Trackin’ Trucks: Ross Chastain Wins at Charlotte

 

Credit: Jared C. Tilton 

Ross Chastain earned his first Camping World Truck Series victory of the 2022 season on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chastain won in double overtime after receiving a push from Grant Enfinger. 

Chastain praised his teammate, Carson Hocevar, on the front stretch where he completed his traditional win watermelon smash.

“I hate it so much for Carson,” Chastain said, “I didn't give him the push he needed to win (on the first attempt at overtime)… Man, I'm so proud of Carson Hocevar.”

“I'll say that over and over. That guy's a future star. He's such a goofy kid, but I love him. He learns so quick.”

Hocevar, who dominated the night and previously had a six-second lead before Jesse Little and Tyler Ankrum spun, finished in the 16th position after clashing with Ryan Preece during the first overtime of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Hocevar and Preece lined the front row on the restart. Preece edged ahead of the 19-year-old when Chastain spun his tires and was unable to give his teammate the push he needed that would propel him to his first NCWTS victory.

Hocevar lost control of his No. 42 Chevrolet in Turn 4, collectively taking out Preece in the aftermath. 

“A dumbass move by myself,” Hocevar said of the incident, “It sucks. I mean I tried really hard — I tried too hard."

Credit: Jared C. Tilton 

“I didn't get a good restart. I tried too hard, tried to wash (Preece) up, and just crashed myself. I feel like just crying.”  

Preece, who had to pit following the crash due to a flat tire, didn’t hold back his thoughts on the incident that resulted in him finishing in 11th place.

Don't wreck the guy on the outside of you trying to win your first race,” Preece said. “Don't do it.”

Enfinger finished second, while John Hunter Nemechek, Christian Eckes, and Zane Smith rounded out the top-five finishers. 


Tanner Gray finished sixth, teammates Kyle Busch and Chandler Smith finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Stewart Friesen and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top 10. 


A Look Ahead

The Camping World Truck Series head to the Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Saturday, June 4th.

Sheldon Creed won over Matt Crafton one year ago. Can Crafton earn his first win of the season?

With six races to go in the regular season, Nemechek holds the points lead by only seven points over Rhodes.

Crafton is holding the last spot to be eligible to compete for the 2022 championship, but a win would secure his chances over Gray and Derek Kraus, who are both outside the top 10 in points.

Don’t miss the Toyota 200 on Saturday, June 4th at 1:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.