The last time we saw NASCAR’S truck series on the racetrack, Kyle Busch was the winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On May 26th, 2020, the series was at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NC Education Lottery 200.
Tuesday night’s race wasn’t just any other Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race. Besides the three month break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a limited amount of people allowed at the track making it different, there’s also a $100,000 bounty on the line. Any Cup Series full-time driver who can beat Kyle Busch to the checkered flag wins the $100,000, but now instead of the driver taking the money, the driver who wins the bounty will choose someone to donate the money to for COVID-19 relief.
If you missed the race on TV, here’s a recap!
NC Education Lottery 200 – Stage One
There was no practice or qualifying so by random draw Ben Rhodes is on the pole, but before the first lap has been completed Austin Hill takes the lead.
On lap 16, the competition caution is out.
At the restart, Hill takes the lead over 2019 series champion Matt Crafton.
With only a few laps remaining in stage one, Ross Chastain looks to the inside of Hill and takes the lead without a fight.
Chastain wins stage one!
Stage Two
There’s a new leader. Raphael Lessard, who drives the number four truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports, takes the lead.
Crafton has now taken the lead from Lessard.
Again, we have a new leader in the NC Education Lottery 200! Chase Elliott passes Crafton for the lead!
Chase Elliott holds on to the lead to win stage two! Just a reminder, Elliott is a full-time Cup Series driver and has entered this race to go after the $100,000 bounty.
Stage Three
Ben Rhodes leads. Kyle Busch goes to his outside and Rhodes moves up the track in an attempt to block him. It’s not enough to slow down Busch’s momentum, though, because he is your new leader.
Stewart Friesen and Brennan Poole are racing side by side to the outside of Jesse Iwuji. Iwuji, in the number 33 white and blue Chevrolet, slides up just enough to catch the front corner of Friesen. He is turned sideways in front of Friesen, head-on into Poole, then spins into the outside wall. The number 33 truck has heavy damage. Others are collected and the caution is out.
The day following the race, Jesse Iwuji took to Twitter to apologize saying “apologies to the Stewart Friesen and Brennan Poole teams, any upset fans of theirs, and my RBR teams.” Here’s what else he had to say including a quick race recap from Iwuji.
Apologies to the @StewartFriesen and @brennanpoole teams, any upset fans of theirs, and my @RBR_Teams. 1st time in over 2 yrs where our mistake collected someone else in a race, can’t let it happen again. pic.twitter.com/PmRpmYzpev
— Jesse Iwuji (@Jesse_Iwuji) May 27, 2020
Busch has the lead in turn one, but Brent Moffitt has worked his way to the lead.
Natalie Decker spins and collects Poole. Caution is out again.
Kyle Busch and Austin Hill have the front row and Busch leads.
Zane Smith has momentum behind them as he goes three wide.
Busch has more speed on the top and holds the top spot.
Caution! Garrett Smithley has spun out.
Busch and Hill had to pit under the caution which will give Zane Smith the lead. Busch restarts 23rd.
With 33 laps to go, John Hunter Nemechek makes contact with Todd Gilliland, sending him hard into the wall. Gilliland’s number 38 truck has heavy damage as he takes it to pit road.
Zane Smith is the leader but Johnny Sauter is quick to his outside and he sneaks by for the lead!
The Final Laps of the NC Education Lottery 200
Kyle Busch has worked his way back to the front of the field and he currently sits in fifth.
At 25 laps to go, Chase Elliott takes the lead!
Kyle Busch is now P2 and closing in on leader.
Busch gets stuck behind lapped traffic, allowing Elliott to extend the lead.
Chase Elliott wins the NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway!
By winning Tuesday night’s race, Elliott has won the $100,000 bounty to donate to someone affected by COVID-19. This was the first attempt at the bounty.
After climbing out of the truck to get the checkered flag, Chase Elliott took a bow. Kyle Busch is known for his celebratory bow on the front stretch after a win. Some fans said it was disrespectful to Busch, but I disagree. Why not have a little fun during a time when many people are under stress due to the current pandemic? Full-time Cup Series drivers were invited to drive in the truck series to try and beat Busch. Not only was there a bounty for Cup Series drivers, but there was also one if a regular truck series driver could win over Kyle Busch. Everyone was excited for the bounty when it was announced, so why complain now?
Top 10 Results
1. Chase Elliott
2. Kyle Busch
3. Zane Smith
4. Brett Moffitt
5. Sheldon Creed
6. John Hunter Nemechek
7. Johnny Sauter
8. Ty Majeski
9. Austin Hill
10. Ben Rhodes
What’s Next?
Next up is the Cup Series Alsco Uniforms 500 race recap!
Tune into FS1 on Monday night at 7 PM as the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to short track racing at Bristol Motor Speedway! That’s right! It’s Bristol Baby! It will no doubt be an exciting race on the high banks of the famous Last Great Colosseum. You don’t want to miss it!
