Corey Eckes 2023 Truck Race Victory: Eckes didn’t complete a lap during the race’s nighttime action, which put him in fourth place as the final restart got closer. Corey Heim, who was always in charge, led the way. A memorable scene began as Eckes, Heim, and Zane Smith went through Turn 3. It was short but powerful. The competitors gave each other nudges that could be felt, setting the stage for Eckes to make a decisive move toward the inside lane. He moved quickly and precisely past his opponents to take the lead.
At the end of the race, Eckes fought off Taylor Gray’s attempts to pass him. He won by just 0.363 seconds when the checkered flag was raised. This victory was vital because it was his third win of the 2023 season and came after a long dry run since his last win at Darlington in May.
Thinking back on this successful journey, Eckes said, “That was crazy. I wasn’t sure if I could win. We were in sixth place all day, but when that warning came out, I thought we might have a chance. We hadn’t won in a long time, and I wanted to set a good example. What a great way to end the Round of 10: second, third, and first.”
Matt DiBenedetto took the third spot, and Heim and Smith made up the rest of the top five.
Eckes moves on to the Truck playoffs’ three-race semifinal round with Heim, Smith, Carson Hocevar, Grant Enfinger, Nick Sanchez, Ben Rhodes, and Ty Majeski, all of whom are strong candidates. But Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton have reached the end of their trip and are no longer in the running for the title.
Now, let’s break this race down into its most important steps:
Stage 1: Nick Sanchez was in charge of the first act. He took the lead and won Stage 1. With only three laps left in the 30-lap segment, Kaden Honeycutt’s spin caused a yellow. This was the third stage win for Sanchez in the 2023 season. Chase Purdy was second, Ben Rhodes was third, Corey Heim was fourth, and Christian Eckes, always in the running, was fifth.
Stage 2: During the middle of the race, Carson Hocevar showed how good he was by winning Stage 2 with a fantastic 2.189-second lead over Nick Sanchez. Third place went to Corey Heim, while Zane Smith and Grant Enfinger were close behind in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Stage 3: After the break between Stages 2 and 3, the trucks in the lead lap made crucial pit stops, and Corey Heim came out on top. But the race took a rough turn when Matt Crafton, who was trying to make the playoffs, crashed into the Turn 2 wall on Lap 72 and lost his hold on the contenders’ circle.
The same thing happened to Ben Rhodes as the race went on, who hit the wall with just 61 laps left. With 39 laps left, Corey Heim led the charge into pit road, which signaled the start of a final round of green-flag pit stops. As the race was coming to a close, it was important for the drivers to stop at the holes and get new tires and fuel.
But Grant Enfinger’s pit stop went wrong when he was caught speeding, which dropped him to 17th place in the running order. After the highly complex pit stops, Corey Heim took back the lead with only 27 laps left on the race clock.
As the race hit its peak, fireworks went off. Mason Maggio had a lot of bad luck, and a scary thing happened when he crashed off Turn 4. With only nine laps left in the race, this dramatic turn of events set up a thrilling restart. Corey Heim held the lead like a vice, but Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith were on his tail.
In the last few seconds, Rajah Caruth and Tanner Gray were involved in a second crash, which caused another restart. This time, only two laps were left on the scoreboard, and Corey Heim was still in charge of everything.
Our Reader’s Queries
Who won the Truck Championship 2023?
The 2023 season of the Truck Series came to a close on Friday night at Phoenix Raceway, with Ben Rhodes of ThorSport Racing emerging as the champion. Despite sustaining damage to his truck, Rhodes managed to fend off a battered Grant Enfinger, who had the advantage of fresh tires. In the end, Rhodes’ skill and determination proved to be the deciding factor in securing his well-deserved victory.
Who won Nascar Truck Series Championship?
In a thrilling overtime race at Phoenix, Ben Rhodes emerged victorious and clinched the NASCAR Truck Series championship. The event was nothing short of wild, with the drivers pushing themselves to the limit. Despite the intense competition, Rhodes managed to stay ahead of the pack and secure his well-deserved win. The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered on their favorite drivers, making for an unforgettable experience. Rhodes’ triumph is a testament to his skill and determination, and he can now proudly call himself a NASCAR champion.
Who won the truck race in Miami?
Carson Hocevar made a stunning move by overtaking Ben Rhodes with just 11 laps remaining at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He then went on to lead the pack all the way to the finish line, securing his spot in the Championship 4. It was an impressive display of skill and determination from the young driver, who proved that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Congratulations to Carson on a well-deserved victory!
Has Carson Hocevar won a truck race?
Carson Hocevar is back in the driver’s seat of the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for his third full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He’s already secured four wins, with his most recent victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October. Hocevar’s first career win was at Texas Motor Speedway in April. With his impressive track record, it’s clear that Hocevar is a force to be reckoned with on the NASCAR circuit.
