Ryan Blaney captured the Busch Light Pole Award at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday evening with a lap time of 15.356 seconds at 124.954 mph in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford. It is his first pole at Bristol and the 10th of his career.
The 23-year-old Eckes from Middletown, New York, led a race-high 144 of 250 laps and fended off Kyle Busch during a 24-lap shootout to become the fourth different winner of the 2024 Truck Series season at Thunder Valley.
The NASCAR Cup Series and the Craftsman Truck Series head to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend while the Xfinity Series enjoys a week off from competition.
The 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and two-time FIA World Endurance champion from Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan, will pilot a third 23XI Racing entry for his second career start in NASCAR's premier series in Austin, Texas.
"I feel good about my performance this year," Blaney said. "I think I'm well on my way to defending my title as Cup champion. And I think Phoenix Raceway has already defended its title as one of the most boring tracks on the schedule."
The 2017 Craftsman Truck Series champion from Norman, Oklahoma, led 50 of 312 laps en route to the first Cup Series victory of the 2024 season for himself, Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in the desert valley.
Chandler Smith won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway Saturday afternoon after Justin Allgaier experienced a tire failure with only five laps to go, resulting in a dramatic 2-lap overtime finish.
