NASCAR
Ryan Preece Wins Nashville Truck Race for Second-Consecutive Year
LEBANON, Tenn. – 2021 Nashville Superspeedway Truck Series winner Ryan Preece picked up right where he left off 12 months ago. The David Gilliland Racing No. 17 Ford started the night from pole, led 75 laps, and picked up the win again. For two-straight years of the Truck Series racing at Nashville Superspeedway, Ryan Preece has taken home the guitar trophy. This also marks the second-straight win of 2022 for the 17 team.
While Preece was eventually the class of the field, the 17 did not take command until Stage 2. Zane Smith in the No. 38 Ford led all of Stage 1, earning his 21st Playoff point of 2022. Once Ryan Preece took the lead though, he hardly looked back. In total, Preece led half of the race’s total distance in his second career Truck win. Even with a rash of cautions late, the field had no match for Preece. Even with a late battle among Preece, Zane Smith, and Carson Hocevar, the 17 was still number one.
“I don’t ever like it to get that close,” Preece said of the late battle. “But my hat’s off to DGR, this Hunt Brother’s Ford F-150, really happy that Scott Hunt and the whole crew are here tonight to enjoy this one. We got a second guitar! I might have to start a band!”
“A lot of this speed is built in the shop,” Preece detailed. “These guys work their tails off, and I know what it takes to win races. They give me phenomenal racecars. Just proud to be the one holding the steering wheel.”
Preece also pockets a $50,000 bonus by winning an event in the Triple Truck Challenge. The first of these three races was won by Corey Heim at Gateway. The finale for this challenge will be at Mid-Ohio on July 9.
Behind Preece, Smith, and Hocevar, top finishers included Ty Majeski, Stewart Friesen, Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Max Gutierrez, John Hunter Nemechek, and Matt Crafton. See reactions from some of these drivers below.
Runner-up tonight @zanesmith77 says he needed clean air late, passing was difficult, and talks about a rebound from a bad pit stop late. #Rackley200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/qwUwGxdJ2m
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 25, 2022
Still walking on crutches, @CarsonHocevar recaps his 3rd-pls e run from @NashvilleSuperS.#Rackley200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/PzA9XpaqiB
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 25, 2022
4th-place finisher @TyMajeski takes responsibility and apologizes for causing a late crash when he went 4-wide underneath @mattdracing.#Rackley200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/sTCEiAxMjo
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 25, 2022
.@StewartFriesen needed to fire off better on restarts, the 52 comes home fifth. #Rackley200 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/u7VLdMTLcA
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) June 25, 2022
As stated above, Mid-Ohio will be the next Truck Series event, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 being the maiden event at this road course. This also marks the second-to-last race in the regular season for the Trucks, as the standings are shaping up at both ends of the Playoffs.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
