NCTS Race Recap: UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics

The UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. Jake Garcia was fastest in qualifying, earning his first career pole. Corey Heim joined him on the front row for the start of the race. Tyler Ankrum and Kaden Honeycutt started from the second row. Layne Riggs started the race in seventh. The stage lengths were 65 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 120 laps.

Garcia Showing Speed

Heim got a better launch on the initial start. Garcia was able to pull back beside Heim. In turn three on the opening lap, Riggs got underneath Corey Day. Riggs got loose and turned around. That brought out the first caution of the day. Riggs immediately brought his truck down pit road for new tires.

Garcia and Heim brought the field back to green. Heim was able to take the lead after a great restart. Honeycutt was also able to get by Garcia to take second. Garcia found speed and was able to get around Honeycutt and back into second. The top two cleared Honeycutt by over two and a half seconds.

On lap 25, Chandler Smith began to complain of his engine expiring. He brought his truck down pit road to assess the problem. They ended up changing the ECU.

Riggs, who restarted in the rear, wasted no time making up ground. With 15 to go, he made his way to thirteenth.

Heim got held up by Greg Van Alst, and that allowed Garcia to get around and take the lead. Garcia would hold off Heim and win stage one in the UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics! Riggs was able to get to ninth before the stage ended.

Jake Garcia was the only one of the leaders to pit under the yellow.

Heim and Riggs Dueling

Heim and Ankrum restarted the race on the front row. Honeycutt chose to restart behind Heim on the outside. Heim got a huge restart to retake the lead. Ankrum fell in behind the leader. Honeycutt was able to hold off Majeski for third.

On lap 82, Garcia complained of power steering issues. He had to pit to resolve the issue.

With 40 to go in the stage, Ankrum, Majeski, and Honeycutt battled for the runner-up spot. Honeycutt got a huge run off of turn four and got into the back of Ankrum. Ankrum got turned around, which brought out the third caution of the day. He was able to keep his truck off the wall.

Honeycutt chose the inside of Heim for the restart. Heim got a huge restart while Honeycutt did not. Honeycutt fell to fifth quickly. Riggs made his way back into the top three and passed Majeski to get to the runner-up spot.

Riggs made several attempts to take the lead; however, Heim fought them all off. That allowed Majeski to close the gap to the top two. The top three caught lapped traffic and were all able to cut through it with ease.

Heim would hold off Riggs to win stage two of the UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics! Riggs gave Heim everything he could, but it was not enough. Majeski, Honeycutt, and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top five.

Riggs From the Back

Cole Butcher and Riggs brought the field back to green. Butcher got a horrible restart on older tires, which allowed Riggs to scamper out into the lead. Tanner Gray took second after taking fuel only on the most recent pit stop. Rhodes got by Majeski to move onto the podium.

Rhodes caught Gray to challenge for second. He took several shots at taking the spot. Rhodes was able to drive by Gray after getting a great run off of turn four. He quickly set his sights on Riggs out front.

On lap 163, Majeski was able to get by Gray for the fourth position.

Riggs and Rhodes caught lapped traffic. Rhodes caught the tailgate of the leader and pressed the issue for the spot. He would not go away without a fight. Rhodes could not complete the pass, which allowed Riggs to scamper away.

Heim caught the tailgate of his Tricon Garage teammate, Tanner Gray. He sized Gray up for a few laps. With 30 to go in the race, Heim was able to complete the pass and take fourth.

With 20 to go, Riggs held his lead at just over two seconds over Rhodes.

Heim caught Majeski and began battling for the third spot. He had plenty of speed but could not complete the pass. They fought through lapped traffic. Heim was eventually able to complete the pass with four to go.

Riggs would hold onto the lead to take the checkered flag and win the UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics! Rhodes, Heim, Majeski, and Daniel Hemric rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

Layne Riggs has shown speed consistently all season. He won this race coming from the back! What a great race as a whole for the Ford Driver. He should be in the Final Four and challenging for the championship at Phoenix. The series continues its schedule next week in New Hampshire for the final race in the round of ten.