Jake Garcia enters Darlington as a Playoff contender. Will luck keep him there? (Photo Credit: Jake Garcia | 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!

Sober or Slammer 200

Driver: Jake Garcia
Organization & Number: ThorSport Racing, #13
Crew Chief: Jeriod Prince
Spotter: Joe Campbell
Enters Round of 10: 10th

Stage 1

Jake Garcia entered Darlington Raceway 10th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, kicking off the Round of 10. As the green flag waved, Garcia was immediately three wide. Following a stack-up, Garcia was sitting P16. Crew Chief Jeriod Prince noted he didn’t see any damage from the pictures available.

He shook it off and gained a spot. Then, Lap 10 saw him gain another position as he worked his way around Trevor Bayne.

After Chandler Smith got into the wall and took to the pits, Garcia returned to his starting position and then gained one more spot. As numerous drivers complained of tires throughout the field, Garcia was told to be heads’ up.

With 18 to go, Garcia was sitting just outside the top 10. With five to go, he was able to jump to P10 after teammate Ty Majeski pitted with an issue.

On the closing lap of the stage, he lost the spot when Rajah Caruth reclaimed P10.

(Photo Credit: Jake Garcia | X)

Stage 2

Prince said, “We survived that,” and then rattled off a list of changes coming Garcia’s way. He was encouraged that he was running top-five lap times; unfortunately, he didn’t have the necessary track position. During the stop, Garcia was pegged with an uncontrolled tire penalty, forcing him to restart P18.

After getting three-wide with Majeski, Garcia found himself P19. Again, he found himself bottom of three, and Spotter Joe Campbell told him to make it count. He gained his position back and passed Majeski for good measure.

In the span of a few more laps, Garcia earned P16 and was told, “Way better than the next five.”

(Photo Credit ThorSport Racing | Facebook)

With 20 to go, Garcia noted he was way tighter this run, as opposed to being incredibly free in the opening stage.

Fifteen laps later, Garcia found himself P14, and that’s where he would finish the second stage.

He again confirmed, “Too tight.” Prince told him a different round of adjustments was coming.

Stage 3

To start the final stage, Garcia lined up P13. He held his ground and, with 34 to go, claimed P12. Meanwhile, his team was discussing pit strategy for the final half of the stage.

The first caution for incident came with 19 to go as the No. 52 of Kaden Honeycutt got into Andres Perez De Lara. At the same time, Layne Riggs hit the wall and slowed with a flat tire.

Garcia came to his team for adjustments and lined up to restart P11 with 14 to go. Garcia was told, “Be mean. Be aggressive.”

He got shuffled around, but landed in P9. With three to go, he earned P8 when the No. 17 slowed with a problem.

When the checkered flag waved, he crossed the line P10, ahead of numerous Playoff drivers.

The unfortunate day for those drivers put Garcia eighth in the Playoff standings, two points above the cut line.

(Photo Credit: Jake Garcia | X)

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to Quanta Services. They played a huge part of the weekend for Jake and the No. 13 team.

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