NCTS Race Recap: Team EJP 175

Championship favorites, Layne Riggs and Kaden Honeycutt, brought their speed to New Hampshire as they started the EJP 175 on the front row. Gio Ruggiero and Cup Series regular Connor Zilisch started behind them. This race was the conclusion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular season, so everything was on the line for some. The stage lengths were 55 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 65 laps.

Quick Cautions

Before the trucks could make it through turns one and two, the first caution came out when Luke Baldwin stopped on the front stretch. He ran into the rear bumper of Jake Garcia as the green flag was dropped. Baldwin got the worst of the damage, while Garcia also had some damage to the rear of his truck.

Riggs and Honeycutt brought the green flag back out – this time with more success. Riggs got the better restart, which allowed Zilisch to dive to the inside. Zilisch could not take the lead, but he did snatch second. Honeycutt wasted no time and began to challenge back for the spot.

Riggs pulled away from Zilisch by almost a second.

The second caution came out when John Hunter Nemechek turned Landen Lewis in turn one. Nemechek drove to the inside of Lewis trying to take the space into the turn. He drove up into Lewis, which sent Lewis around.

Race to the Stage End

Zilisch joined Riggs on the front row for the restart. Honeycutt pushed Riggs back out front. He then tried to get around Zilisch for second.  Honeycutt could not take the spot, and Daniel Hemric pulled to the outside of him. Honeycutt quickly got it figured out, got in front of Hemric, settling in third.

Zilisch kept close to Riggs, and Honeycutt began to fade.

On lap 33, Zilisch began to press for the lead. Zilisch used a big run on the front stretch to dive into turn one and take the lead. He pulled away from Riggs by over a second.

Honeycutt fell outside the top 15 before lap 42 and complained of a tire going down.

Christopher Bell was fast early. After starting in 17th, he passed his way into the top five.

Zilisch, with a commanding lead, stayed out front to win stage one in the Team EJP 175! Riggs, Hemric, Chandler Smith, and Bell finished the stage in the top five.

Sweep Sweep

Garcia joined Riggs on the front row for the restart. Garcia held off Riggs in turns one and two to take the lead. Smith got around Riggs to take second, as the top three pulled away from Zilisch, who sat in fourth.

Smith caught Garcia out front and began to challenge for the lead. On lap 74, Smith took the lead driving into turn one.

Spencer Boyd brought out the fourth caution as he got turned around in turn four.

Smith and Ruggiero restarted on the front row. Smith got the better restart and took the lead, but Zilisch quickly jumped to challenge. Zilisch was able to retake the lead, and they battled side by side. Zilisch was able to pull away with Smith and Bell behind him.

Garcia fell to fifth.

Smith stayed glued to Zilisch. They pulled away from Bell by three seconds.

Riggs caught and passed Bell for third. Riggs was one of the fastest trucks on the track, still three seconds behind the top two.

Zilisch was able to keep the lead and sweep the stages in the Team EJP 175! Smith, Riggs, Bell, and Garcia finished the stage in the top five.

Riggs Found the Front

After some differing pit strategies, Stewart Friesen and Michael Christopher, Jr. restarted on the front row. Friesen snagged the lead into turn one, as Christopher Jr was quickly swallowed up. Riggs took second on the outside line, with Tanner Gray on the inside.

Riggs retook the lead right before another caution was thrown. Timmy Hill and Nemechek got into the outside wall. Kris Wright was also involved.

Gray and Riggs restarted the race. Riggs was shot out of a cannon, while Gray slipped up and fell to fifth.

The sixth caution came out when Bell spun with some help from Smith. He backed his truck into the outside wall but was able to get turned back around.

Riggs and Ruggiero restarted on the front row. Riggs retook his lead quickly. Friesen settled in third.

Riggs slowly began to pull away.

Tristin McKee got to the inside of Friesen to battle for third. McKee could not hold it and got loose.

Riggs pulled away by almost a second.

Smith hounded Friesen for third. After several laps of trying, he was finally able to take the spot with 23 to go.

Friesen, McKee, and Honeycutt battled for fourth.

Gavan Boschele slammed the wall with five to go. He got loose into turn one and wrecked by himself.

Overtime in New Hampshire

Ruggiero and Riggs restarted from the front row. Honeycutt tried to make a run for second but got pinched by Ruggiero. Ruggiero drove deep into turn one but got loose and spun around from second. He, Connor Mosack, and Christian Eckes got the worst of it.

Teammates Riggs and Smith got the second overtime started on the front row. Riggs got a push from Honeycutt and retook the lead. Smith settled in second but had to hold off Honeycutt. Riggs took the white flag and the checkered to win the Team EJP 175! Smith, Honeycutt, Friesen and Zilisch finished in the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

Layne Riggs has been the favorite to win the championship all season. He had so much speed last year but had a Heim problem. Winning the regular season will give him a great starting spot for the Chase. I have also been impressed with Kaden Honeycutt. He has grown so much as a driver this season and will look to chase down Riggs. I would still put my money on Layne “The Machine” Riggs.

The series begins its playoffs in Bristol after a week off.