Gio Ruggiero and Ben Rhodes stayed out on the track. Gio Ruggiero brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 16 but it is Ben Rhodes who takes the lead.
Corey Heim passes Ben Rhodes for the lead with Ben Rhodes in second; Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Gio Ruggiero round out the top five.
Lap 17, Ross Chastain passes Ben Rhodes for second.
Christopher Bell passes Ben Rhodes for third.
Corey Heim wins stage one with a lead of over two seconds on Ross Chastain for his 15th stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Corey Heim
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Connor Zilisch
Ben Rhodes
Gio Ruggiero
William Sawalich
Daniel Hemric
Layne Riggs
Connor Mossack
William Lambros is back in the race nine laps down.
Derek White is the “lucky dog”.
Ben Rhodes and Gio Ruggiero are the only drivers to come down pit road for service.
Connor Zilisch’s crew chief is questioning whether or not they have enough fuel to make it to the end of stage two.
Corey Heim brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Ross Chastain alongside on lap 25. Jack Wood, Brent Crews, and Kaden Honeycutt all had to start from the back of the field after pit road penalties. Melon Man Ross Chastain edges out for the lead.
The top five are Ross Chastain, Corey Heim, Christopher Bell, Connor Zilisch, and William Sawalich.
The 69 truck driven by Derek White was charged with a restart violation and has to serve a pass through penalty.
Lap 26, Ross Chastain and Corey Heim battle for the lead with Heim taking the spot. Christopher Bell and Connor Zilisch tried to join the battle.
Lap 30, Corey Heim continues to dominate the race with Ross Chastain in second; Christopher Bell, Connor Zilisch, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Raja Caruth returns to the race, 30 laps down.
Lap 32, Kaden Honeycutt is on pit road with power steering issues.
The 38 truck of Chandler Smith is smoking with a tire rub and makes his way to pit road.
William Lambros has a broken track bar and limps to the garage.
Lap 34, Corey Heim holds a one second lead on Ross Chastain; Christopher Bell, Connor Zilisch, and William Sawalich continue to round out the top five.
Chandler Smith returns to the track only to have a heavily smoking truck with a broken fender brace.
Lap 36, Tanner Gray comes down pit road.
The caution flag comes out on lap 37 when Jack Wood is stopped on the track with a heavily damaged truck after hitting the retaining fence hard.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Ross Chastain is having fuel pump issues and the crew plans to change the fuel pump. Connor Zilisch wins the race off of pit road.
Chirstopher Bell has a slow stop when the left wheel would not drop out of the wheel well.
Eight drivers stayed out on the track with Daneil Hemric in the lead.
Daneil Hemric brings the field down for the green flag shootout to end stage two with Sammy Smith alongside. Drivers spread out three and four wide quickly. Grant Enfinger, Timmy Hill, Parker Kligerman all get loose but the track stays green.
Jake Garcia and Connor Zilisch make contact sending Zilisch into the gravel pit.
Ben Rhodes wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ben Rhodes
Sammy Smith
William Sawalich
Corey Heim
Christopher Bell
Tanner Gray
Ty Majeski
Parker Kligerman
Tyler Ankrum
Connor Mosack
Connor Zilisch is out of the gravel pit but is one lap down.
Christopher Bell is the new leader after pit stops.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Tyler Ankrum alongside on lap 45. Bell takes the lead but Ankrum continues the battle.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Tyler Ankrum, Andres Perez, Matt Crafton, and William Sawalich.
Rajah Caruth is charged with a restart violation and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Kaden Honeycutt and Jack Wood are out of the race.
Connor Zilisch is the first truck one lap down in 28th place.
Corey Heim is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.
Lap 47, Christopher Bel has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Andres Perez; Tyler Ankrum, Matt Crafton, and William Sawalich round out the top five.
Parker Kligerman limps his truck to pit road with a flalt tire…it’s not so happy a day for the birthday boy.
Lapa 50, Corey Heim is slowly working his way through the field and is now in eighth place.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Andres Perez, Tyler Ankrum, William Sawalich, and Connor Mosack.
Lap 52, Corey Heim passes Brent Crews for sixth place.
Christopher Bell has increased his lead to nearly two seconds.
Twenty to go!, Christopher Bell has a two second lead on Andres Perez; Tyler Ankrum, William Sawalich, and Connor Mosack round out the top five.
Ross Chastain is slowed on the track with a fuel pump issue.
Matt Crafton spins out on lap 54 after contact from Daniel Hemric but the track stays green.
Lap 57, Christopher Bell has a lead of over three seconds on Andrez Perez.
Connor Zilisch misses the bus stop and will have to come to a complete stop before moving on. He has been reporting brake fade. He said that he went into the bus stop with no brakes.
Just 14 laps remain in the race; Christopher Bell has a three and a half second lead on Andres Perez. Bell’s crew chief is calling for maximum save of the fuel.
The caution flag comes out on lap 59 for Toni Breidinger. Her truck had flames coming out of the rear of the truck. She makes it to pit road.
Some of the drivers come down pit road to top off the fuel. Ben Rhodes is on pit road with the crew trying to make an adjustment under the truck; he is reporting a bad vibration with a possible drive trane issue.
With just nine laps remaining in the race, Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Andrews Perez alongside. Bell takes the lead as the drivers spread out across the track.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Andres Perez, William Sawalich, Tyler Ankrum, and Corey Heim.
Corey Heim passes Tyler Ankrum for fourth.
The caution flag comes out on lap 64 when Tanner Gray spins out and hits the wall hard after an attempted block. Pieces of the truck are hanging all around the truck.
Connor Zilisch is the “lucky dog” and will restart the race in 20th place.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with just four laps remaining in the race. Bell gets out in front to hold on to the lead with Andres Perez in second.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Andres Perez, William Sawalich, Corey Heim, and Connor Mosack.
Corey Heim moves up to second when Andres Perez and William Sawalich get wide.
The caution flag comes out when Ben Rhodes gets into the wall after losing the left rear wheel. Debris went flying everywhere.
The race goes into overtime.
Connor Zilisch moved up five spots before the caution flag came out.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end with Corey Heim alongside. Bell and Heim go side by side with Corey Heim getting out in front.
The caution flag comes out for a crash involving Connor Mosack and Andres Perez.
Christopher Bell has to make a trip down pit road for fuel and gets charged for pitting while pit road is closed.
Tyler Ankrum comes down pit road for fuel from second.
The top five are Corey Heim, Gio Ruggiero, Daniel Hemric, Ty Majeski, and William Sawalich.
Corey Heim brings the field down for the second overtime time shootout to end the race with Daniel Hemric alongside. Heim gets out in front as drivers spread out across the track.
The caution flag comes out when Connor Mosack gets loose and spins around; Grant Enfinger and Jake Garcia were also involved.
Christopher Bell is back in the top 10 with Connor Zilisch just outside the top five in sixth.
Ty Majeski comes down pit road for service.
Corey Heim brings the field down for the third overtime shootout to the end of the race with Daniel Hemric alongside. Heim jumps out in front but Daneil Hemric gets up alongside to battle for the lead. Heim holds him off and the drivers get through the bus stop cleanly.
Corey Heim takes the white flag.
Corey Heim earns win number six of the season!
The unofficial results of the Mission 176 at the Glen:
Corey Heim
Daniel Hemric
Gio Ruggiero
Christopher Bell
Tyler Ankrum
Sammy Smith
Ty Majeski
Connor Zilisch
Matt Mills
Layne Riggs
William Sawalich
Wesley Slimp
Matt Crafton
Dawson Sutton
Jake Garcia
Connor Mosack
Brent Crews
Spencer Boyd
Derek White
Timmy Hill
Andrews Perez
Chris Buescher
Grant Enfinger
Chandler Smith
Gian Buffomante
Ben Rhodes
Frankie Muniz
Tanner Gray
Toni Breidinger
Ross Chastain
Parker Kligerman
Rajah Caruth
Jack Wood
Kaden Honeycutt
William Lambros
Kyle Busch