Trackin’ Trucks: Justin Haley Wins at Gateway


Justin Haley celebrates with first career win with his team.
Credit: Jeff Curry

by Courtney Horn

Justin Haley earned his first career Camping World Truck Series victory on Saturday at Gateway Motorsports Park, holding off Todd Gilliland and Johnny Sauter in a green-white-checkered finish.

Haley took the lead with seven laps to go before a caution flew for the No. 41 of Ben Rhodes.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid,” Haley said in Victory Lane. “Every time you start doubting yourself you get in a situation like this. I’m about to cry man, that was amazing.

“I raced my heart out and that’s all I’ve worked for my whole life. Thank you to Fraternal Order of Eagles, Todd Braun, everyone, my mom, my family, it’s been an incredible experience and you never know when you get to race again.”

Haley’s win is the fifth of the season for GMS Racing. It also secures him a spot in the post-season playoffs.

Christian Eckes finished in the 28th position, despite having a strong night. Eckes was battling for position when contact with Stewart Friesen sent his No. 46 Toyota spinning.

He led 34 laps and earned the Stage 2 win in his second start for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Last year’s winner John Hunter Nemechek was running second and looked to be in the perfect position to secure back-to-back-victories before a punctured oil tank sent the No. 8 Chevrolet to the garage.

Nemechek’s troubles also collected Justin Fontaine and Tate Fogelman, who were innocent victims of the oil that spilled onto the 1.25-mile racetrack. The drivers sustained significant damage to their Chevrolets and were unable to continue. They finished 26th and 27th, respectively.

Zane Smith and Riley Herbst both made their CWTS debut on Saturday, both earning top-10 finishes as Smith finished fifth, while Herbst wound up eighth.

A Look Ahead 

The Camping World Truck Series heads to Chicago, Illinois for the Overton’s 225 on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Dalton Sargeant is looking to recover from two bad weeks. He sits 11th in the points standings, 63 points from the eighth-place cutoff for the Playoffs.

Johnny Sauter earned his second win of the season at Chicagoland Speedway one year ago. Can he earn his fifth of 2018?

Find out on June 29th at 9 p.m ET on Fox Sports 1.

Trackin’ Trucks: Justin Haley Wins at Gateway Trackin’ Trucks: Justin Haley Wins at Gateway Reviewed by Anonymous on Sunday, June 24, 2018 Rating: 5