William Byron Wins Truck Series Race At Martinsville

William Byron dominated the final stage to win Thursday. night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Driving the No. 7 truck for Spire Motorsports, the Hendrick Motorsports driver led the final 84 laps to win.

For Byron, who started 32nd after qualifying was rained out, it’s his eighth career Truck Series win and his first since 2016.

Byron beat Johnny Sauter and Kyle Busch for the victory and his first Martinsville grandfather clock.

“It was a lot of fun,” Byron told Fox Sports. “Struggled here when I was in Late Models. Awesome to get the win tonight.”

The top five was completed by John Hunter Nemechek and Ben Rhodes.

Sauter, making just his second start of the season, earned his first top-three finish since the spring 2020 race at Las Vegas.

“I told (crew chief Junior) Joiner today ‘Don’t listen to me when I give you feedback after the first run,” Sauter told Fox Sports. “I called for an adjustment and I should’t have. … First in-house body, first in-house chassis for ThorSport, so to come home second is pretty solid. … I just needed a little bit more turn.”

For Busch, he led only one lap. It’s the fewest laps he’s led in a Truck Series start since he led none at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2018. 

He’s finished in the top three in his last 10 starts.

First Stage

Pole-sitter Zane Smith held the lead until the first caution flag on Lap 8. The yellow flag came out for an incident involving Jack Wood and Kris Wright.

Wright spun on his own exiting Turn 4 and collected Wood, who suffered significant damage to his front end, ending his night.

The race resumed on Lap 14 of 200, but one wasn’t completed before the stalled truck of Dean Thompson brought the yellow back out. As Thompson slowed on the track, a fire broke out in the truck. Thompson was able to get out.

The green flag returned on Lap 24 as Smith retained the lead.

With 18 laps to go in the stage, Halie Deegan was squeezed into the outside wall by Johnny Sauter. Deegan’s No. 1 Ford suffered significant left-side damage.

Johnny Sauter came from the rear of the field to finish second. He said there were times where he almost got wrecked and he also made some mistakes — he took the blame for the contact with Hailie Deegan. pic.twitter.com/jgUMWs7eF1

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 8, 2022

Seven laps later the third caution of the night came out for Spencer Boyd stalling on the track. 

Kyle Busch, teammate Chandler Smith, William Byron and Matt Crafton were among those who pit. Crafton was called for a speeding penalty.

The stage ended in a five-lap shootout. Zane Smith went unchallenged to the checkered flag, beating Stewart Friesen. The top five was completed by Ben Rhodes, John Hunter Nemechek and Grant Enfinger.

While most of the leaders pit, Ben Rhodes stay out.

Second Stage

The race restarted 12 laps into the stage as Ben Rhodes assumed the lead.

Another caution for the stalled truck of Boyd was issued on Lap 70. 

Rhodes, one of two trucks to not pit by this point, kept the lead on the Lap 76 restart. William Byron took the third spot behind Busch.

Rhodes went on to win the stage having led the last 19 laps. 

It was his third stage win of the year. He won it over Christian Eckes, Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith and Nemechek. Byron was 11th and Busch was 17th.

Zane Smith was called for speeding.

Byron stayed out and took the lead. He restarted with Chandler Smith second. Busch as fourth. The race restarted with 92 laps to go.

Final Stage

Kaden Honeycutt, making his first career Truck Series start, brought out the caution on the first lap back under green after being spun from contact with Austin Wayne Self in Turn 2.

Honeycutt’s night was over.

Another caution came out with 68 laps to go when Stewart Friesen was spun from contact from behind by Christian Eckes.

At the time Byron led over Sauter, Chandler Smith, Busch and Crafton. Byron kept the lead on the restart with 62 laps to go.