It’s the final race of the regular season for the Craftsman Truck Series. By the end of the EJP 175 on Saturday afternoon, the field of 10 playoff drivers will be set.
Mathematically, 10 drivers are still eligible for the final four playoff spots with Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Christian Eckes, Gio Ruggiero, and Ty Majeski squarely in the top 10 in points.
A total of 41 teams have brought trucks to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for 36 starting spots including John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, and Connor Zilisch. Colin Braun is the driver in the Kaulig number 25 guest truck this week.
The drivers have a full 50 minutes of practice before making a qualifying run to set the field. Five drivers will not make the race.
FOX Sports decided that the Truck Series was not important enough to broadcast practice and qualifying; nor did NASCAR post practice times or qualifying times on their site during the event!
The teams have a total of five sets of tires for the weekend – one for practice, one for qualifying, and three for the race. Three sets of wet weather tires are also available if needed.
Layne Riggs put his number 34 truck on the pole.
The starting lineup for the EJP 175:
Layne Riggs
Kaden Honeycutt
Gio Ruggiero
Connor Zilisch
Tristan McKee
Daniel Hemric
Gavan Boschele
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Ben Rhodes
Connor Mosack
Chandler Smith
Stewart Friesen
Cole Butcher
Tyler Ankrum
Ty Majeski
Christopher Bell
Parker Eatmon
Christian Eckes
Tanner Gray
Michael Christopher
Landen Lewis
John Hunter Nemechek
Corey LaJoie
Justin Haley
Brenden Queen
Connor Hall
Kris Wright
Andres Perez
Colin Braun
Timmy Hill
Patrick Emerling
Mini Tyrrell
Spencer Boyd
Luke Baldwin
Dawson Sutton
Masson Massey, Derek White, and D.L. Wilson failed to qualify for the race.
New Hampshire offers a very unique and to some tasty trophy – a 20+ pound lobster!
Stages one and two of the race are 55laps each with stage three lasting 65 laps for a total of 175 laps around the just over one mile track. The drivers can run 70 to 75 laps on a single load of fuel.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Kaden Honeycutt alongside. The first caution flag comes out on lap one after the 33 truck spins out. Frankie Muniz is not in the truck this week, Luke Baldwin is driving the 33 truck.
In a press release, Frankie Muniz said that it felt like the right thing to do to let Luke Baldwin drive the truck and try to earn some points for the team.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap six with Kaden Honeycutt alongside. Riggs jumps out in front ass the drivers get three wide.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Connor Zilisch, Kaden Honecutt, Gio Ruggiero, and Daniel Hemric.
Lap seven, Layne Riggs has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Connor Zilisch.
Lap 10, Layne Riggs now has a near one second lead on Connor Zilisch; Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, and Gio Ruggiero round out the top five. Sixteen year old Tristan McKee is just outside the top five in sixth.
Luke Baldwin iss off the track for repairs.
Landen Lewis brings out the caution flag on lap 14 when he gets aggressive on the track and gets into the wall. The truck is stopped with the driver’s side against the wall. He gets the truck moving again and heads for pit road.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 19 and edges out in front of Connor Zilisch for the lead as the drivers get three wide.
Lap 20, the top five are Layne Riggs, Connor Zilisch, Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, and Gio Ruggiero.
Luke Baldwin returns to the track nine laps down.
Lap 23, Layne Riggs has a half second lead on Connor Zilisch; Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, and Gio Ruggiero round out the top five.
Lap 28, Laye Riggs holds a half second lead on Connor Zilisch; Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, and Gio Ruggiero continue to round out the top five.
Lap 30 Kaden Honeycutt and Daniel Hemric battle for third.
Landen Lewis returns to the track eleven laps down.
Lap 32 Chandler Smith passes Gio Ruggiero for fifth.
Lap 33, Layne Riggs and Connor Zilisch battle for the lead.
Lap 35, Connor Zilisch passses Layne Riggs for the lead.
Lap 38, the top five are Connor Zilisch, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Chandler Smith, and Gio Ruggiero.
Lap 40, leader Connor Zilisch begins passing slower traffic with a lead of over a second on Layne Riggs.
Kaden Honeycutt is falling through the field in 17th. He reports the truck “isn’t driving right” and has a possible flat tire.
Lap 45, leader Connor Zilisch has a lead of over a second and a half on Layne Riggs; Daniel Hemric, Chandler Smith, and Daniel Hemric round out the top five. There are 31 trucks on the lead lap.
With eight laps remaining in stage one, Christopher Bell and Tristan McKee battle for sixth. CBell has moved up 10 spots since the race start.
Seven to go in stage one; Connor Zilisch has a two second lead on Layne Riggs.
Six laps to go, Christopher Bell passes Tristan McKee for sixth.
Five to go, Kaden Honeycutt is now one lap down in 29th.
Four to go, Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith battle for third.
With 26 trucks on the lead lap, Connor Zilisch wins stage one by two seconds over Layne Riggs.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Connor Zilisch
Layne Riggs
Daneil Henric
Chandler Smith
Christopher Bell
Gio Ruggiero
Trisstan McKee
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Gavan Boschele
Drivers come down pit road for service with Jake Garcia winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Jake Garcia brings the field down for the grren flag sstart of stage two on lap 64. Garcia takes the lead with Layne Riggs in second with drivers getting four wide.
Lap 66, Jake Garica leads the race with Layne Riggs in second; Chandler Smith, Gio Ruggiero, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Lap 68, Chandler Smith passes Layne Riggs for second.
Connor Zilisch passes Gio Ruggiero for fourth.
Christopher Bell passes Gio Ruggiero for fifth.
Lap 73, Jake Garcia has a third of a second lead on Chandler Smith with 28 trucks on the lead lap.
Lap 74, Chandler Smith passes Jake Garcia for the lead and pulls away.
Lap 75, Connor Zilisch passses Layne Riggs for third.
The 76 truck of Spencer Boyd comes down pit road after getting into the wall to bring out the caution flag.
Tyler Ankrum comes down pit road reporting a brake issue.
Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jake Garcia alongside on lap 83. Smith holds on to the lead with Connor Zilisch coming up in the inside to battle for the lead.
Lap 84, Connor Zilisch takes the lead with Chandler Smith in second; Christopher Bell, Layne Riggs, and Jake Garcia round out the top five.
Tyler Ankrum is the final truck on the lead lap in 28th. The crew reports there is no brake fluid leakage but Ankrum is still having brake issues.
Lap 89, Connor Zilisch has a narrow lead on Chandler Smith with Christopher Bell, Layne Riggs, and Jake Garcia rounding out the top five.
Lap 97, Connor Zilisch has a near half second lead on Chandler Smith; Christopher Bell, Layne Riggs, and Jake Garcia round out the top five.
Lap 100, Layne Riggs passes Christopher Bell for third.
Just eight laps remaining in stage two with Connor Zilisch leading the race by a quarter of a second on Chandler Smith.
Spencer Boyd is out of the race.
Lap 105, Connor Zilisch has pulled out to a half second lead on Chandler Smith.
With three laps remaining in stage two, Connor Zilisch has pulled out to a one second lead on Chandler Smith.
Connor Zilisch wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Connor Zilisch
Chandler Smith
Layne Riggs
Chrisstopher Bell
Jake Garcia
Gio Ruggiero
Daniel Hemric
Gavan Boschele
Connor Mosack
Stewart Friesen
Tyler Ankrum is on pit road with crew members underneath trying to diagnose the brake issue.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Stewart Friesen winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Jake Garciaa pitted outside hiss pit box and had a slow pit stop; as a result he will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Stewart Friesen brings the field down for the green flag sstart of stage three on lap 119 with Michael Christopher Jr alongside. Drivers get four wide ass Friesen takes the lead.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Stewart Friesen, Tanner Gray, Tristan McKee, and Michael Christopher Jr.
The caution flag comes out when Timmy Hill, Kris Wright, and Joh Hunter Nemechek get into a wreck. Jake Garcia also got some damage during the wreck and made a run in the grass.
Layne Riggs has secured the number one spot in the playoffs as the regular season champion.
The crew has not been able to find the issue with Tyler Ankrum’s brakes.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Stewart Friessen alongside on lap 129.Drivers fans out three and four wide with Layne Riggs in the lead.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Stewart Friesen, Gio Ruggiero, Tristan McKee, and Tanner Gray.
Christopher Bell spins out and brings out the caution flag on lap 131 after contact from Chandler Smith. Smith reported that his truck wouldn’t turn
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the green flag on lap 136 with Gio Ruggiero alongside. Riggs holds on to the lead.
The top five are Layne Riggs, Gio Ruggiero, Stewart Friesen, Tristan McKee, and Connor Zilisch.
Back in the field the drivers are getting three wide.
Lap 139, Connor Zilisch battle with Tristan McKee for fourth.
Lap 140, Layne Riggs has aa half second lead on Gio Ruggiero.
Patrick Emerling is off the track on pit road.
With just 33 laps remaining in the race, driver are battling all through the field.
Lap 144, Layne Riggs has pulled out to a near one second lead on Gio Ruggiero; Stewart Friesen, Tristan McKee, and Chandler Smith round out the top five. Connor Zilisch has dropped to seventh.
Just 25 laps remaining in the regular season for the Craftsman Truck Series; Layne Riggs has a lead of nearly a second and a half over Gio Ruggiero; Stewart Friessen, Chandler Smith, and Tristan McKee round out the top five.
Twenty to go, Layne Riggs leads the race ass the regular season champion.
Chandler Smith passes Stewart Friesen for third.
Lap 161, Tristan McKee battles with Stewart Friessen for fourth.
Kaden Honeycutt passes Tristan McKee for fifth.
Just 12 laps to go, Layne Riggs hass a near two second lead on Gio Ruggiero; Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Kaden Honeycutt round out the top five.
Ten to go!, Layne Riggs holds on to the lead.
Kaden Honeycutt battles with Stewart Friesen for fourth.
Eight to go, Kaden Honeycutt passes Stewart Friesen for fourth.
Gavan Boschele brings out the caution flag with just five laps remaining in the race when he gets into the wall.
The race will go into overtime!
Stewart Friesen, Jake Garcia, and Tyler Ankrum are all tied for the final spot in the playoffs. Friesen has the tie breaker if they remain tied at the end of the race.
Some of the drivers back in the field come down pit road for fresh tires.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the overtime shootout for the win with Gio Ruggiero alongside. Driver spread out across the track with Layne Riggs in the front. The caution flag comes out after Gio Ruggiero, Connor Mosack, and Dawson Sutton got into a wreck.
The race will go into double overtime!
Grant Enfinger has secured a spot in the playoffs.
Layne Riggs brings the field down for the overtime shootout to the end with Chandler Smith alongside. Drivers fans out three and four wide with Layne Riggss in the lead. Chandler Smith and Kaden Honeycutt battle for second; Stewart Friesen is in fourth.
Layne Riggs Takes the white flag.
Layne Riggs wins race number six of the season.
Despite brake issues, Tyler Ankrum takes the final playoff spot.
The unofficial results of the EJP 175:
Layne Riggs
Chandler Smith
Kaden Honeycutt
Stewart Friesen
Connor Zilisch
Trisstan McKee
Christopher Bell
Daniel Hemric
Justin Haley
Parker Eatmon
Ty Majesski
Michael Christopher Jr
Grant Enfinger
Jake Garcia
Corey LaJoie
Tyler Ankrum
Cole Butcher
Ben Rhodes
John Hunter Nemechek
Brenden Queen
Tanner Gra
Connor Hall
Mini Tyrrell
Colin Braun
Dawson Sutton
Gio Ruggiero
Andres Perez
Christian Eckes
Timmy Hill
Connor Mosack
Luke Baldwin
Landen Lewis
Gavan bosschel
Kris Wright
Patrick Emerling
Spencer Boyd
The 10 drivers competing for The Chase are:
Layne Riggs
Kaden Honeycutt
Chandler Smith
Christian Eckes
Gio Ruggiero
Ty Majesski
Grant Enfinger
Ben Rhodes
Daniel Hemric
Tyler Ankrum