NCTS Race Recap: LiUNA 150

The LiUNA 150 was the second time the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series raced at Lime Rock Park. Layne Riggs and Connor Mosack were the fastest in qualifying and started the race on the front row. Kaden Honeycutt and Thomas Annunziata followed them to the green flag. Grant Enfinger started the race in 12th. The stage lengths were 30 laps for the first two, with the final stage being 40 laps.

Riggs Running Away

Riggs and Mosack got equal restarts, but Riggs took the lead into turn one. Mosack and Honeycutt drove side by side, battling for second. Honeycutt was finally able to take the spot before they completed the first lap.

Riggs pulled away from Honeycutt by just under a second.

Landen Lewis caught the back of Annunziata and was able to get around him to take fourth.

Honeycutt closed the gap to the leader, cutting the lead to under half a second. Doing so, he stayed in the rearview mirror of Riggs.

Lewis passed Mosack to take third.

Riggs began to pull away from Honeycutt. He had his lead at almost two seconds before the stage ended. Riggs led them all to win stage one in the LiUNA 150!

Under the yellow, Ben Maier lost fuel pressure and stopped on the track. He reported smoke and a possible fire in the cockpit. An additional lap was added to the yellow flag cycle.

Honeycutt Fought Back

With 25 to go in the stage, Honeycutt and Riggs got the race restarted on the front row. Honeycutt had a better launch but was unable to hold onto the lead. Riggs retook the lead out of turn one.

However, Honeycutt did not allow Riggs to pull away. He stayed on the rear bumper of the leader and hounded him.

Frankie Muniz turned around and got off track after contact with Graham Doyle. Muniz was able to get it turned the right way and kept going. Doyle wheel-hopped his truck and had nowhere to go but into Muniz.

Ty Majeski brought out the second caution when he went off track and into a tire pack in turn one. He was running in sixth at the time.

With 10 to go in the stage, Riggs and Honeycutt restarted the race. Immediately, the caution was thrown again. Lewis turned on the front stretch across the nose of Mosack. Annunziata, Dawson Sutton, Andrez Perez, Christian Eckes, and Ben Rhodes were also involved.

Before the caution was thrown, Honeycutt edged ahead of Riggs to take the lead.

With that, Riggs joined him on the front row for the restart. Honeycutt took the lead with three to go in the stage. He led the rest to win stage two in the LiUNA 150!

Annunziata with a Fiery End

After staying out under the caution, Stewart Friesen joined Cole Butcher on the front row for the restart. Friesen and Butcher stayed side by side for half a lap before Butcher was able to snag the lead.

The fourth caution came out when debris was left on the track after Kris Wright got turned into the inside wall.

NASCAR displayed the red flag to allow for cleanup.

Butcher and Friesen brought the field back to the green flag. Friesen got a slight edge on the front stretch but was spun by Butcher in turn one. Honeycutt turned around and collected the culprit – Riggs. Giovani Ruggiero assumed the lead with Annunziata behind him.

The sixth caution came out after Chandler Smith stopped on the track.

Annunziata climbed out of his truck after it caught fire, and smoke billowed out from underneath his hood. He stopped at the entrance of pit road, and safety crews were on the scene quickly.

The race restarted with 14 to go. Ruggiero and Grant Enfinger drove into turn one on the front row, and Ruggiero pulled away out in front.

Taylor Gray shoved Colin Braun off the track, then Butcher followed Braun into the grass.

10 to go

Wesley Slimp and Sutton got off the track together; however, they were both able to rejoin the race.

Then, Corey Lajoie stalled his truck, bringing out the seventh caution of the afternoon.

Butcher and Enfinger maintained the front row for the final restart of the day. Enfinger got a much better launch and took the lead into turn one. Lewis took second after Butcher had a rough restart.

Parker Kligerman got loose, which allowed Honeycutt to close the gap to his rear bumper. Ruggiero and Honeycutt completed the pass on Kligerman, who fell to fifth.

Ruggiero shoved Honeycutt off the track. Honeycutt wasted no time paying him back. Honeycutt quickly rejoined the track and immediately turned Ruggiero completely around.

Enfinger took the white flag with Lewis in his tire tracks. Lewis pressured Enfinger all the way to the checkered flag but never found an opening to complete the pass. He did not have enough to get by Enfinger. Grant Enfinger kept his lead to win the LiUNA 150 – his first road course victory!

Marvin’s Minute:

The first 60 laps were relatively clean. But after stage three started, the field forgot how to drive. People were throwing unnecessary blocks on restarts, as well as driving with no regard for the finish. Enfinger knew it was a long race, and to finish first, you must first finish. His veteran experience put him right where he needed to be to get the job done. That was a well-deserved win for Enfinger.

With their finishing results, Riggs and Honeycutt secured their spots in The Chase and will race for the championship later this season.

The series continues its schedule at North Wilkesboro next week.