During a dramatic overtime finish in his 15th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start, Kyle Larson capped off a dominant run by taking an elevator ride at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
“There were some varying strategies going on there at the end. I was able to pick my way forward in the final 20 laps,” Larson said. “The track surface, you can tell, it’s old. All the legends have won here, so to be on the winner’s list is pretty cool.”Â
Larson led 138 of 250 laps in his No. 7 Spire Motorsports entry. It was the third career Truck Series win for the California native, as he became the first NASCAR driver to visit victory lane at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 27 years.
ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski and Rackley W.A.R.’s Matt DiBenedetto completed the top three.
“Larson was just better. I wasn’t gonna drive into one and move him. We were lucky just to be in that spot. We just really missed it today,” Majeski commented. “Obviously, the setup was important and we just missed it today, but, overall, a good ending to a sub par day for us.”
Carson Hocevar and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five.
How It Happened
TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim led the 36-car field to the start, commencing the first NASCAR-sanctioned race at the track since 1996. Â
It didn’t take long for the first caution flag of the day to appear, as the No. 04 of Johnny Sauter tapped the rear bumper of Timmy Hill on lap 25. Hill’s No. 56 Toyota spun in response as the pair exited turn four. Back up front, Hocevar ran up the inside of Heim on lap 44, making a smooth move for the lead as he carried a faster pace around the .625-mile track.
Another caution arose on lap 58 when the No. 13 of Hailie Deegan spun on the frontstretch.
With one lap left in stage one, Kyle Busch Motorsports’ William Byron and Heim led the restart. Heim dove around the outside of the No. 51 KBM entry in turn two, securing the lead and the stage win in his No. 11 Toyota.
It was the fourth stage victory of Heim’s career.
Heim and Hocevar were again the lead duo as the laps began to click off in stage two. The No. 38 of Zane Smith was quickly on the march after starting the race 36th due to tech issues earlier in the day. By lap 91, Smith had made his way up to fifth. Ahead of him, Heim led with Hocevar, Larson and Christopher Bell in tow. Â
On lap 99, Larson pulled past Hocevar and continued his hard charge forward, diving into the bottom groove to make the pass on Heim. As the drivers crossed the start/finish line, it was Larson with the lead in his No. 7 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet.
Heim lost another position on the next lap, as Hocevar wheeled his No. 42 Chevrolet into second place.
Smith snuck into fourth a few laps later, pushing past the No. 61 of Bell. The No. 38 continued making strides as the second stage wound to a close, getting by Hocevar with 10 laps to go in the stage. The third caution flew on lap 135 when Josh Williams hit the left rear of Dean Thompson, spinning the No. 5 Toyota towards the infield wall. Â
Larson, Hocevar and Smith were the top three on the restart, creating a three-way, one-lap dash to the stage finish. Larson collected the stage win in his No. 7 entry on lap 140. Only 27 cars were on the lead lap.
With 100 laps to go, Larson, Hocevar and Smith led the field to the green flag.
Williams took a hit in his No. 22 AM Racing entry with 93 laps to go. Kris Wright, Conner Jones, Williams and Tanner Gray took it four-wide on the race track, with Williams getting the short end of the stick. A bump from Jones on the outside pushed Williams towards Gray on the inside. The No. 22 then spun in front of Gray’s No. 15 Toyota, eventually coming to rest near the entrance to pit road off of turn four.
With 80 laps to go, it was Larson, Hocevar, Heim, Smith and Grant Enfinger completing the top five. Cup Series drivers Bell, Byron and Wallace were also within the top 10.
The eighth caution came out with 67 to go, as Thompson and Deegan came together heading into turn one. As Thompson turned down in the corner, Deegan held a straight line, pounding into the left rear of the No. 5 and spinning him toward the outside wall. A ninth caution waved with 57 laps to go, as Ben Rhodes spun in his No. 99 ThorSport Racing entry following a bump from Christian Eckes.
Larson, Heim, Hocevar, Byron and Enfinger made up the top five on the restart.
With 50 laps to go, the 10th caution arose as a multi-car wreck took place on the frontstretch, chiefly involving Rhodes, Rajah Caruth and Smith, bringing the No. 38’s impressive rebound to a disappointing end. Â
On lap 225, after leading 123 laps, Larson relegated the lead to Wallace.
With 13 to go, Larson slid up the inside of Wallace, though the No. 1 bounced back with a crossover move in turn three. However, coming out of turn four, Larson cleared Wallace and stretched out his lead.
Majeski also slipped up the inside of Wallace with 11 laps to go.
The 12th caution came out with four laps to go, with Purdy nudging Eckes and sending the No. 19 spinning. The final restart occurred during overtime at North Wilkesboro, but nothing could stop Larson’s momentum, as he held on for the victory at the historic North Wilkesboro.
Heim, Matt Crafton, Purdy, Ross Chastain and Enfinger held positions sixth through 10 at the finish line.
Byron finished 11th and Bell was 16th.