DARLINGTON, S.C. – Ben Rhodes and ThorSport Racing proved Sunday afternoon that fresh tires aren’t everything in a late-race sprint to the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway.
By staying out ahead of an overtime restart, Rhodes was able to seize control of the South Carolina Education Lottery 200 at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval.
The Kentucky native then fended off a hard-charging Derek Kraus for his third career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series victory and first of the season.
Playing the underdog role – when considering that GMS Racing was going for its fifth straight Truck Series win as a team and led 145 of 152 laps Sunday – Rhodes’ score came one day after a similar surprise victory by 8-1 runner Authentic in the Kentucky Derby.
“Gosh, that was such a tough win,” Rhodes said in victory lane. “We weren’t the best truck all day; I was actually really disappointed when the caution flag came out, because we were in fourth place and I felt like in a pretty good spot. I knew we’d be in the playoffs with that. But I’m not letting this checkered flag go; it’s been a long time coming. I’m so proud of this team for staying consistent.
“We got challenged. I was trying to get a good jump on the restart, but we were playing some games there and he tried to get a good run on me,” added Rhodes of Kraus. “He messed up coming off turn two and we were able to get the win right there. It feels pretty good.”
What appeared to be a straightforward battle between GMS teammates Brett Moffitt and Sheldon Creed all afternoon was thrown into flux by two late yellows, the first of which waved with 25 to go when Tanner Gray spun in turn one and collected Zane Smith in the process.
That set up a restart with 18 laps left, where Creed slipped to the outside of Moffitt when racing resumed and took off like a rocket, appearing to be on his way to a fourth win in 2020.
But coming to two laps to go, Matt Crafton got into Josh Reaume and sent the No. 00 spinning on the backstretch, necessitating another caution after David Ragan was also collected in the melee.
That led to split decisions on the pit strategy, with Creed, Moffitt and third-running Austin Hill leading half the lead-lap trucks down pit road for tires and Rhodes, Kraus and others electing to stay out for track position.
Staying out proved to be the right call, as Hill won the race off pit road, restarted 12th and could only get to third behind Rhodes and eventual runner-up Kraus.
Though Kraus got out in front of Rhodes, his No. 19 Toyota Tundra kicked sideways and broke momentum coming off turn two on the first lap of overtime, giving Rhodes the run to the outside as Kraus gathered his truck back in.
Rhodes then soared past in turn three, eventually grabbing the victory by .785 seconds over Kraus, Hill, Grant Enfinger and Christian Eckes.
Raphael Lessard, Todd Gilliland, Stewart Friesen, Timmy Hill and Moffitt completed the top 10.
Gilliland holds the last provisional playoff spot over Kraus with one race remaining before the postseason reset – Sept. 10 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
To view complete race results, advance to the next page.