{"id":44194,"date":"2023-11-04T01:50:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T06:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=44194"},"modified":"2023-11-16T20:17:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T02:17:07","slug":"eckes-wins-thrilling-craftsman-truck-race-at-phoenix-rhodes-banks-second-career-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/04\/eckes-wins-thrilling-craftsman-truck-race-at-phoenix-rhodes-banks-second-career-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Eckes wins thrilling CRAFTSMAN Truck race at Phoenix, Rhodes banks second career championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

AVONDALE, Ariz. \u2013 Cautions, re-starts, retribution, extra laps and high-action marked Friday night\u2019s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. And that was just the final 50 laps.<\/p>\n

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Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In the end, ThorSport Racing\u2019s Ben Rhodes claimed his second series championship in the last three years with a hard-earned fifth-place finish in the No. 99 Ford while McAnally Hilgemann Racing\u2019s Christian Eckes raced to his fourth win of the season by a slight .421-seconds over rookie teammate Jake Garcia in four dramatic overtime periods.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the conclusion to an evening that featured 12 caution periods, 29 laps of overtime competition and plenty of high-stakes racing \u2013 especially among the four championship contenders that earned a chance to settle the season title.<\/p>\n

Perhaps indicative of the night, Rhodes\u2019 finish and ultimate trophy haul wasn\u2019t secure until the checkered flag with championship runner-up Grant Enfinger giving it his all in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet coming off Turn 4 in an all-out pursuit to the very end.<\/p>\n

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Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Both Rhodes and Enfinger had survived close calls in the overtime laps. Rhodes collided with Zane Smith racing for the lead \u2013 hitting Smith\u2019s truck when it appeared Smith missed a shift out front in the second overtime restart. Enfinger had close calls in two of the four extra-lap periods and still was able to pull off that final push forward; ultimately finishing one position behind Rhodes in the standings.<\/p>\n

The Regular Season Champion and race polesitter Corey Heim finished 18th after contact from fellow Championship 4 driver Carson Hocevar with 30 laps of regulation remaining in the scheduled 150-lap race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t even believe it,” the 26-year-old Kentucky native Rhodes said of his dramatic title win. \u201cIt\u2019s just so awesome, man. To go 25 laps into overtime, do you know what that feels like? It\u2019s crazy. I didn\u2019t think we were going to make it. I thought we were going to pop a tire, that anything that could have gone wrong was going to go wrong.<\/p>\n

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Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cGrant [Enfinger] almost got me. But hats off to him, he ran a great race. I wouldn\u2019t\u2019 want to race against anybody else for the championship. He raced me clean, and I respect the heck out of him for it.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him,” Rhodes said of Enfinger\u2019s final push forward in the last corner. \u201cHe went for everything, but he ran me clean, and I thank him for that. That\u2019s what these championships are all about.”<\/p>\n

Enfinger, whose GMS Racing team is closing shop at the end of the season, was especially gutted to come so very close to his first championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,” Enfinger said of doing anything differently on that last lap.<\/p>\n

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Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, celebrates after winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman Championship finishing first of the Championship 4 drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cObviously we got loose there at the end,” he continued. \u201cMaybe if he didn\u2019t have such a good run down the backstretch, we\u2019d be able to make that pass. It\u2019s a shame the championship came down to a race like that with 15 green-white-checkers or whatever it was. I feel like we did everything we could to win this and just got used up.”<\/p>\n

The other two championship contenders, Heim and Hocevar had a more contentious situation on-track. Heim, whose 47 laps out front in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota were second most laps led on the night, was actually leading the championship-eligible drivers when Hocevar hit him going into Turn 2 with 30 laps remaining. The contact sent Heim\u2019s Toyota into Stewart Friesen\u2019s Toyota which hit the wall and brought out a caution. Hocevar continued on and Heim had to pit for repairs and went down a lap.<\/p>\n

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Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, celebrates after winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, finishing first of the Championship 4 drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Heim viewed the hit as intentional and later in the race, collided with Hocevar bringing out another caution period. Heim insisted his car just wasn\u2019t steering properly at the time, while Hocevar said he had fully expected the payback. It was enough to sideline Hocevar\u2019s No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet which was credited with a 29th-place finish from the garage.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy only goal was to try slow him down,” Hocevar said. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to do that at all. With my track record, I can\u2019t sit here and say I didn\u2019t mean to. I just messed up. I was trying really hard to slow him up and just messed it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel bad I robbed him of that and feel sorry for that,” an apologetic Hocevar added of Heim\u2019s championship chances. \u201cI just messed up.”<\/p>\n

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Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, finishing first of the Championship 4 drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The 21-year-old Heim had a streak of 15 consecutive top-10 finishes coming into the race and was considered the favorite by many. He had three wins on the season in only his first fulltime year of competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great year, a phenomenal year for us and our worst finish in like six months,” a disappointed Heim said. \u201cReally put together a good race and really hoped the guys would race clean, I have a lot of respect for everybody in the field. But clearly, I don\u2019t anymore. It is what it is, it\u2019s part of racing.<\/p>\n

As for the later contact with Hocevar, Heim said it was purely coincidental, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t retaliation. I had no side force, he put it on my door, and I wrecked [into him].”<\/p>\n

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Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, finishing first of the Championship 4 drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 03, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been racing Carson for a long time, racing since I was eight or nine years-old,” Heim said later. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of just what he does. He\u2019ll wreck you and apologize and do it again the next week. So that\u2019s not going to be the last time he does it and certainly the first time he\u2019d done it. I\u2019ve known him for a long time. \u2026 it is what it is. I completely expected it.”<\/p>\n

As for his victory, the 22-year-old Eckes tried to reconcile the championship race win with having just been eliminated from Playoff contention. He had a win (at Kansas) and a pair of runner-up finishes (Indianapolis Raceway Park and Bristol, Tenn.) during the Playoff stretch but was eliminated after finished of 19th and 20th in the two races leading into the championship finale.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose two races that killed the whole Playoffs pretty much and that\u2019s just kind of the nature of it,” Eckes said. \u201cI didn\u2019t do my job last week and really the week before either.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat gets us out and that puts us in this situation, but it\u2019s motivating for next year and it was motivating for this race too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one kind of stings, I know it\u2019s a win, but the stupid mistakes the last two weeks of a near perfect Playoffs cost us a championship,” Eckes added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of hard to be happy right now, but overall, just super proud of everybody for the year that we\u2019ve had and just ready for 2024.<\/p>\n

Chase Purdy, Jesse Love and Rhodes rounded out the top five. Enfinger, Dean Thompson, Kaden Honeycutt, Tanner Gray and Nick Sanchez completed the top 10. It was a career best finish for the runner-up Garcia as well as Love and Honeycutt.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NCTS Championship Winning Team – Ben Rhodes (No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford); Crew Chief Richard Lushes, Team Owner Allison Thorson –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/PHX2NCTSBenRhodes110323.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NCTS Race Winner – Christian Eckes (No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/PHX2NCTSChristianEckes110323.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship<\/b><\/p>\n

Phoenix Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Avondale, Arizona<\/b><\/p>\n

Friday, November 3, 2023<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (8)  Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                2. (14)  Jake Garcia #, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                3. (5)  Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                4. (10)  Jesse Love, Toyota, 179.<\/p>\n

                5. (6)  Ben Rhodes (P), Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                6. (17)  Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                7. (15)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, 179.<\/p>\n

                8. (27)  Kaden Honeycutt, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                9. (25)  Tanner Gray, Toyota, 179.<\/p>\n

                10. (3)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                11. (28)  Matt Crafton, Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                12. (9)  Rajah Caruth #, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                13. (31)  Lawless Alan, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                14. (2)  Ty Majeski, Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                15. (23)  Hailie Deegan, Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                16. (32)  Christian Rose, Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                17. (34)  Spencer Davis, Ford, 179.<\/p>\n

                18. (1)  Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 179.<\/p>\n

                19. (35)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                20. (36)  Tyler Hill, Toyota, 179.<\/p>\n

                21. (26)  Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 179.<\/p>\n

                22. (19)  Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 178.<\/p>\n

                23. (12)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 177.<\/p>\n

                24. (20)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 175.<\/p>\n

                25. (4)  Zane Smith, Ford, Accident, 172.<\/p>\n

                26. (21)  Sean Hingorani, Chevrolet, Accident, 167.<\/p>\n

                27. (7)  Jack Wood, Chevrolet, Accident, 162.<\/p>\n

                28. (16)  Derek Kraus, Chevrolet, Accident, 156.<\/p>\n

                29. (13)  Carson Hocevar (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 146.<\/p>\n

                30. (24)  Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, Accident, 128.<\/p>\n

                31. (11)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, Accident, 128.<\/p>\n

                32. (22)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, Accident, 128.<\/p>\n

                33. (18)  Jake Drew, Toyota, Accident, 100.<\/p>\n

                34. (29)  Conner Jones, Ford, Accident, 100.<\/p>\n

                35. (33)  Marco Andretti, Chevrolet, Accident, 54.<\/p>\n

                36. (30)  Chris Hacker, Toyota, Accident, 53.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  72.797 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 27 Mins, 32 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.421 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  12 for 77 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  10 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   T. Majeski 1-48;C. Heim (P) 49-95;C. Eckes 96-121;N. Sanchez # 122-126;Z. Smith 127-154;C. Eckes 155;Z. Smith 156-162;C. Eckes 163-168;C. Purdy 169-176;C. Eckes 177-179.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ty Majeski 1 time for 48 laps; Corey Heim (P) 1 time for 47 laps; Christian Eckes 4 times for 36 laps; Zane Smith 2 times for 35 laps; Chase Purdy 1 time for 8 laps; Nick Sanchez # 1 time for 5 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 98,11,38,99,2,4,19,42,23,17<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,38,98,19,17,99,4,23,35,42<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service AVONDALE, Ariz. \u2013 Cautions, re-starts, retribution, extra laps and high-action marked Friday night\u2019s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. And that was just the final 50 laps. In the end, ThorSport Racing\u2019s Ben Rhodes claimed his second series championship in the last three years with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":44185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[498,845,16,882,395],"class_list":["post-44194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-ben-rhodes","tag-christian-eckes","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-craftsmen-truck-series","tag-phoenix-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/GettyImages-1773859915-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1706","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-buO","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44194"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44203,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44194\/revisions\/44203"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}