Christian Eckes looked to test his luck at Charlotte Motor Speedway! (Photo Credit: Kaulig Racing | X)

Lucky 13 rides along with the driver who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!

BetMGM 300

Driver: Christian Eckes
Organization & Number: Kaulig Racing, #16
Crew Chief: Alex Yontz
Spotter: Coleman Pressley

“Let’s go make this the turning point of our season.” – Alex Yontz

With multiple NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the Xfinity field, and two qualifying ahead of P13, we took the 13th series regular. This ended up being Eckes who qualified P15.

Stage 1

Christian Eckes took advantage of a squirrely start to the race and quickly moved up to P11. By lap three, he had worked his way into P10. Spotter Coleman Pressley helped his driver navigate up one more spot before the No. 16 fell into line.

Eventually, Eckes lost a spot to a hard-charging Justin Allgaier but was informed he was running top-five lap times. Pressley also told Eckes that Allgaier was one of the best cars on track. He encouraged his driver to settle in and learn from the veteran driver.

On Lap 15, Eckes said he was building free. Four laps later, the caution waved as Kris Wright went for a spin. Eckes was scored P10 and requested the opportunity to let the car come to him on the next run.

(Photo Credit: Griffin Fuller | Pit Pass Network)

He lined up P10, behind Allgaier, for the restart on Lap 24 and quickly found himself sitting three wide. Despite the chaos, he moved up to P7. Another spot was gained when he made a move to the inside lane. However, he fell back to P8 after a brush with the wall, and Pressley quickly said his right side looked fine.

The next caution came on Lap 27 as Brad Perez stalled on the backstretch. During the caution, the No. 16 team looked at pictures of the fender, noting it was bent in a little, but not in terrible condition.

Closing Stage Laps

The restart came with 13 to go, and once again, Eckes was running three wide. He gained a spot and was banging doors with Taylor Gray.

With 10 to go, Pressley said, “You have to be one extreme or the other. Get on the paint or against the wall.”

Two laps later, Pressley noted the front fender had been knocked in and said, “Keep the body on it. We’ll fix you up at the break.”

After hanging on for eight more laps, he finished the stage P14 and updated his team on the handling.

Stage 2

Eckes finally hit pit road for much-needed adjustments. The Lap 53 restart saw Eckes in P11 and quickly gain three positions.

Nine laps later, he was in a battle with Sheldon Creed, Carson Kvapil, and Sammy Smith that nearly sent him spinning.

(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)

He settled in at P14, and halfway through the stage, Yontz was looking ahead to the next stop and asked what he could do to help with the handling.

Running P15 in the closing laps of the stage, Eckes went door-to-door with Dean Thompson and crossed the stripe P16.

Stage 3

Facing 100 laps to go, Eckes lined up P12 and was instructed, “Forget everything that’s happened. It’s a fresh slate.”

Early on, he fell to P13 and held steady until 73 to go. From there, tires began to play a factor.

With 57 to go, he pitted from P14. However, shortly after pitting, the caution waved for debris. Eckes was scored P23, down one lap. He took the wavearound and restarted P22 with 46 to go.

Pressley warned it could be a “messy” restart. Fortunately, drivers kept it clean until the caution waved three laps later. Eckes was scored in P20.

The team weighed pitting vs. staying out, but ultimately, Yontz opted to stay on track and restart P20 with 38 to go.

Eckes worked to P15, and then suddenly Kvapil was spinning and the yellow was in the air. This moved Eckes to P14, and he immediately radioed in, “Too tight.”

Yontz brought Eckes to the pits for a final round of adjustments.

(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)

17 to Go

Pressley hinted that the restart would not go well. Firing off from P16, it was indeed a wreckfest, and Eckes got collected.

Immediately, Eckes stated, “Toe is knocked out. Not sure about the body.” Despite the damage and chaos, he sat P11. Pressley took a closer look and expressed his concerns that the tire would be cut from the bumper.

Ultimately, Yontz opted to take his chances and leave the No. 16 on track with 12 to go. Unfortunately, as soon as the green waved, the yellow was back out when Katherine Legge and JJ Yeley got into each other.

With six to go, Eckes was running P12 and found himself top of four. He worked his way to P10 before the caution waved again as Brandon Jones, Leland Honeyman, Kyle Sieg, and Legge wrecked.

Now, teams were facing NASCAR Overtime, and Eckes was in P8.

As two near misses threatened to bring out another caution, the race stayed green.

Eckes held his own and brought it home P10.

(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)

Post-Race Update

It’s another race weekend with a post-race disqualification. This week, Sammy Smith was the unfortunate driver penalized. With that, Eckes bumped up a spot for a P9 finish in Charlotte.

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to shout out Campers Inn RV – they played a huge part of the weekend for Christian and the No. 16 team.

Be sure to give Christian Eckes (Facebook, Instagram, X) and Kaulig Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.