Christian Eckes claims masterful Martinsville victory in NASCAR Trucks: It was indeed a special night for NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Christian Eckes, who dominated Friday night’s Long John Silver’s 200 at Martinsville Speedway.(Read More)(4-5-2024)
#19-Christian Eckes dominated to win the Long John Silver’s 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway Friday night. The win was his second of the season, first at Martinsville, and the seventh Truck Series win of his career.
Pole-sitter #98-Ty Majeski finished second, followed by #77-Chase Purdy, #2-Nick Sanchez, #18-Tyler Ankrum, #17-Taylor Gray, #71-Rajah Caruth, #7-Sammy Sammy Smith, #45-Kaden Honeyycutt, and #11-Corey Heim in the top-10.
There were five lead changes among three drivers and 11 cautions for 81 yellow flag laps.
Despite Majeski starting from the pole, Eckes led lap 1. He went on to dominate the opening stages before making his lone pitstop of the night on lap 104. He restarted the race 19th and quickly returned to the top-five. With caution flags slowing the race at times, it wasn’t until lap 172 that he was able to reclaim the lead. In all, he led 133 of the 200 laps.
The average speed of the race was: 55.908mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville
Christian Eckes won the Long John Silver’s 200, his seventh victory in 97 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2024.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in six races at Martinsville Speedway.
Ty Majeski (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2024.
Chase Purdy (third) posted his second top-10 finish in five races at Martinsville Speedway.
Layne Riggs (15th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Ty Majeski leads the point standings by 7 points over Corey Heim.
(NASCAR)(4-5-2024)
Truck Series Driver Point Standings after Martinsville:
1) #19-Christian Eckes, 2 wins
2) #11-Corey Heim, 1 win
3) #2-Nick Sanchez, 1 win
4) #71-Rajah Caruth, 1 win
5) #98-Ty Majeski, 248, +106
6) #18-Tyler Ankrum, 241, +99
7) #17-Taylor Gray, 212, +70
8) #88-Matt Crafton, 173, +31
9) #9-Grant Enfinger, 154, +12
10) #99-Ben Rhodes, 148, +6
Outside of the playoffs:
11) #15-Tanner Gray, 142, -6
12) #13-Jake Garcia, 125, -23
See the Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings
Paint Schemes
Race Updates:
Checkered flag: Eckes with the win, his second of the season. Majeski, Purdy, Sanchez, Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Caruth, S.Smith, Honeyycutt, Heim the top-10.
Lap 196: Eckes and Majeski choose the inside. Sanchez will restart outside. 3 to go for the restart.
Lap 190: CAUTION Enfinger spins Friesen. Mills gets collected.
Lap 184: Restart for Eckes, Majeski, Sanchez. Sanchez around for second.
Lap 177: CAUTION repeat caution as the trucks of Riggs, Waters, Garcia, Dye all involved.
Lap 172: Majeski leads Eckes for the restart. Eckes pulls to the lead in the outside lane. Majeski doesn’t quit and gets into the rear of Eckes a few times.
Lap 167: CAUTION multi-truck wreck. Waters, Garcia, Dye, Wood involved. Replay looks like it was a chain reaction as Caruth initially got sideways.
Lap 165: Restart for Majeski. Eckes moves into second over Sanchez.
Lap 157: CAUTION Holmes and Carroll spin. Holmes may have gotten turned first, collecting Carroll. Majeski doesn’t want to see these cautions because he leads, but barely, with Sanchez separating him from Eckes, who had dominated the first half of the race.
Lap 145: CAUTION Enfinger, Thompson with heavy contact. Thompson gets the worst of it.
Lap 140: Restart as Majeski leads.
Lap 134: CAUTION Honeycutt gets into the rear of Dye and then spins. Majeski leads.
Lap 130: Eckes gets into Heim a few times trying to take 6th. Ultimately, he prevails. Majeski leads Gray, Sanchez, Friesen, Sawalich.
Lap 105: Eckes pits from the lead for his first stop of the day. he will restart in 19th after dominating the opening stages. Majeski, Sawalich and Gray will lead the restart for stage 3.
Lap 100: Eckes wins stage 2. Ankrum, Purdy, Majeski follow.
Lap 98: Dye gets into Boyd. Riggs gets collected.
Lap 84: Restart. Eckes leads.
Lap 76: CAUTION Riggs spin.
Lap 74: Back to green.
Lap 71: Crafton pits under yellow to get service to his ailing machine. Sanchez, Caruth also pit.
Lap 66: CAUTION Tanner Gray and Crafton get together. Crafton has right front damage. Eckes maintains the lead.
Lap 61: Green for stage 2. Eckes leads Sanchez. Both stayed out under yellow.
Lap 50: Eckes leads from start to finish of stage 1 and gets the win. Majeski, Riggs, Heim, Sanchez, Rhodes, Ankrum, Garcia, Honeycutt and Purdy the top-10
Lap 37: Back to green as Eckes continues to lead. Some trucks opt to pit, but not the leaders.
Lap 29: CAUTION Thad Moffitt spins. He had brake issues in practice.
Lap 10: 10/50 of stage 1. Eckes leads Majeski, Riggs, Heim, Sanchez, Rhodes, Garcia, Thompson, Ankrum and Purdy.
Lap 1: Eckes leads lap 1 over pole-sitter Majeski
Start of the race held up as the Lothian truck dropped fluid on the pace laps.
Distance: 200 laps / 105.2 miles
Stages: 50 / 100 / 200
Average time of race: 1:50:52
Pit road speed: 30 mph
Caution car speed: 35 mph
Fuel Window: 154 laps
Invocation: 7:24
National Anthem: 7:25
Command: 7:32
Green Flag: 7:41pm/et
Trucks to the rear: none
Pitstall Selections
#98-Ty Majeski won the pole for the Long John Silver’s 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 97.523mph for his second pole of the season, first at Martinsville, and the seventh pole of his career.
#19-Christian Eckes will start second, followed by #38-Layne Riggs, #11-Corey Heim, #2-Nick Sanchez, #99-Ben Rhodes, #13-Jake Garcia, #5-Dean Thompson, #16-Tyler Ankrum and #91-Jack Wood in the top-10.
Did not qualify: none, all made the field.
See the complete Long John Silver’s 200 Starting Lineup and check out the complete Qualifying Results.
Qualifying Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Ty Majeski won the Pole Award for the Long John Silver’s 200 with a lap of 19.417 seconds, 97.523 mph.
This is his seventh pole in 72 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.
This is his second pole and sixth top-10 start in 2024.
This is his first pole in three races at Martinsville Speedway.
Christian Eckes (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2024 and his fourth in six races at Martinsville Speedway.
Layne Riggs # (third) posted his first top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his second in six races this season.
Layne Riggs (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)
Crew Rosters
Qualifying Order
Practice for Long John Silver’s 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over; the top-five, slowest and notes:
#98-Majeski 94.751
#11-Heim 94.637
#19-Eckes 94.364
#5-Thompson 94.298
#88-Crafton 94.195
Slowest: #22-Mallozzi 91.509
Most laps run: 36, #1-Sawalich, #17-Gray
Notes: #46-Moffitt had a brake issue and will not qualify. #90-Carroll did not clock a speed.
See complete results on the practice speeds page.(4-5-2024)
The entry list for the Long John Silver’s 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway has been released. There are 33 drivers/teams for 36 spots. Since 33 teams are entered, none will miss the race. Some notes: #1-Sawalich, #7-Smith, #22-TBA, #45-Honeycutt, #66-Waters, #90-Carroll, #91-Wood. See the complete Long John Silver’s 200 Entry List page.
Goodyear Tire Notes
