Nick Sanchez triumphs for his second 2024 NASCAR Truck Series victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
CONCORD, N.C. – Nick Sanchez showed what an opportunist can do when the right moment presents itself.
Nick Sanchez Triumphs for his Second 2024 NASCAR Truck Series Victory at Charlotte
Taking advantage of fresh tires and a quick pit stop, Sanchez charged from the tenth position on a restart with nine laps left in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and held off Corey Heim to win his second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race of the season — and of his career.
Sanchez crossed the finish line 0.507 seconds ahead of Heim, who fell just short after two snafus on pit road relegated him to the runner-up position — temporarily. Sanchez collects a $50,000 bonus by winning the first Triple Truck Challenge event this season.
Disqualification for No. 11 of Corey Heim Moves Stewart Friesen to Runnerup Spot
After the race, Heim’s troubles multiplied when inspectors found three unsafe lug nuts, and not secure on his No. 11 Toyota, resulting in a disqualification that promoted Stewart Friesen to the runner-up position.
“It’s awesome — my No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet,” said Sanchez, who qualified 16th for the 11th Truck Series race of the season. “What can I say more about this (Rev Racing) team? We started off bad. It didn’t affect us. We went to work. We put ourselves in position when it mattered most.
“This is for Chris Showalter, my car chief. Birthday today, 700th truck start. This is for him, and it’s great to get number two.”
Remarkably, Showalter has been a part of the series for every race since its inception in 1995.
Sanchez led only the final nine laps. Heim led 72 before the penalty and Christian Eckes 37.
Challenging Final Stage for Heim
After dominating the first two stages of the race, Heim dropped to 27th place under caution for Matt Crafton’s collision with the outside wall on lap 79 when the jack malfunctioned and failed to lift his No. 11 Toyota.
Heim roared through the field to fifth before Chase Purdy slammed the second turn wall to cause the fifth caution. Like Sanchez, Heim pitted for fresh tires, but a problem with the lug nuts on the right rear wheel cost him valuable time — and ultimately cost him dearly with the disqualification.
The North Caroline Education Lottery 200 Results
Grant Enfinger was credited with third, followed by Matt Mills, Ben Rhodes, and Jake Garcia.
Points Leader Christian Eckes and Kaden Honeycutt have a Challenging Day
Eckes, who entered the race as the series leader, started from the rear after contact from Kaden Honeycutt’s Chevrolet during practice damaged his No. 19 Chevy and prevented him from making a qualifying run.
That was just the start of Eckes’ problems. Alternator issues kept him on pit road for extended stops during the stage breaks and relegated him to starting spots of 28th and 27th for the second and final stages, respectively.
But Eckes recovered to take the lead after staying out for a restart on lap 88, and he was still in front — albeit close on fuel — when the caution for Purdy’s accident slowed the field. Eschewing a pit stop for new tires under the final caution, Eckes slipped to tenth at the finish.
Honeycutt, who won Stage 1 after Heim’s penalty and finished third in Stage 2, also went to the rear after leaving his pit stall during the second stage break with a fuel can still attached to the input valve of his truck.
Despite the setback, Honeycutt had enough speed in his Chevrolet to recover to seventh at the finish. Connor Mosack, Dean Thompson, and Eckes completed the top ten.
Next Up
The next race for the NASCAR Truck Series is the Toyota 200 at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, June 1st at 1:30 pm ET. Coverage is on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The defending winner is Grant Enfinger.