Paint Schemes
#38-Chandler Smith beat the heat and dominated to win the FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro. The win is his second of the season, second at North Wilkesboro, and the ninth truck win of his career. This is Smith’s second consecutive win at North Wilkesboro.
Smith dominated the closing stage of the race, pacing the field for 105 laps. He set a record for the largest margin of victory in Truck Series history on a short track. His teammate, #34-Layne Riggs, crossed the finish line 8.479-seconds behind. Only the top-10 finished on the lead lap.
#71-Shane Van GisBergen was third, followed by #91-Christian Eckes, #45-Landen Lewis, #17-Gio Ruggiero, #7-Chase Elliott, #52-Stewart Friesen, #5-Corey Heim, and #88-Ty Majeski in the top-10.
There were seven lead changes among six drivers and four caution flags for 34 yellow flag laps.
Extreme heat was a factor at North Wilkesboro. Many drivers needed extra water and ice packs following the race, with #33-Frankie Muniz needing assistance to an ambulance. #4-Donovan Strauss made his series debut, but saw his day end on lap 134. Strauss said he was treated for “borderline heat stroke” after climbing from his truck.
The average speed of the race was: 91.627mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report
Race Fast Facts – North Wilkesboro:
Chandler Smith won the FaithFest 250 presented by Mercer Transportation, his ninth victory in 102 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.
This is his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2026.
This is his second victory and second top-10 finish in two races at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Layne Riggs (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2026.
Shane Van Gisbergen(i) (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Brenden Queen (21st) was the highest finishing rookie.
Layne Riggs leads the point standings by 59 points over Kaden Honeycutt.
Truck Series Driver Point Standings after North Wilkesboro:
Race 15 of 18 in the regular season:
1) #34-Layne Riggs, 640, advancing
2) #11-Kaden Honeycutt, 581, advancing
3) #38-Chandler Smith, 514, +178
4) #91-Christian Eckes, 483, +147
5) #17-Gio Ruggiero, 467, +131
6) #88-Ty Majeski, 400, +64
7) #99-Ben Rhodes, 386, +50
8) #19-Daniel Hemric, 376, +40
9) #9-Grant Enfinger, 356, +20
10) #52-Stewart Friesen, 336, +0
Outside of the top-10 cutline:
11) #18-Tyler Ankrum, 336, -0
12) #13-Jake Garcia, 325, -11
13) #12-Brenden Queen, 313, -23
14) #44-Andres Perez de Lara, 305, -31
15) #16-Justin Haley, 296, -40
See the Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings
Race Updates:
Lap 250: Smith gets the win. Largest margin of victory on a short track in Truck Series history – 8.479-seconds. Riggs, VanGisbergen, Eckes, Lewis, Ruggiero, Elliott, Friesen, Heim and Majeski the top-10.
Lap 247: Nicholson hard in the wall but the track stays green
Lap 246: 4 to go and Smith has over an 8.6-second lead on Riggs.
Lap 240: Smith is just dominating and continuing to lap trucks. A caution would be the only thing to make the end competitive.
Lap 230: 20 to go at NWB. Smith has over a 7-second lead over Riggs now. VanGisbergen has moved into third. Eckes, Ruggiero, Lewis, Elliott, Friesen, Heim and Honeycutt
Lap 220: 30 to go. Smith continues to set the pace; now 5.32-seconds over second place, now held by Riggs. He got around Eckes for position. Eckes is third over VanGisbergen and Ruggiero.
Lap 200: As Smith sets sail, Eckes moves into 2nd over Ruggiero. 50 to go.
Lap 190: Smith leads by over 4 seconds. Ruggiero, Eckes, Riggs, Friesen, Heim, VanGisBergen, Lewis, Elliott, Honeycutt the top-10
Lap 185: Nothing has changed out front. Smith’s lead has grown a bit.
Lap 160: Smith has pulled off to over a second lead. Ruggiero now econd over Eckes.
Lap 152: Smith leads after the varying strategy for the restart with Eckes alongside
Lap 145: Majeski and group of trucks that stayed out the previous stop, now pit.
Lap 140: Majeski wins stage 2 over Smith, Rhodes, Eckes.
Lap 139: Hocevar off of the wall and slow after leading 76 laps earlier. He was 12th at the time.
Lap 129: Restart as Majeski leads from the inside with Perez outside. Smith dives and it sticks, gaining two spots.
Lap 123: Pits under yellow. Hocevar has been battling heat issues on the floorboards burning his feet. He still leads. He got a wet towel for his feet under the yellow. Little bit of a shakeup off of pitroad for various strategies. Majeski, Perez, Enfinger, among those to not pit.
Lap 120: CAUTION Baldwin spins.
Lap 105: Hocevar still out front as Smith is second and Garcia third. Riggs is fourth with Elliott in the top-5
Lap 98: Hocevar back to the front as the older tires catch up to Garcia.
Lap 88: Hocevar now pulls ahead as Smith to the inside of Riggs for third. Garcia, nearly a second ahead now.
Lap 85: Riggs to the inside of Hocevar as Elliott adds his nose to the mix for second. Garcia driving off, over a half second ahead.
Lap 83: Restart, Garcia stayed out, he leads as Hocevar and Riggs follow. Garcia had pit under the first caution for Strauss on lap 16. COntact with Riggs to the inside of Garcia.
Lap 78: Bell too fast entering so he has a penalty for the restart.
Lap 76: Pitstops. Riggs, Hocevar, Smith, Elliott, Bell, Eckes, Heim on the exit; a little bit of shuffle, but not for the leaders.
Lap 70: Riggs wins stage one over Hocevar, Smith, Bell, Elliott, Heim, Honeycutt, Eckes, Ruggiero and Enfinger.
Lap 50: Riggs to the lead after a relentless challenge on Hocevar
Lap 36: Riggs to the inside but cannot complete the pass on Hocevar
Lap 25: Hocevar maintains the lead with Riggs nearly a half second behind.
Lap 20: Restart. Bell gets around Heim for third
Lap 15: CAUTION Strauss spins down track
Lap 10: Honeycutt and Elliott battle for 5th
Lap 2: 3-wide for the lead with Hocevar pulling ahead over pole-sitter Riggs and Heim.
12:51pm/et: Green flag
Race Information:
Broadcast: FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 laps / 156.25 miles
Stages: 70 / 140 / 250
Average time of race: 1:58:40
Pit road speed: 30 mph
Caution car speed: 35 mph
Fuel window: 123 laps
Timing (all times local & subject to change)
Invocation: 12:33:20 p.m.
National Anthem: 12:34:00 p.m.
Command: 12:41:00 p.m.
Green Flag: 12:48:00 p.m.
Trucks to the rear: None.
Pitstall Selections
#34-Layne Riggs won the pole for the FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is his second pole of the year and the sixth of his career.
#77-Carson Hocevar will start alongside in row one, followed by #62-Christopher Bell, #5-Corey Heim, #17-Gio Ruggiero, #7-Chase Elliott, #11-Kaden Honeycutt, #9-Grant Enfinger, #38-Chandler Smith and #52-Stewart Friesen in the top-10.
Did not qualify: #56-Timmy Hill and #75-Landon Huffman.
See the complete FaithFest 250 Starting Lineup and the Qualifying Results page.
Qualifying Fast Facts – North Wilkesboro:
Layne Riggs won the Pole Award for the FaithFest 250 presented by Mercer Transportation with a lap of 18.502 seconds, 121.608 mph.
This is his sixth pole in 69 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.
This is his second pole and ninth top-10 start in 2026.
This is his first pole in three races at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Carson Hocevar(i) (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2026 and his second in two races at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Christopher Bell(i) (third) posted his second top-10 start at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is his fourth in five races this season.
Cole Butcher (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Practice for the FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway is complete. Top-5 fastest, slowest, and notes:
#77-Carson Hocevar 120.715
#62-Christopher Bell 120.689
#11-Kaden Honeycutt 120.218
#7-Chase Elliott 120.102
#5-Corey Heim 119.815
Slowest: #27-Kasey Kleyn 115.539
Most laps run: #7-Chase Elliott, #1-Nick Leitz, 69
See the complete FaithFest 250 practice results.
Crew Rosters
Qualifying Order
Goodyear Tire Notes: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will run a familiar right-side tire, raced several times last year including at North Wilkesboro, alongside a new left-side tire. That specification was introduced at Phoenix for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but is yet to be raced by the Truck Series.
The entry list for the FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway has been released. There are 39 drivers/teams for 36 spots.
Some notes: #1-Nick Leitz, #4-Donovan Strauss, #7-Chase Elliott, #25-Ryan Newman, #27-Kasey Klein, #62-Christopher Bell, #71-Shane Van Gisbergen, #75-Landon Huffman.
See the complete North Wilkesboro entry list page.
At Track Schedule
Race rules and information:
