Trackin' Trucks: Bubba Wallace earns CWTS victory in Michigan

Bubba Wallace celebrates in Victory Lane at Michigan on Aug. 12, 2017

Credit: Sean Gardner

by Courtney Horn

It had been over two years, and 59 races, prior to the LTi Printing 200 since Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. piloted a truck let alone seen Victory Lane in the Camping World Truck Series. Wallace took advantage of a (tentative) one-race deal at Michigan International Speedway.

Wallace surged to the lead with 11 laps to go after passing Austin Cindric and Christopher Bell for the lead. Wallace was unable to pull away but held them off several times in addition to the No. 51 of Kyle Busch.

“It’s huge,” Wallace said of his sixth career CWTS victory, “Everybody goes through trials and tribulations for a reason. You have a lot more downs than ups in this sport. The ones that can carry themselves and come out on top each and every time from those downs are the ones that are gonna capitalize.”

“I’ve tried to carry a positive outlook on everything I’ve done.”

The win is the first career victory for MDM Motorsports and Wallace’s first race in over a month after subbing for Aric Almirola in the MENCS for a four-race stint, where he finished 11th at Kentucky.

Bell finished second after giving Wallace a push for his victory. Busch, who led the most laps and secured back-to-back stage wins finished third, with Ryan Truex and Cindric rounding out the top five.

John Hunter Nemechek finished 29th after suffering heavy damage from a Lap 4 crash. Nemechek spun and hit the outside wall within Turn 2 after making contact with Chase Briscoe.

Cody Coughlin’s day ended after contact with eventual race winner Wallace sent him airborne into the inside wall at the end of pit road. Coughlin finished in the 21st position.

A Look Ahead

The Camping World Truck Series head to Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 16th for another round of mid-week action.

Johnny Sauter heads into Bristol 37 points behind the points leader Bell. Sauter finished 18th at Michigan after a flat tire forced the GMS Racing driver to pit under green. Sauter later had pit road penalties that kept him out of contention for the win.

Sauter finished fifth a year ago at Bristol and could rebound at the half-mile oval to close the gap on Bell.

Noah Gragson sits on the bubble with three races remaining in the regular season. He is in a must-win situation, 22 points behind the cutoff position.

Don’t miss Gragson and the CWTS at Bristol on August 16, 2017, at 8:30 p.m ET on Fox Sports 1.