NASCAR
Chastain Claims Charlotte Truck Win in Double-Overtime Finish
CONCORD, N.C. – Another watermelon got smashed in Charlotte. After his teammate found trouble in the first overtime, Ross Chastain was there for the pouncing. On a second attempt at bonus racing, the No. 41 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports was the victor on a three-wide last lap battle for the win. This marks just Chastain’s fourth Truck Series win, and first since 2019.
Arguably the two favorites for the 2022 Truck Series championship split both opening Stages. Zane Smith took his fifth Stage win of the year in Stage 1, while Ben Rhodes took Stage 2. Rhodes’ Stage win was a bit of a lucky gamble though, as the 99 stayed out when the majority of the field opted to pit. In a Hail Mary play for the Stage win, Rhodes came out on top.
Once the final Stage went green however, two new challengers rose to the occasion. Ryan Preece took the lead in the No. 17 Ford, with Carson Hocevar’s Chevrolet right behind him. The 42 would take command after sliding his way by the 17.
The leaders are BOTH slideways! pic.twitter.com/QQ46Y38LnG
— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 28, 2022
After the final cycle of green flag pit stops, Hocevar was cruising to his maiden win. This would all end with a late caution though. On the first overtime restart, Hocevar got loose underneath Preece and slammed the outside wall.
Heartbreak for Carson Hocevar at Charlotte. https://t.co/wXHSyZYL1P pic.twitter.com/D2QGqDEVGy
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 28, 2022
In prime position yet again for his first NASCAR win, Carson Hocevar came up empty-handed. This did however give the lead on the next restart to his teammate, Ross Chastain. While Christian Eckes nosed ahead at the white flag, Chastain cleared him for good on the last lap. With a big push from Grant Enfinger, Ross Chastain took home the Charlotte win. While the 42 dominated the closing laps, it only took Chastain leading four laps to get the win.
“Carson Hocevar and that No. 42 team dominated tonight,” Chastain said. “Al Niece (team owner) has given us trucks to come out and fight for wins. I hate it so much for Carson. If I had chosen the bottom like he did, I would have done the same thing. You’re just in a bad spot and I would have given him the push he needed to win.
“I’m so proud of Carson. I just want to say that over and over. I love him. We learn together and we lose together. I’m ready to bust!”
Behind Chastain, top finishers were Grant Enfinger, John Hunter Nemechek, Christian Eckes, and Zane Smith. The rest of the top 10 included Tanner Gray, Kyle Busch, Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Ben Rhodes. See reactions from some of these drivers below.
“I would have rather started on the top, but wasn’t going to give up a lane for it,” @GrantEnfinger on a runner-up finish as he pushed Chastain to the win. #NCEL200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/jpkrO3WaFb
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 28, 2022
“Made a 3-wide last lap move to win it and we weren’t there,” @JHNemechek says after coming home 3rd in Charlotte. #NCEL200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ycrJAvM9sd
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 28, 2022
“I wish the 4 hadn’t done that, but I would have too,” 4th-place finisher @christianeckes says of Nemechek’s last lap move. #NCEL200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/I07DeYd3Ip
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 28, 2022
“It was cool on the final lap to see the seas kinda part a little bit. I wasn’t going to wreck (the 23), GMS did a lot for me,” @zanesmith77 says after leaving Charlotte in 5th. #NCEL200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/LQG21nr2In
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 28, 2022
The Truck Series will be back in action next weekend from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. While the Cup Series makes its debut on the St. Louis track, this will be the Trucks’ 22nd trip to the midwest. The Toyota 200 will go green at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
