Christian Eckes wasn’t about to lose a race he had dominated, even when it meant utilizing the entrance bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet—twice.
After a restart with 5 laps left in Friday evening’s Zip Purchase Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes first moved the Toyota of Taylor Grey after which the Ford of Ben Rhodes—each of which had been rolling on 40-lap brisker tires—to win the race and earn a spot within the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection’ Championship 4 Race.
He was not giving up this win. @christianeckes wins and locks himself into the #Championship4! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JXBQWHiGNE
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Vans (@NASCAR_Trucks) November 2, 2024
Six-time winner Corey Heim ran seventh and Ty Majeski got here house eleventh, as each earned berths within the Championship 4 on factors, eliminating Grey, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth within the ultimate occasion of the Playoffs’ Spherical of 8.
Eckes, Heim, Majeski and Grant Enfinger will race for the title subsequent Friday at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
After the restart on lap 196 of 200, Grey used his higher tires to squeeze previous Eckes to the within. Eckes regained the highest spot by transferring Grey up the monitor. A lap later, Rhodes handed Eckes, who accomplished the fourth lead change within the ultimate 5 laps by shoving the No. 99 Ford on lap 198.
Freed from his rivals, Eckes crossed the end line two laps later, 1.191s forward of Rhodes. Chase Purdy and Grey had been third and fourth, adopted by Sanchez.
“Like I advised all people, I wasn’t going to lose this race—this truck was too good,” Eckes mentioned. “The No. 17 (Grey) was laborious racing. I really feel unhealthy in regards to the No. 99 (Rhodes). I simply obtained approach too unfastened coming into the nook.
“(Listening to boos from the group). All people’s actually proud of me—however I don’t actually care. I’m happy with all people for working laborious, and we’re going to Phoenix.”
The victory was Eckes’ fourth of the season, his second at Martinsville and the ninth of his profession, nevertheless it got here with a worth.
After climbing from his truck, Grey walked angrily towards Eckes and expressed his displeasure in no unsure phrases. A victory would have landed Grey within the Championship 4 on the expense of Majeski, who as a substitute claimed the final spot by 28 factors over Grey.
“I obtained despatched to the fence once I raced him completely clear in [Turns] 1 and a pair of,” Grey mentioned. “What goes round comes round. I’ve to race him subsequent yr all yr lengthy (when each transfer as much as the NASCAR Xfinity Collection).
“The No. 19 (Eckes) was the category of the sphere, proper? But it surely’s not my fault we had higher technique than he did. We got here out on tires; we drove by the sphere and we drove to him. I raced him clear, and he drove me within the fence. I assume the one factor I may have accomplished is wreck him like he wrecked me.”
Eckes swept the primary two phases, his series-best tenth and eleventh of the season and led 187 of the 200 laps. He held a considerable lead earlier than a six-car accident in Flip 2 on lap 190 triggered the sixth and ultimate warning and arrange the frenetic end.
For sensible functions, Grey, Sanchez, Ankrum and Caruth entered the race in must-win conditions. Ankrum completed eighth, and Caruth got here house thirty first after shedding 21 laps within the storage as his workforce repaired a brake concern on his No. 71 Chevrolet.
Regardless of ending third in every of the primary two phases, Sanchez was 39 factors out of a Championship 4 place when the race ended.
