Christian Eckes Wins Martinsville in Controversial Fashion, Advances to the Championship 4

Christian Eckes dominated Friday’s (Nov. 1) Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the NASCAR Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix. Eckes led 188 laps but was forced to defend his lead from the tucks of Taylor Gray and Ben Rhodes, who had fresher tires at the end of the race. 

Eckes first moved playoff driver Taylor Gray up the race track in turn 3 on the final restart. Gray needed to win to advance but was unable to recover as a result of Eckes’ aggressive move. Eckes then got into a heated battle with Rhodes but he likewise pushed Rhodes up the track and captured the victory. 

“Like I told everybody I wasn’t going to let us lose this race.” Eckes said postrace. “The truck was too good. The 17 was just hard racing, I feel about the 99. I just got way too loose entering the corner. Everybody’s really happy with me but I don’t really care.”

Gray was visibly frustrated, bumped into Eckes on the cool-down lap and confronted Eckes in victory lane after the race had concluded. 

“I got shipped to the fence whenever I raced him perfectly clean in one and two.” said Gray postrace. “What comes around goes around. I have to race him next year all year long.”

Rhodes was able to capture second after his battle with Eckes, being just able to edge out Chase Purdy who came home in third. Taylor Gray came home in fourth with Nick Sanchez who finished fifth. 

Layne Riggs, Corey Heim, Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Stewart Friesen finished sixth through 10th, respectively. 

The first caution of the night came when Matthew Gould lost power midway through stage one. Gould’s second Truck Series start came to an end as a result. 

Toward the end of stage two Dylan Lupton backed into the outside wall in turns 1 and 2 which caused a caution and ended stage two. Eckes swept both stages, leading the opening 100 laps. 

Rajah Caruth struggled with his truck throughout the night, dealing with a mechanical issue. Caruth fell a lap down before the end of stage two and was forced to go to the garage to repair the truck. He returned to the race after repairs but he was eliminated from playoff contention after a 31st place finish. 

Kaden Honeycutt caused a caution midway through the third stage after slamming the outside wall in turns 1 and 2 after blowing a right front tire. Honeycutt received severe right side damage which put an end to his night.

Another caution came when Dean Thompson shoved Tanner Gray into turn 3. Gray was pushed into Brett Moffitt who backed into the outside wall.

The calamity continued after Grant Enfinger was shoved into the truck of Friesen, causing Friesen to spin and setting up the final restart of the race.

Sanchez and Ankrum were unable to advance to the Championship 4 along with Gray and Caruth.

With no new winner, Ty Majeski earned the final spot in the Championship 4 with an 11th place finish. Heim also advanced to the Championship 4, joining Enfinger and Eckes. 

The Championship 4 will go to battle for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship Friday (Nov. 9) at  8 p.m. ET at Phoenix Raceway.