Kyle Busch, the driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 10, 2018, in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Kyle Busch didn’t have the speed to run with race winner Kevin Harvick in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Continue reading →
Kevin Harvick, the driver of the #4 Busch Light/Mobil 1 Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 12, 2018, in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The cups series returns to the ‘Irish Hills’ of Michigan for the second time this season. In June, the race was shortened due to rain and Clint Bowyer was able to take the crown. This time around, it was sunny and 80 degrees. Drivers were going to have to go the full distance in order to win. Continue reading →
Kevin Harvick, the driver of the #4 Busch Light/Mobil 1 Ford, celebrates with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 12, 2018, in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
BROOKLYN, Mich. – Last week at Watkins Glen, Chase Elliott’s maiden victory on the road course interrupted the season of the Big Three. Continue reading →
Brett Moffitt, the driver of the #16 Hino Toyota, poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 at Michigan International Speedway on August 11, 2018, in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
BROOKLYN, Mich. – Talk about perfect timing.
With a huge run through the final two corners, Brett Moffitt surged past Johnny Sauter right before the finish line at Michigan International Speedway to win Saturday’s Corrigan Oil 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race by 0.025 seconds.
Trailing Sauter at the white flag, Moffitt backed off in turn one to create a gap between his No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota and the No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet of Sauter. Moffitt charged into turn three, pulled even to the inside of Sauter’s truck as they rolled the corner and won a drag race to the finish line.
Moffitt picked up his second victory at Michigan, his fourth of the season—tying Sauter for the series lead—and the fifth of his career.
“Pretty amazing this little team’s gone to Victory Lane four times this year,” Moffitt said. “The whole last however many laps I was behind (Sauter), I would get to him, but I would push him with that air bubble between our bumpers.
“So I tried to back up (turn) one, let him get out there a little bit, and I knew the 8 (Polesitter and third-place finisher John Hunter Nemechek was behind us—I was hoping he would actually get to us and be able to push us. But we were able to play it right and time it right, and, man, it’s just great to get here.”
Sauter had taken the lead on lap 88 of 100 when he surged past both Moffitt and eventual fifth-place finisher Todd Gilliland. The disappointing finish left Sauter second-guessing himself.
“They said ‘Clear by three (car-lengths)’ coming off (turn) two, and I kept watching the mirror,” Sauter said. “I just felt like, if I ran the middle, I’d keep momentum up. I felt like when I went to the bottom, I was bogging a little bit.
“But I screwed up. No ‘ifs,’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts’ about it. I should have run the bottom, but I do feel like maybe he would have squirted to the top. Sitting duck, kind of—for sure. You know he’s planning a run, but you just don’t know when… Pretty ticked at myself for giving away a win.”
Sauter wasn’t the only one. Stewart Friesen led 12 laps in a strong No. 52 Chevrolet, but his fueler drew a penalty for pushing the truck after handling the fuel can during the final pit stop under caution on Lap 80, sending Friesen to the rear for a lap 84 restart.
Friesen fought his way back to eighth at the finish.
Noah Gragson ran fourth, followed by Gilliland. Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Friesen, Justin Haley and Matt Crafton completed the top-ten. Sauter retained the series lead by 56 points over Gragson.
Moffitt’s victory ensures that at least two drivers will qualify for the NCTWS Playoffs on points—good news for Enfinger and Friesen, who are third and fourth in the standings, respectively. Crafton, who is sixth, will clinch a Playoff berth if no one outside the top eight in the standings wins next Thursday at Bristol.
Given his 53-point edge over Crafton, Enfinger can clinch a Playoff spot simply by starting the race at Bristol.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – Corrigan Oil 200
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
Saturday, August 11, 2018
(21) Brett Moffitt, Toyota, 100.
(7) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 100.
(1) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Chevrolet, 100.
(3) Noah Gragson, Toyota, 100.
(2) Todd Gilliland #, Toyota, 100.
(17) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 100.
(6) Grant Enfinger, Ford, 100.
(5) Stewart Friesen, Chevrolet, 100.
(22) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 100.
(11) Matt Crafton, Ford, 100.
(20) Austin Self, Chevrolet, 100.
(16) Dalton Sargeant #, Chevrolet, 100.
(18) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 100.
(9) Cody Coughlin, Chevrolet, 100.
(14) Tate Fogleman, Chevrolet, 100.
(23) Wendell Chavous, Chevrolet, 100.
(13) Bo LeMastus #, Toyota, 100.
(8) Myatt Snider #, Ford, 99.
(10) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 99.
(30) Josh Reaume, Chevrolet, 99.
(31) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 97.
(12) Spencer Davis, Toyota, 95.
(26) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 95.
(24) Korbin Forrister, Toyota, Electrical, 94.
(19) Justin Fontaine #, Chevrolet, 94.
(29) Todd Peck, Chevrolet, Overheating, 56.
(32) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, Electrical, 49.
(28) Reed Sorenson(i), Chevrolet, Electrical, 47.
(27) BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, Fuel Pump, 41.
(15) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, Ignition, 33.
(4) Matt Mills(i), Toyota, Accident, 27.
(25) Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, Suspension, 7.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 130.175 mph.
Time of Race: 01 Hrs, 32 Mins, 11 Secs. The Margin of Victory: 0.025 Seconds.
Caution Flags: Five for 22 laps.
Lead Changes: 16 among nine drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Nemechek(i) 1-4; N. Gragson 5-6; T. Gilliland # 7-11; J. Nemechek(i) 12-13; S. Friesen 14-22; B. Moffitt 23-26; G. Enfinger 27-42; N. Gragson 43-45; M. Crafton 46-63; N. Gragson 64-73; S. Friesen 74-76; J. Sauter 77-80; W. Chavous 81; N. Gragson 82-84; T. Gilliland # 85-87; J. Sauter 88-99; B. Moffitt 100;.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): N. Gragson four times for 18 laps; M. Crafton one time for 18 laps; G. Enfinger one time for 16 laps; J. Sauter two times for 16 laps; S. Friesen two times for 12 laps; T. Gilliland # two times for eight laps; J. Nemechek(i) two times for six laps; B. Moffitt two times for five laps; W. Chavous one time for one lap.
Join host Sharon Burton every Thursday night 8:30 to 10 pm ET for NASCAR Weekend Preview. Then 10 to 10:30 pm ET for NASCAR Hot Topics Sound Off on Fan4Racing Radio
Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Jay ‘MJ’ Husmann every Thursday night 8:30 to 10 pm ET for Fan4Racing NASCAR Weekend Preview as we rev up race fans for the upcoming weekend of racing!
We’re previewing the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series at Michigan International Speedway, along with the Xfinity Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Course and the K&N Pro Series West at Evergreen Speedway. We’ll also have a few updates from the ARCA Racing, K&N Pro Series East, and more.
Then, stay tuned in 10 to 10:30 pm ET for Fan4Racing NASCAR Hot Topics Sound Offas we discuss all the hottest topics leading into the weekend of racing,
Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.
Our LIVE broadcast begins at 8:30 pm ET, Thursday, August 9, 2018.