On an early California Friday morning, the Craftsman Truck Series drivers prepare to test out the new street course on Naval Base Coronado in San Diego to kick off a historic weekend of racing.
The races this weekend was two years in the making.
Thirty-five teams have brought trucks to San Diegofor 36 starting spots. Included in the lineup is seven time Hall of Fame champion Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray as the guest driver in the Kaulig Ram 25 truck, Parker Kligerman, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, and Brendan Gaughan.
Keven Harvick joins Jamie Little and Michael Waltrip in the broadcast booth.
A new course, the Truck Series drivers get two 40 minute practice sessions before making a qualifying run.
Part of the 3.4 mile course is the runway the naval aviators use…oh, and there are train tracks to navigate.
Adam Andretti got into the wall but the track stays green.
Jimmie Johnson hasn’t been in a truck in 17 years but has put his number one truck in the top five in the first session of practice. The Hall of Fame driver grew up in the area.
Connor Mosack has made his mark on the wall in the same spot as Adam Andretti.
Niece Motorsports owner Al Niece spent time on the Naval Base as a 22 year old. There is also a crew member on one of his pit crews who has also served at Coronado.
Brenden Queen gets a piece of the wall on the left side. Several drivers have bumped the wall during practice.
Corey LaJoie calls the course “Chicago on steroids”. The drivers are encountering several types of road surfaces…even sea shells blowing in from the ocean.
Layne Riggs topped the leaderboard in the first practice session with Kaden Honeycutt right behind. They are the only drivers with a time in the two minute 17 second region.
Noting that the simulator street course at Coronado are not the same as the actual track, Layne Riggs said they were the “test dummies” for learning the course.
NASCAR has displayed the red flag some fluid on the course. There is water leaking from outside the course.
Naval Base Coronado Commander Loren Jacobi called the race weekend a “dream come true’. He noted that the most important thing when they were planning the races was to not interrupt base operations. There are 3,300 personnel stationed at Coronado.
After an extended delay to clean up all of the water, the Truck Series is moving again for a short practice session before the trucks make a qualifying run.
Tanner Gray got into the wall hard and is limping his way to pit road. He may have to move to a backup truck.
The red flag is out for Justin Marks who is stopped on the track. There is significant damage to the truck. He got loose and got into the wall and catches fire underneath.
Crews are working on the wall.
Daniel Hemric got into the wall and has significant damage to the truck. Hemric believes most of the damage is cosmetic.
NASCAR has shortened practice after all of the wrecks and water issues.
Qualifying will be a single round with the drivers divided into two groups for 20 minute qualifying sessions. The fastest driver earns the pole.
Tanner Gray, Adam Andretti, Justin Marks,
Christian Eckes gets into the barrier hard and moving the tires during his qualifying run to bring out the caution flag. He gets the truck moving again.
Brenden Gaughan gets into the wall on his qualifying run.
Stewart Freisen has a damaged truck after getting loose.
The race has not even begun and already one-third of the trucks in the field have some sort of crash damage.
The group two drivers begin to hit the track for a qualifying run.
Kaden Honeycutt hits the wall at the very end of his lap but still put his truck to the top of the leaderboard.
With a time of 134.782 seconds, Kaden Honeycutt put his number eleven truck on the pole with Layne Riggs alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Navy 250:
Kaden Honeycutt
Layne Riggs
Chandler Smith
Jimmy Johnson
Grant Enfinger
Gio Ruggiero
Andres Perez
Ty Majeski
Landen Lewis
Parker Kligerman
Connor Mosack
Tyler Ankrum
Ben Rhodes
Tyler Reif
Corey LaJoie
Kaz Grala
Justin Haley
Dawson Sutton
Jake Garcia
Nathan Nicholson
Jamie McMurray
Stewart Friesen
Mini Tyrrell
Kris Wright
Cole Butcher
Jackson Lee
Frankie Muniz
Brendan Gaughan
Austin Varco
Christian Eckes
Justin Marks
Daniel Hemric
Adam Andretti
Brenden Queen
Tanner Gray
Stages one and two of the race are just 12 laps each with stage three lasting 26 laps for a total of 50 laps around the 3.4 mile street course that features multiple racing surfaces. The drivers can run 16 to 18 laps on a single load of fuel.
The crews will be pitting the trucks on the right hand side – opposite what they normally do.
Gio Ruggiero, Landen Lewis, Ben Rhodes, Jamie McMurray, and Stewart Friesen will have to start the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments after on track incidents.
Tanner Gray, Stewart Friesen, Justin Marks, and Christian Eckes are all starting the race in backup trucks.
Kaden Honeycutt brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Layne Riggs alongside. Honeycutt and Riggs go side by side before Kaden Honeycutt gets out in front for the lead.
Layne Riggs moves up on the outside to battle for the lead. Honeycutt holds on to the lead.
The top five are Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, Jimmie Johnson, Chandler Smith, and Grant Enfinger.
Lap two, Kaden Honeycutt has a third of a second lead on Layne Riggs; Jimmie Johnson, Chandler Smith, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five.
Lap three Kaden Honeycutt and Layne Riggs battle for the lead. New leader, Layne Riggs takes the lead.
Lap three, Layne Riggs has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Kaden Honeycutt.
Dawson Sutton spins out and is stopped on the track after contact with Nathan Nicholson.
The caution flag comes out for Dawson Sutton stopped on the track.
A few of the drivers from back in the field come down pit road for adjustments and top off the fuel load.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap seven. Honeycutt and Riggs go side by side with Riggs getting out in front. Jimmie Johnson and Chandler Smith battle for third.
Ty Majeski gets loose but saves the truck and the track stays green.
Lap seven, the top five are Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger, and Ty Majeski.
Professing that he was very nervous before the start of the race, Jamie McMurray is just outside the top 20 in 22nd place.
Also starting at the back of the field and in a backup truck, Justin Marks is in the top 20.
Lap eight, the top five are Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt, Jimmie Johnson, Chandler Smith, and Grant Enfinger.
In a backup truck, Adam Andretti is now in the top 20.
Lap nine, Layne Riggs has a second and a half lead on Kaden Honeycutt.
Dawson Sutton is the only truck on the course not on the lead lap.
With just three laps remaining in stage one a few of the drivers come down pit road to flip the stage.
Parker Kligerman had a slow stop when the crew had a jack issue.
Lap 10, Layne Riggs has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds on Kaden Honeycutt; Jimmie Johnson, Chandler Smith, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five.
There is a spot on the course where the drivers come completely off the track.
Lap eleven, Layne Riggs continues to extend his lead with a four second lead on Kaden Honeycutt.
Tires that came off the trucks who short pitted the stage show signs of cording.
Layne Riggs wins stage one by six seconds for his fifth stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Layne Riggs
Kaden Honeycutt
Jimmie Johnson
Chandler Smith
Granat Enfinger
Tyler Ankrum
Ben Rhodes
Andres Pere
Landon Lewis
Tyler Reif
Naval Base Coronado commander Captain Loren “Wookie” Jacobi join the broadcast crew in the booth.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Layne Riggs winning the race off of pit road. Kaden Honeycutt is the leader of the race after staying out on the track.
Austin Varco and Jackson Lee will restart the race from the back of the longest line for penalties on pit road.
Kaden Honeycutt brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 15 with Jimmie Johnson alongside. The drivers are getting three wide on the track.
Kaden Honeycutt takes the lead with Jimmie Johnson in second; Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, and Kaz Grala round out the top five.
The top 15 drivers stayed out on the track.
Kaden Honeycutt has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Jimmie Johnson.
Lap 16, Connor Mosack gets turned around after some on track contract
Lap 16, Jimmie Johnson and Kaden Honeycutt battle for the lead.
Kaden Honeycutt holds on to the lead with Jimmie Johnson in second.
Jimmie Johnson gets around Kaden Honycutt when his tires lock up and takes the lead.
At 50 years old, Jimmie Johnson leads the race.
The top five are Jimmie Johnson, Chandler Smith, Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, and Ty Majeski.
Justin Marks works his way to pit road with a flat tire.
Corey LaJoie is on pit road.
Lap 19, Jimmie Johnson leads the race with Chandler Smith on his bumper; Kaden Honeycutt, Parker Kligerman, and Ty Majeski.
Corey LaJoie is out of the race after some crash damage.
Lap 20, Jimmie Johnson gives up the lead to make his pit stop; Chandler Smith is the new leader.
Justin Marks is on pit road with crash damage after getting into the wall.
Lap 20, leader Chandler Smith makes his pit stop; Parker Kligerman is the new leader.
More drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and fuel.
Lap 21, Layne Riggs passes Parker Kligerman for the lead; ty Majeski, Kaden Honeycutt, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five.
Justin Marks returns to the track two laps down
With three laps remaining in stage two, Layne Riggs has a near one second lead on Parker Kligerman.
With three laps remaining in stage two, Layne Riggs comes down pit road for service. The crew has trouble with one of the tires for a slow stop.
Parker Kligerman is the new leader.
Jamie McMurray comes down pit road with a flat tire and torn fender after getting into the wall.
Parker Kligerman wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Parker Kligerman
Ty Majeski
Grant Enfinger
Tyler Ankrum
Andres Perez
Tyler Reif
Chandler Smith
Christian Eckes
Kaden Honeycutt
Jimmie Johnson
Crews had to make some repairs to the pit wall before pit road could open.
Drivers come down pit road for service but not all of the drivers made pit stops. Layne Riggs wins the race off of pit road.
Chandler Smith leads the race.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Kaden Honeycutt alongside with just 22 laps remaining in the race.
Kaden Honeycutt takes the lead with Chandler Smith in second; Jimmie Johnson, Daniel Hemric, and Mini Tyrrell rounding out the top five.
The top nine drivers stayed out on the track at the end of the stage.
Lap 30, Chandler Smith has caught leader Kaden Honeycutt and is challenging for the lead.
Stewart Friesen is on pit road reporting steering wheel issues.
Kaden Honeycutt got into the tire barrier and Chandler Smith is the new leader.
Twenty to go, Chandler Smith leads the race with Kaden Honeycutt in second; Jimmie Johnson, Layne Riggs, and Daniel Hemric round out the top five.
Kaden Honeycutt comes down pit road for service.
Lap 32, Layne Riggs passes Jimmie Johnson for second.
Franki Muniz has a torn up back of his truck.
The caution flag comes out on lap 33 for debris on the track.
Franki Muniz finally makes a pit stop for service and repairs.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Layne Riggs stays out on the track and is the leader of the race.
Kaden Honeycutt has some issues with his truck.
Brendan Gaughan is on pit road with right front damage and a flat tire.
Andres Perez and Frankie Muniz were penalized for crew over the wall too soon.
Dawson Sutton is stopped on pit road.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ty Majeski alongside with just 15 laps to go. Layne Riggs jumps out in front for the lead. Drivers are four and five wide.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Ty Majeski, Gio Ruggiero, Tyler Ankrum, and Nathan Nicholson.
Dawson Sutton and Grant Enfinger are off the track.
Lap 37, Layne Riggs has a lead of over two and a half seconds on Ty Majeski; Gio Ruggiero, Tyler Ankrum, and Kaden Honeycutt round out the top five.
Layne Riggs is nearly three seconds out in front of Ty Majeski. Riggs crew has told him to conserve fuel.
With 13 laps remaining in the race, some of the drivers are short on fuel; including leader Layne Riggs.
Lap 39, Layne Riggs leads the race with Ty Majeski in second; Kaden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, and Tyler Ankrum round out the top five.
Jimmie Johnson and Nathan Nicholson make contact and spin Johnson around; but Johnson keeps moving and falls to 16.
The caution flag come out on lap 40 for Jake Garcia who is stopped on the track.
Chandler Smith is running the fastest laps on the track.
Jimmie Johnson makes a pit stop.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ty Majeski alongside on lap 43. Riggs gets out in front to hold on to the lead. Drivers are four and five wide back in the field.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Chandler Smith, Ty Majeski, Kaden Honeycutt, and Kaz Grala.
Kaden Honeycutt passes Ty Majeski for third.
Tanner Gray gets into the tire wall but gets the truck moving again and the track stays green.
Lap 44, Chandler Smith passes Layne Riggs for the lead; Kaden Honeycutt, Ty Majeski, and tyler Ankrum round out the top five.
Just seven laps remain in the race; Chandler Smith has a lead of over half a second on Layne Riggs.
Six to go, Layne Riggs closes the gap on leader Chandler Smith to under half a second.
The sun is beginning to get low in the sky and causing some visibility issues for the drivers.
Jake Garcia is off the track.
Five to go, Chandler Smith has just a third of a lead on Layne Riggs.
The caution flag comes out with just four laps to go when Tyler Ankrum gets into the wal and busted the wall in turn 16!
NASCAR has red flagged the race in order fix the wall for the second time.
The wall is back in place and the trucks are moving again but Jimmie Johnson is stalled on the track and needs assistance from the tow truck to get moving again.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag shootout to end the race with teammate Layne Riggs alongside. Smith jumps out for the lead with Kaden Honeycutt in second. Ben Rhodes gets into the wall and causes a bottleneck in a narrow section of the track.
The top five are Chandler Smith, Kaden Honeycutt, tyler Reif, Layne riggs, and Daniel Hemric.
The caution flag comes out for the wreck and debris. Nathan Nicholson is stopped on the track but gets a push to get moving again.
The race goes into overtime.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the overtime shootout to end the race with Kaden Honeycutt alongside. Honeycut takes the lead. Chandler Smith gets into the wall but gets moving again and the track stays green.
Daniel Hemric takes the lead after Kaden Honeycutt gets shuffled back.
Layne Riggs passes Daniel Hemric for the lead.
Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reif goes side by side.
Tyler Reif takes the lead…and the white flag.
Tyler Reif’s truck is smoking.
After reporting that his truck is sputtering, Layne Riggs is on leader Tyler Reif’s bumper.
It has been 51 races since Neice Motorsports has won as race.
Tyler Reif cut the course at the chicane. Layne Riggs takes the lead and wins the race.
The unofficial results of the Naval 250:
Layne Riggs
Daniel Hemric
Kaz Grala
Landen Lewis
Ty Majeski
Justin Haley
Tyler Reif
Brenden Queen
Ben Rhodes
Christian Eckes
Gio Ruggiero
Mini Tyrrell
Tanner Gray
Kris Wright
Adam, Andretti
Cole Butcher
Brendan Gaughan
Austin Varco
Parker Kligerman
Frankie Muniz
Andres Perez
Chandler Smith
Kaden Honeycutt
Connor Mosack
Justin Marks
Dawson Sutton
Jackson Lee
Nathan Nicholson
Grant Enfinger
Jimmie Johnson
Tyler Ankrum
Jake Garcia
Stewart Friesen
Jamie McMurray
Corey LaJoie
Just five races remain before the playoffs.