DOVER, Del. — Ryan Truex converted the outside pole into his first-career stage victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Friday at Dover Int’l Speedway, topping the opening stint of the Bar Harbor 200.
Truex was able to snag the lead after polesitter Chase Briscoe elected the outside lane on the initial start and faded back, remaining out front for every one of the first 45 laps and reaching the green-checkered flag .840 of a second ahead of Briscoe.
For the hometown driver and his Hattori Racing Enterprises team, the bonus points and playoff point that they banked as a result of their efforts could prove extremely valuable in their quest for a championship later in the year.
“This is fun,” Truex said after pit stops. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen the front this much.”
“I’m just so happy to get Bar Harbor and Sea Watch up here. This team has worked so hard and put in so much effort. Shige (Hattori) is up on the box and I’m sure he’s smiling right now; he’s put so much time and money and effort into this. You won’t find a more dedicated team owner in the garage. It’s a team effort … I’m just glad to hold the wheel.”
Briscoe ran second to Truex the entire way, followed by Jesse Little, defending series champion Johnny Sauter and Noah Gragson.
Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, Justin Haley, John Hunter Nemechek and Todd Gilliland completed the top 10 and all scored bonus points at the conclusion of the stage.
Two major incidents marred the first stage, beginning on lap 20, when Wendell Chavous spun exiting turn two and collected Stewart Friesen, Austin Hill and Cody Coughlin in a multi-truck melee down the backstretch.
Then, points runner-up Christopher Bell’s day took a disastrous turn, after he lost a tire with 10 to go in the stage and went nose-first into the outside wall in Turn 3.
Though Bell was able to drive his Toyota Tundra back to pit road, the team elected to take it to the garage area, ending the Oklahoman’s day and breaking his string of five-straight top 10 finishes to start the year.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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