Team EJP 175 – Race Results
Venue: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
FINISH: 28th
Start: 19th
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 4th
Eckes Protects Fourth Position in Points at NHMS
Christian Eckes protected the fourth position in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) standings on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) despite a trying day that resulted in a 28th-place finish. The driver of the No. 91 CRC Brakleen Chevrolet Silverado RST closed out the regular season fourth in the drivers’ point standings and will begin the seven-race Chase for the NCTS title 40 points out of the lead at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17th.
Eckes’ weekend started strong with tremendous pace in Friday’s practice session. After a 19th-place qualifying run, Eckes made progress in the opening laps under Saturday’s overcast skies. However, the early progress was met with a severely loose balance and necessitated Eckes to make an early pit stop under the event’s second caution on lap 13. Following the stop, Eckes restarted outside the top-30 and drove back to 21st by the end of Stage 1 on lap 55.
Quick work by the CRC Brakleen pit crew gained Eckes six positions on pit road and allowed him to restart 15th on lap 63. However, the balance continued to pose a hindrance to Eckes during the second segment as his progress paused in 15th for the remainder of Stage 2.
He lined up 14th on lap 119 but battled the balance that began to deteriorate in the waning laps. A late caution on lap 170 bunched up the field with Eckes running in 20th position and allowed him to pit for two right side tires. A multi-truck accident on the first overtime restart collected Eckes’ Chevrolet and ultimately forced him to finish 28th.
Christian Eckes Quote:
“Trying day, for sure. Certainly not how we wanted to finish the regular season. Our CRC Brakleen, NAPA Chevy was really good in practice yesterday. Felt like we had capability to be one of the trucks to contend today. We’ll go back and diagnose it to get better. We’ll get prepared for Bristol and start the Chase off the right way.”
