Sheldon Creed takes his third win of the season at Wide World Technology Raceway

The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series kicked off a busy day at Wide World Technology Raceway at Gateway Sunday afternoon for the CarShield 200. GMS Racing teammates Zane Smith won the pole by a metric qualifying system, and Brett Moffitt was starting in second. For this race, the Truck Series was using the Modified pit stop procedures, which is teams would only be allowed to change tires and make adjustments to the truck for three minutes while maintaining their positions during the stage breaks. They can come in for fuel at any time during the race. The “Choose Cone Rule” was also back for this race.

These rules are similar to what the Craftsman Truck Series did back in the day. Back in the day, they used to call them halftime breaks allowing crews to work on the trucks, change tires, and add fuel for five minutes.

It's on at @WWTRaceway! Catch the #CarShield200 now on @FS1 or stream the race at https://t.co/kd5eqlatOc! pic.twitter.com/cgtDm4eeiU — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

On the seventh lap, Ben Rhodes suffered minor damage after running into the back of Matt Crafton’s truck. Zane Smith had a half-second lead on his teammate Brett Moffitt on lap 20. Three laps later, Todd Gilliland used lapped traffic to his favor and powered by Brett Moffitt for second place. On lap 25, Johnny Sauter would come to pit road with a drivetrain issue. His day was done and would finish in 33rd place. Todd Gilliland caught Zane Smith, and they were battling side-by-side for the lead on lap 40. On the same lap, Gilliland would finally take the lead from Smith at turn four. Smith had led all 45 laps to that point. Gilliland would pull away by 1.39 seconds over Smith and win stage one.

NEW LEADER: @ToddGilliland_ powers past @zanesmith77 for the top spot late in Stage 1! pic.twitter.com/08JVU6fT9a — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

During the three-minute break, teams make adjustments, added fuel, and changed tires. Once the break was over, it was time to start stage two on lap 62 with Todd Gilliland choosing the outside lane and Zane Smith choosing the inside lane. Gilliland was able to clear Smith to retain the lead while GMS teammates Zane Smith and Brett Moffitt clashed for second, which would ultimately go to Smith.

Three laps later, Matt Crafton, who restarted in fifth, fell back to 14th place. Sam Mayer, who competed in the ARCA race last night and finished third, was up to fourth place by lap 70. Chandler Smith, who also competed in the ARCA race last night and finished second, would bring out the second caution of the day as he got loose under Ben Rhodes fighting for seventh place and spun, hitting the outside wall of turn two.

… and around goes @CSmithDrive! The @KBMteam driver was running seventh at the time of this spin in Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/yFdqUAXfKL — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

During the caution, Sheldon Creed, Carson Hocevar, and Grant Enfinger came to pit road to make adjustments to their trucks. The race would resume on lap 83 with Gilliland again choosing the outside lane and Zane Smith the inside lane. Christian Eckes, who restarted in fourth place, got by Zane Smith for second. Meanwhile, Todd Gilliland had a 1.32 second lead over Eckes and would go on to sweep stage two. During the caution, teams were busy making adjustments, changing tires, and adding fuel.

.@christianeckes has his sights set on that first Gander Trucks victory. He's currently P2, trailing @ToddGilliland_ by less than a second. pic.twitter.com/i4rXGywjEt — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

For the third time in the race, Todd Gilliland would choose the outside lane while Christian Eckes chose the inside as the race resumed on lap 117 to start the final stage. Gilliland and Eckes would battle for the lead until Gilliland would muscle past Eckes to take the lead a lap later. A couple of laps later, Eckes would make contact with Mayer and suffer a flat left rear tire. Eckes’s day would end with a broken driveshaft and would finish in 32nd place.

A problem for @christianeckes! The No. 18 is in the wall just a few laps after restarting on the front row! pic.twitter.com/WYlTpWUFfo — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

On lap 121, Sheldon Creed attempted to take the lead away from Todd Gilliland; however, he would make contact sending Gilliland up to hit the turn one wall. This allowed Sam Mayer to take advantage of the situation and take the lead. Gilliland suffered right-side damage. As Gilliland’s crew were working on the damage, Jennifer Jo Cobb slammed the outside wall at turn one to bring out the fourth caution of the day.

Contact at the front of the field! @sheldoncreed gets into @ToddGilliland_ which sends the No. 38 into the wall. pic.twitter.com/rr26ZuBDuD — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

Well, things have escalated quickly … pic.twitter.com/2p7JHqKOJm — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 30, 2020

As the race restarted on lap 133, GMS Racing teammates Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Brett Moffit, and Zane Smith were running one through four. The caution would come out again on lap 143 for Austin Wayne Self, who hit the wall at turn two after making contact with Carson Hocevar. The race would resume with 22 laps to go. Sam Mayer got a terrible start allowing Sheldon Creed to take the lead.

MAYER. DOES. NOT. GO. @sheldoncreed takes advantage, and he's your new leader late at @WWTRaceway! FS1 | https://t.co/kd5eqlatOc pic.twitter.com/MtFZDiYvn9 — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

Sheldon Creed would pull away from there, leaving Brett Moffitt and Austin Hill to fight for second place. Creed would take the win by .881 seconds over the second-place finisher Brett Moffitt. For Creed, this is his third win of the season, and he also won the triple truck challenge winning a hundred thousand dollars.

CREED COLLECTS THE CASH! By virtue of winning today's race at @WWTRaceway, @sheldoncreed pockets $50,000 courtesy of the Triple Truck Challenge! In addition, Creed takes home a bonus $50,000 this afternoon for winning two of the three races in #TheTrip. pic.twitter.com/IpSIm3kKBC — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

Nicely done on the celebration, @sheldoncreed. @GMSRacingLLC | #TheTrip pic.twitter.com/Nc8KXGX1ex — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 30, 2020

The rest of the top ten finishers were Austin Hill third, Sam Mayer fourth, Stewart Friesen fifth, Raphael Lessard sixth, Zane Smith seventh, Grant Enfinger eighth, Ty Majeski ninth, and Tanner Gray tenth. There were five lead changes and five cautions for 23 laps.

Complete playoff standings right now with two races remaining in the regular season are: Sheldon Creed is first (3 wins), Zane Smith second (2 wins), Grant Enfinger third (2 wins), Austin Hill fourth (1 win), Matt Crafton fifth (1 win), Brett Moffitt sixth, Ben Rhodes seventh, Christian Eckes eighth, Tyler Ankrum ninth, and Todd Gilliland tenth. Drivers who have won this season are already locked in the playoffs. Drivers who are looking on the outside are Derek Kraus eleventh (-15), Tanner Gray twelfth (-71), Raphael Lessard thirteenth (-75), and Stewart Friesen fourteenth (-99).

The Truck Series now heads to Darlington Raceway next Sunday for the South Carolina Education Lottery 200 at 2 pm on FS1.

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