NCTS Race Recap: UNOH 250

The start of The Chase for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series began at Bristol Motor Speedway in the UNOH 250. Qualifying was rained out with nine trucks left.  That put teammates Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith on the front row for the start. The runner-up in the regular season points standings, Kaden Honeycutt, started the race in third. Tristan McKee and Stewart Friesen also started in the top five. Stages one and two were 65 laps, with the final stage being 120 laps.

The Layne Train has left the Station

Riggs got a great launch at the start and was able to pull away from his teammate. Smith and McKee settled in second and third.

Five laps in, Honeycutt stayed on the rear bumper of McKee and made the pass for third.

Stewart Friesen fell back a bit in the first handful of laps. He settled in eighth after getting loose.

Ty Majeski was next to get around McKee.

Riggs caught the rear of the field on lap 19. That cut his lead in half and allowed Smith and Honeycutt to catch his rear bumper. As soon as Riggs found some open track, he was able to build his lead back to over half a second.

Honeycutt caught and passed Smith for the runner-up position.

On lap 44, Christian Eckes was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop to repair damage to his right front. He made contact with Grant Enfinger, which put Eckes in the wall. Eckes was then hit with a penalty for too many men over the wall.

Jake Garcia, who started in 12th, climbed his way into the fourth before the stage ended.

Riggs led them all to win stage one in the UNOH 250! His lead was over two and a half seconds. Honeycutt, Smith, Garcia, and Majeski finished in the top five.

Riggs is Speed

Riggs got a great push from his teammate to retake his lead. Smith dove down in front of Honeycutt for second.

Garcia, on new tires, got around Majeski for fourth.

McKee and Ben Rhodes battled side by side for sixth.  McKee was able to take the spot.

On lap 90, Riggs was half a second ahead of Smith, who was half a second ahead of Honeycutt.

Lapped traffic allowed Honeycutt to close the gap and even take second from Smith. Garcia also caught the rear of Smith.

Riggs led every lap, again, in the quick stage two of the UNOH 250! Honeycutt was half a second back. Smith, Garcia and Majeski rounded out the top five at the stage end.

Riggs had a slow pit stop and lost 5 spots. Smith got a penalty for speeding on pit road.

Layne with Big Issues

Garcia and Friesen began stage three on the front row. Honeycutt tried to use the high side to take the lead, but he settled in second. Riggs got a great run on the high side but also could not make the pass. Friesen took the inside underneath Riggs. Riggs held onto the spot.

On lap 161, Layne Riggs complained of a vibration and made an unscheduled pit stop. He dropped two laps down.

The third caution came out with 82 to go in the race. Nick Leitz got loose in turn three and hit the outside wall. Caden Kvapil had his engine expire and spray oil all over the track. Ty Majeski, Frankie Muniz, and Kris Wright were also caught in the oil spill.

NASCAR displayed the red flag to allow for cleanup.

Garcia and Friesen brought the green flag back out on the front row. Honeycutt pushed Garcia out front and got to the outside. Garcia was able to hold him off and stay out front.

Bayley Curry got around Friesen to take third.

Garcia got loose, which allowed Honeycutt to close the gap a bit.

On lap 210, Honeycutt complained of a vibration. He fell back a couple of positions.

The fourth caution came out on lap 212 due to debris on the track. Honeycutt used the opportunity to pit and fix the vibration.

Final Restart

Currey and Garcia restarted from the front row. Garcia got a great jump, but Currey was able to get to the inside and Friesen on the outside. Friesen took the lead with a great run on the outside line. Garcia stayed close with Currey in tow.

Garcia and Currey caught the rear of Friesen. Friesen began to run the outside line to try to hold off Garcia.

Riggs slowed with a tire rub. He had a lot of damage after contact with Leitz on the restart.

Garcia dove into turn one and drove out of turn two in the lead. He got to the outside line, which allowed him to pull away.

Currey began to hound Friesen for second.

15 to go saw Smith complaining of a tire going down.

Honeycutt used his fresh tires to cut through the field. He restarted 16th and got into eighth with seven to go in the race.

Smith had to pit for his tire issue.

Currey took second from Friesen with 2 to go.

Garcia captured the white flag, and then the checkered flag to win the UNOH 250! That was his first truck series win. Currey, Friesen, Justin Haley, and McKee rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

The points leaders had some issues throughout the evening. Riggs got the worst of it along with his teammate. Honeycutt was able to bounce back and finish eighth. Bristol is always a challenge for all. It is a no-nonsense and unbiased tough track. I do not think that race changed the favorites, but it probably made them a bit nervous. The series continues its Chase next weekend in Kansas!