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Tag: North Carolina Education Lottery 200

  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview-Charlotte

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview-Charlotte

    It’s a home game this week for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as the drivers and teams will compete in their own backyards. One team and driver will show who’s best Friday night in the annual running of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    There are 35 trucks on the preliminary entry list with the No. 1 owned by Tracy Lowe, Clay Greenfield of the 68 and Joe Nemechek of the 87 being the only withdrawals from the race.

    A few notables – Timothy Peters is back competing in the No. 92 Ricky Benton Racing Ford and Daniel Hemric will be back for the first time in a Truck since 2016 driving the No. 20 of Young Motorsports.

    In the past five races, there have been three different winners with Kyle Busch being the only repeat winner of this race.

    Here’s a look at who to expect to be in victory lane at the end of the night.

      1. Kyle Busch – It should be no surprise that Busch is on top of the list for this weekend’s race. He has won this race seven times and is the previous race winner. He earned his first win at Charlotte in the Truck Series in May 2005. The only thing that’s different this time is that he’ll look to tie Ron Hornaday’s winning streak. Busch came close last weekend at Kansas by finishing second, but it wasn’t good enough to score the win. In the last four races, he has earned three wins, four top five’s and four top 10 finishes, along with 327 laps led and an average finish of 1.2, not bad for the Kyle Busch Motorsports owner. He’ll be a challenging factor in Friday night’s race.
      2. Noah Gragson – Gragson claimed career victory No. 2 last weekend at Kansas Speedway and that momentum could carry over this week at Charlotte. While he only has one start at the 1.5-mile track with a finish of ninth in the previous race, Gragson has been dominant in most 1.5 mile races this year. With a late race restart in Atlanta, he restarted in the ninth position and almost pulled off the win before finishing second. In Las Vegas, Gragson finished 12th after starting fifth. So don’t be surprised if we see the No. 18 Safelite Tundra back in victory lane again this weekend, as momentum could be huge for the 19-year old.
      3. Matt Crafton – Seven races in and Crafton is still looking for that breakthrough victory of the 2018 season. While it’s hard to believe the No. 88 Menards driver doesn’t have a win yet, you really can’t count him out on any given race weekend. In Dover after Gragson had a late race tangle with eventual race winner Johnny Sauter, Crafton finished second. Last week at Kansas, he led only four laps before battling a tight conditioning truck all night. He could score that first win this weekend as Charlotte is the site of Crafton’s first ever victory back in 2008. He also scored another win two years ago in 2016 after starting 17th.
      4. John Hunter Nemechek – Nemechek has run okay at Charlotte but has never been considered as a possible upset. However, he could be this weekend. In two starts, he has finishes of 12th and 22nd, respectively.  He is coming off a strong run at Kansas this past weekend by finishing fourth. Nemechek could get that first win at Charlotte Friday night and what a win that would be for the family-owned team.
      5. Timothy Peters – Peters could be a real upset this weekend if he could pull off the win tomorrow night in the No. 92 Ricky Benton Racing Ford. In the past five starts, he has two top fives and four top 10 finishes with a best finish of fifth in last year’s race. However, those starts were in the now-defunct Red Horse Racing stable who were contenders for the win week in and week out. It’s no doubt Peters and the No. 92 team will have a battle on their hands Friday night. However, should they play their cards right and have a little bit of luck, they could just be a surprise winner.

    Live coverage begins with the first practice scheduled for 9:05 a.m. ET with no live TV. Final practice will be shown on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 10:35 a.m. ET.

    Qualifying is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. ET on FS1 with the green flag at the approximate time of 8:49 p.m. ET, all on FS1 and MRN Radio, weather permitting, as there is a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast Friday afternoon and evening.

  • Matt Crafton Has Winning Lottery Ticket in Charlotte

    Matt Crafton Has Winning Lottery Ticket in Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. — Being a day late didn’t stop Matt Crafton from finding the winning lottery ticket as he drove to victory in the Queen City.

    The driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota led 47 laps and outraced the caution clock in the closing stages to win the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. It’s his 13th career win, his second of the season, second at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the first time he’s won back to back races in his career.

    Kyle Busch led 27 laps on his way to a runner-up finish in his No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. Johnny Sauter led one lap on his way to rounding out the podium in his No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet. Tyler Reddick finished fourth in his No. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing Ford and Matt Tifft rounded out the top-five in his No. 11 KBM Toyota.

    Spencer Gallagher finished sixth in his No. 23 GMSR Chevrolet. Timothy Peters led 11 laps on his way to a seventh-place finish in his No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota as Christopher Bell finished eighth in his No. 4 KBM Toyota. Daniel Hemric led 15 laps on his way to a ninth-place finish in his No. 19 BKR Ford followed by William Byron who led 25 laps on his way to rounding out the top-10 in his No. 9 KBM Toyota.

    The race lasted one hour, 25 minutes and one second at an average speed of 141.855 mph. There were 14 lead changes among nine drivers and three cautions for 14 laps.

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  • Kahne Takes Truck Series Win at Charlotte in Dramatic Drag Race to Checkered Flag

    Kahne Takes Truck Series Win at Charlotte in Dramatic Drag Race to Checkered Flag

    CONCORD, N.C.—Driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, in the organization’s second start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, polesitter Kasey Kahne won a two-lap drag race against Erik Jones to earn his fifth victory in six starts in the series.

    Kahne’s victory in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway denied the dominant No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota of Jones, who led 88 laps but ran a disappointing second after a late caution forced a green-white-checkered-flag finish that took the race five laps past its scheduled distance of 134 laps.

    In his six Truck Series starts, Kahne has five wins and a second-place finish.

    Kahne’s margin of victory was a mere .005 seconds, tied for second closest in series history behind the .002-second margin of Kyle Busch over Aric Almirola at Talladega in October 2010.

    “Jones was really fast,” Kahne said. “He was kind of in a league of his own when he could get to clean air. I knew if we could stay back and stay with him (on the final restart), as long as he didn’t get to clean air, it would be all right. I was able to side-draft, and it worked out perfect to get back to the line.”

    Less than half a lap before Jones would have taken the white flag—after Jones made a deft pass for the lead to the outside on Lap 131—Daniel Hemric’s accident in Turn 1 caused the fifth caution of the night, sending the race to overtime.

    Jones picked the outside lane for the final restart on Lap 138, but couldn’t clear Kahne, who side-drafted Jones’ Toyota Tundra off the final corner and beat him to the stripe.

    In the wake of last week’s misfortune at Kansas Speedway, where Jones led 151 of 167 laps but ran short of fuel while leading late in the race, Friday night’s result left the young driver bitterly disappointed.

    “It’s really a shame that we can’t bring it home,” Jones said. “I really thought tonight was the night. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t do it. It just sucks. I don’t know what to say. It just really, really hurts. I can’t believe it, man. I really wanted this one, and it’s hard to come home second.”

    Interestingly, though Kahne and Jones qualified on the front row, both drivers had to start the race from the rear of the field, Kahne for an unapproved adjustment (changing a broken shock) and Jones for arriving late to the drivers’ meeting.

    But by Lap 26, after the first caution, Jones had the lead, a position he maintained until the late caution gave Kahne the opportunity he needed.

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – NC Education Lottery 200
    Charlotte Motor Speedway
    Concord, North Carolina
    Friday, May 15, 2015

    1. (1) Kasey Kahne (i), Chevrolet, 139, $48454.
    2. (2) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 139, $36563.
    3. (9) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 139, $26622.
    4. (7) Tyler Reddick, Ford, 139, $22672.
    5. (4) Brad Keselowski (i), Ford, 139, $17402.
    6. (11) John Wes Townley, Chevrolet, 139, $17157.
    7. (17) Timothy Peters, Toyota, 139, $16592.
    8. (3) Matt Tifft, Toyota, 139, $16481.
    9. (22) Justin Boston #, Toyota, 139, $16342.
    10. (18) Spencer Gallagher #, Chevrolet, 139, $17182.
    11. (16) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 139, $15761.
    12. (6) Scott Lagasse Jr., Chevrolet, 139, $15566.
    13. (15) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 139, $15427.
    14. (13) Cameron Hayley #, Toyota, 139, $15316.
    15. (19) Johnny Sauter, Toyota, 139, $15606.
    16. (10) Ben Kennedy, Toyota, 139, $15295.
    17. (5) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 139, $15040.
    18. (20) Tyler Young, Chevrolet, 138, $14984.
    19. (30) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 137, $14929.
    20. (29) Kyle Fowler (i), Chevrolet, 136, $15373.
    21. (23) Tyler Tanner, Chevrolet, 136, $13546.
    22. (8) Ray Black Jr. #, Chevrolet, 135, $13485.
    23. (27) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 135, $12457.
    24. (26) Caleb Holman, Chevrolet, 133, $12430.
    25. (28) Wendell Chavous #, Chevrolet, Engine, 132, $12525.
    26. (21) Mason Mingus, Chevrolet, Accident, 114, $12347.
    27. (14) David Gilliland (i), Ford, Vibration, 84, $12318.
    28. (31) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, Accident, 62, $12071.
    29. (12) Korbin Forrister #, Chevrolet, Steering Box, 38, $12016.
    30. (24) Justin Jennings, Chevrolet, Electrical, 33, $11516.
    31. (25) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, Electrical, 26, $10016.
    32. (32) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Suspension, 9, $9016.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 128.947 mph.
    Time of Race: 01 Hrs, 37 Mins, 01 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.005 Seconds.
    Caution Flags: 5 for 25 laps.
    Lead Changes: 12 among 6 drivers.
    Lap Leaders: K. Kahne(i) 0; B. Keselowski(i) 1-4; M. Crafton 5-22; J. Jennings 23; M. Crafton 24-25; E. Jones # 26-65; M. Crafton 66-69; E. Jones # 70-108; T. Reddick 109; E. Jones # 110; K. Kahne(i) 111-130; E. Jones # 131-138; K. Kahne(i) 139;.
    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): E. Jones # 4 times for 88 laps; M. Crafton 3 times for 24 laps; K. Kahne(i) 2 times for 21 laps; B. Keselowski(i) 1 time for 4 laps; J. Jennings 1 time for 1 lap; T. Reddick 1 time for 1 lap.
    Top 10 in Points: M. Crafton – 217; E. Jones # – 201; T. Reddick – 199; J. Sauter – 182; J. Townley – 160; T. Peters – 158; C. Hayley # – 153; J. Boston # – 149; S. Gallagher # – 145; D. Hemric # – 136.

     

  • Kyle Larson Wins in a Dash to the Finish at Rockingham Speedway

    Kyle Larson Wins in a Dash to the Finish at Rockingham Speedway

    Kyle Larson held off a hard charging Joey Logano to capture the win at the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock Sunday afternoon. This was his first NASCAR national series win in five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts and his first top-ten finish in 2013. Larson currently drives full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

    Larson was dominant all afternoon, leading 187 laps, but the biggest threat came in the last 25 laps of the race.

    Logano had dropped to 18th after he had to pit under green to fix loose lug nuts. But a caution on lap 180 gave Logano the lucky break he needed to make a final pit stop and put on four fresh tires. He methodically made his way to the front and was in second place when the last caution fell.

    “I was passing a ton of cars on the newer tires,” Logano said. “That’s Rockingham for you. That’s what makes this race track so cool, because you can play a strategy like that. When we got the last caution, I thought it was playing out perfect for us.”

    Larson was apprehensive, but determined.

    “I was pretty nervous on that last restart because Joey was on a lot newer tires than me, and I’m not normally the best on restarts.”

    It was the veteran Logano, however, who made the mistake on the green-white-checkered start.

    “I just got beat. I spun my tires, so it was all my fault. I was so mad at myself. I felt like we should have won this race. We might not have had the truck to win, but we had the strategy to win.”

    Larson was all smiles after the race.

    “It was a great day,” he said. “We didn’t make any changes to the truck; it was perfect from the start. It was a lot of fun today.”

    Joey Logano finished in second place. Brendan Gaughan, Johnny Sauter and Chase Elliot rounded out the top five.

    Johnny Sauter remains the unofficial points leader. Jeb Burton is 16 points behind in second place. Matt Crafton is third followed by Ron Hornaday Jr. in fourth and Ryan Blaney in fifth.

    Hornaday met with NASCAR after the race and may face further sanctions for wrecking Darrell Wallace Jr. under caution during the final laps of the race.

    Wallace finished a disappointing 27th.  Hornaday was penalized at the time of the incident for aggressive driving and sent to the rear of the field. He finished the race in 15th place.

    Unofficial Race Results
    N.C. Edu. Lottery 200 at The Rock
    http://www.speedwaymedia.com/truckseries/race.php?race=3
    =========================================
    Pos. St. No. Driver Make Points
    =========================================
    1 3 30 Kyle Larson(i) Chevrolet 0
    2 7 19 Joey Logano(i) Ford 0
    3 9 62 Brendan Gaughan Chevrolet 41
    4 11 98 Johnny Sauter Toyota 41
    5 4 94 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 39
    6 5 88 Matt Crafton Toyota 38
    7 1 4 Jeb Burton # Chevrolet 37
    8 6 29 Ryan Blaney # Ford 36
    9 36 51 Erik Jones # Toyota 35
    10 18 32 Miguel Paludo Chevrolet 34
    11 26 7 John Wes Townley Toyota 33
    12 14 3 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 32
    13 17 18 Joey Coulter Toyota 31
    14 2 31 James Buescher Chevrolet 31
    15 16 9 Ron Hornaday Jr. Chevrolet 29
    16 15 8 Max Gresham Chevrolet 28
    17 8 60 Dakoda Armstrong Chevrolet 27
    18 30 5 Tim George Jr. Ford 26
    19 23 77 German Quiroga # Toyota 25
    20 25 81 David Starr Toyota 24
    21 24 14 Brennan Newberry # Chevrolet 23
    22 12 39 Ryan Sieg Chevrolet 22
    23 31 99 Bryan Silas Ford 21
    24 22 6 Tyler Young Chevrolet 20
    25 28 92 Clay Rogers Chevrolet 19
    26 20 17 Timothy Peters Toyota 18
    27 10 54 Darrell Wallace Jr. # Toyota 17
    28 32 7 Johnny Chapman Chevrolet 16
    29 21 75 Caleb Holman Chevrolet 15
    30 13 52 Tyler Reddick Toyota 14
    31 34 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb 13
    32 19 13 Todd Bodine Toyota 12
    33 35 57 Norm Benning Chevrolet 11
    34 29 93 Chris Jones Chevrolet 10
    35 27 27 Jeff Agnew Chevrolet 9
    36 33 84 Mike Harmon(i) Ford 0