Love’s RV Stop 225 – Race Results
Venue: Talladega Superspeedway
FINISH: 21st
Start: 20th
Laps Led: 0
Points Position: 5th
Eckes’ Effort at Talladega Gets Deflated
Christian Eckes endured a day filled with trials and adversity to record a 21st-place finish on Friday evening at Talladega Superspeedway. The driver of the No. 91 NAPA AccuFit Chevrolet Silverado RST managed to reach the checkered flag after suffering multiple flat tires and significant contact with the frontstretch wall but salvaged valuable championship points. With two races remaining in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series Chase, Eckes sits fifth in the standings, three points out of third.
Eckes took the green flag from 20th and immediately linked up with teammate Daniel Hemric in the third lane to gain ground towards the front of the pack. On lap 13, Eckes was dealt adversity as a chain reaction on the outside lane caused Eckes to make contact with another truck and suffered damage to the nose of his Chevrolet. One lap later, he suffered a punctured tire and made hard contact with the outside frontstretch wall. He was forced to pit lane for repairs under green and lost three laps to the leaders.
Eckes was scored 31st at the end of Stage 1, but earned the Lucky Dog award to regain one of his laps. However, Stage 2 held the same fate for the No. 91 team as Eckes was forced to pit road under green for another flat tire and lost another lap. When the final stage went green on lap 46, Eckes was scored in 26th after gritty repair work by the NAPA AccuFit team. He hung onto the lead draft for most of the duration of the event and gained five positions to take the checkered flag in 21st position.
Christian Eckes Quote:
“Just a tough day for our NAPA AccuFit team. Proud of the fight and effort from our team with all the repairs that we had to go through today. We had the top lane working for a little bit with Daniel [Hemric] and a few other guys to get towards the front. Then had that big check up in Turn 4, cut a right front and just had a tough time from there. We’ll go on to Martinsville next week and try to make something happen these last two weeks.”
