Trackin’ Trucks: Nick Sanchez Wins at Charlotte

Credit: Jared C. Tilton

Nick Sanchez earned his second win of the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series season on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Sanchez charged from 10th place during the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 with nine laps to go to earn the victory, holding off Spire Motorsports’ Corey Heim for the win. 

Along with the win, Sanchez collects an extra $50,000 in the series Triple Truck Challenge incentive. 

“It’s awesome - my No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet,” Sanchez said, “What can I say more about this (Rev Racing) team? We started off bad. It didn’t affect us. We went to work. We put ourselves in position when it mattered most.” 

“This is for Chris Showalter, my car chief.” Sanchez continued, “Birthday today, 700th truck start. This is for him, and it’s great to get number two.”    

An unbelievable but remarkable stat: Showalter has been a part of the series since its formation in 1995. 

Heim finished second before being handed a post-race disqualification, when his No. 11 Toyota was spotted with three lug nuts not safe and secured. 

As a result, Stewart Friesen advanced to second place, Grant Enfinger finished third, while Matt Mills and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top five. 

Jake Garcia finished sixth, Kaden Honeycutt came home seventh, while Conner Mosack, Dean Thompson, and Christian Eckes finished eighth through 10th place, respectively. 

Eckes overcame multiple problems throughout the whole weekend, including contact with Honeycutt during practice and alternator issues. The alternator issues resulted in additional time on pit road during the race’s stage breaks.

A Look Ahead 

The Craftsman Truck Series head to the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois on Saturday, June 1st at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Several drivers are looking to rebound next weekend, including Heim and Tyler Ankrum. 

Ankrum collided with Thad Moffitt late in the race on Friday, resulting in the drivers finishing in the 32nd and 33rd place, respectively. 

Ankrum sits seventh in the standings, 133 points behind the leader and 34 points behind Taylor Gray, who sits fifth. 

Defending series champion Rhodes is straddling the cutoff position with five races to go before the playoffs. He sits 10th in the standings. 

Only a handful of points separate Tanner Gray (eighth), Enfinger (ninth) and Rhodes. 

Don’t miss a minute of the racing action next Saturday, June 1st at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX.