{"id":48896,"date":"2024-11-02T23:00:14","date_gmt":"2024-11-03T04:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=48896"},"modified":"2024-11-03T08:36:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T14:36:05","slug":"christian-eckes-wins-at-martinsville-after-drama-filled-closing-laps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/02\/christian-eckes-wins-at-martinsville-after-drama-filled-closing-laps\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Eckes wins at Martinsville after drama-filled closing laps"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"

Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway on November 01, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 Christian Eckes wasn\u2019t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant using the front bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet\u2014twice.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway on November 01, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After a restart with five laps left in Friday night\u2019s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes first moved the Toyota of Taylor Gray and then the Ford of Ben Rhodes\u2014both of which were rolling on 40-lap fresher tires\u2014to win the race and earn a spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series\u2019 Championship 4 Race.<\/p>\n

Six-time winner Corey Heim ran seventh and Ty Majeski came home 11th, as both earned berths in the Championship 4 on points, eliminating Gray, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth in the final event of the Playoffs\u2019 Round of 8.<\/p>\n

Eckes, Heim, Majeski and Grant Enfinger will race for the title next Friday at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

\"\"

Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, and Taylor Gray, driver of the #17 JBL Toyota, race during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway on November 01, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After the restart on Lap 196 of 200, Gray used his better tires to squeeze past Eckes to the inside. Eckes regained the top spot by moving Gray up the track. A lap later, Rhodes passed Eckes, who completed the fourth lead change in the final five laps by shoving the No. 99 Ford on Lap 198.<\/p>\n

Free of his competitors, Eckes crossed the finish line two laps later, 1.191 seconds ahead of Rhodes. Chase Purdy and Gray were third and fourth, followed by Sanchez.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I told everybody, I wasn\u2019t going to lose this race\u2014this truck was too good,\u201d Eckes said. \u201cThe 17 (Gray) was hard racing. I feel bad about the 99 (Rhodes). I just got way too loose entering the corner.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Taylor Gray, driver of the #17 JBL Toyota, (L) confronts Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, after Eckes won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway on November 01, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201c(Hearing boos from the crowd). Everybody\u2019s really happy with me\u2014but I don\u2019t really care. I\u2019m proud of everybody for working hard, and we\u2019re going to Phoenix.\u201d<\/p>\n

The victory was Eckes\u2019 fourth of the season, his second at Martinsville and the ninth of his career, but it came with a price.<\/p>\n

After climbing from his truck, Gray walked angrily toward Eckes and expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms.<\/p>\n

A victory would have landed Gray in the Championship 4 at the expense of Majeski, who instead claimed the last spot by 28 points over Gray.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, and Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, race during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway on November 01, 2024 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI got sent to the fence when I raced him perfectly clean in (Turns) 1 and 2,\u201d Gray said. \u201cWhat goes around comes around. I have to race him next year all year long (when both move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 19 (Eckes) was the class of the field, right? But it\u2019s not my fault we had better strategy than he did. We came out on tires; we drove through the field and we drove to him. I raced him clean, and he drove me in the fence. I guess the only thing I could have done is wreck him like he wrecked me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eckes swept the first two stages, his series-best 10th and 11th of the season and led 187 of the 200 laps. He held a substantial lead before a six-car accident in Turn 2 on Lap 190 caused the sixth and final caution and set up the frenetic finish.<\/p>\n

For practical purposes, Gray, Sanchez, Ankrum and Caruth entered the race in must-win situations. Ankrum finished eighth, and Caruth came home 31st after losing 21 laps in the garage as his team repaired a brake issue on his No. 71 Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

Despite finishing third in each of the first two stages, Sanchez was 39 points out of a Championship 4 position when the race ended.<\/p>\n

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

NCTS Race Winner – Christian Eckes (No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race \u2013 Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martinsville, Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, November 1, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. (1)  Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  2. (6)  Ben Rhodes, Ford, 200.<\/li>\n
  3. (8)  Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  4. (3)  Taylor Gray (P), Toyota, 200.<\/li>\n
  5. (4)  Nick Sanchez (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  6. (5)  Layne Riggs #, Ford, 200.<\/li>\n
  7. (7)  Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 200.<\/li>\n
  8. (23)  Tyler Ankrum (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  9. (33)  Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  10. (20)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 200.<\/li>\n
  11. (2)  Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 200.<\/li>\n
  12. (27)  Connor Zilisch(i), Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  13. (16)  Matt Crafton, Ford, 200.<\/li>\n
  14. (12)  William Sawalich, Toyota, 200.<\/li>\n
  15. (24)  Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  16. (25)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  17. (17)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, 200.<\/li>\n
  18. (31)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  19. (21)  Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 200.<\/li>\n
  20. (26)  Jake Garcia, Ford, 199.<\/li>\n
  21. (19)  Timmy Hill, Toyota, 198.<\/li>\n
  22. (32)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 198.<\/li>\n
  23. (30)  Lawless Alan, Ford, 198.<\/li>\n
  24. (35)  Clayton Green, Ford, 197.<\/li>\n
  25. (36)  Justin Carroll, Toyota, 197.<\/li>\n
  26. (10)  Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 196.<\/li>\n
  27. (22)  Matthew Gould, Chevrolet, 195.<\/li>\n
  28. (13)  Johnny Sauter, Ford, Accident, 194.<\/li>\n
  29. (15)  Tanner Gray, Toyota, Accident, 182.<\/li>\n
  30. (28)  Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, Accident, 181.<\/li>\n
  31. (11)  Rajah Caruth (P), Chevrolet, 179.<\/li>\n
  32. (18)  Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, Brakes, 166.<\/li>\n
  33. (9)  Kaden Honeycutt, Chevrolet, Accident, 162.<\/li>\n
  34. (29)  Dylan Lupton(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 96.<\/li>\n
  35. (14)  Landen Lewis, Toyota, Brakes, 82.<\/li>\n
  36. (34)  Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Brakes, 17.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  65.613 mph.<\/p>\n

    Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 36 Mins, 12 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.191 Seconds.<\/p>\n

    Caution Flags:  6 for 46 laps.<\/p>\n

    Lead Changes:  6 among 3 drivers.<\/p>\n

    Lap Leaders:   C. Eckes (P) 1-104;B. Rhodes 105-115;C. Eckes (P) 116-194;T. Gray (P) 195;C. Eckes (P) 196;B. Rhodes 197;C. Eckes (P) 198-200.<\/p>\n

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Christian Eckes (P) 4 times for 187 laps; Ben Rhodes 2 times for 12 laps; Taylor Gray (P) 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 19,98,2,17,38,11,45,77,1,7<\/p>\n

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,98,2,11,1,52,99,45,18,9<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service  MARTINSVILLE, Va. \u2013 Christian Eckes wasn\u2019t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant using the front bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet\u2014twice. After a restart with five laps left in Friday night\u2019s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":48879,"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":[845,407,16,882],"class_list":["post-48896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-christian-eckes","tag-martinsville-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-craftsmen-truck-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2182375476-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1681&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-cIE","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48896"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48901,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896\/revisions\/48901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}