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Writer's pictureMichael Heilman

Zane Smith gets his second win of the season at the Monster Mile

An hour after the ARCA Menards Series East concluded its race. It was the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Trucks Series turn to run the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway in the KDI Office Technology 200 Friday afternoon. A pair of GMS Racing teammates were on the front row Brett Moffitt was on the pole, and starting next to him was Sheldon Creed. Sam Mayer, who won the ARCA Menards Series East race, was starting in the 26th position for GMS Racing. The “Choose Cone Rule” was back in play this weekend.


The second leg of #TheTrip is GREEN! 🟢 We're racing at the @MonsterMile on FS1 and streaming at https://t.co/kd5eqlatOc! pic.twitter.com/WjxHXxEfe7 — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

On the opening lap of the race, Moffitt got down to the inside lane right away to keep Creed behind him. Creed was clashing with Matt Crafton in a fight for second place. The first caution came out a lap six as the 02 truck of Tate Fogleman got loose in between turns three and four without sustaining any damage to the truck.


Error! Task failed successfully for Tate Fogleman. "That's a successful spin."- @MW55 pic.twitter.com/xhWVIblyu0 — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 21, 2020

During the caution, the only truck to come to pit road was Ty Majeski to make adjustments to his truck. Before the restart got underway, Brett Moffitt chose the outside lane. Matt Crafton, the second-place truck, also chose the outside lane. Austin Hill and Tyler Ankrum, who were third and fourth, went to the inside lane. The race resumed on lap eleven. Moffitt was leading the race until the second caution came out at lap 21 for the competition caution. During the caution, Ben Rhodes, Johnny Sauter, and five others pitted for four tires.

Brett Moffitt led the field back to green on lap 26. Moffitt would lose the lead to Matt Crafton as Crafton got around him. A lap later, Crafton would lose the lead to Austin Hill off of turn four. Hill was in control from there on and would take the win in stage one.


New leader in Stage One: @_AustinHill! The @Hattori_Racing driver goes to the point of the #KDI200. pic.twitter.com/y3i3RjS0m3 — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

During the caution, Hill led the field down to pit road. Chandler Smith, Ben Rhodes, Spencer Davis, Johnny Sauter, and Derek Kraus elected to stay out. Smith chose the outside lane, and Ben Rhodes lined up on the inside lane as the race resumed on lap 53 to start stage two. A lap into the restart, Chandler Smith, was able to clear Ben Rhodes for the lead. On lap 79, Smith got caught up in lap traffic, allowing Derek Kraus to take the lead.


The No. 55 sets the screen, and @derek9kraus drives by @CSmithDrive for the top spot!#KDI200 | @MonsterMile pic.twitter.com/mq6n8e03gz — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

Smith also lost the second position to Zane Smith. Ten laps later, Smith was battling his teammate Christian Eckes for third-place when he got loose under Eckes and spun at turn four. Smith tried to save his truck but would hit both Sheldon Creed and Ben Rhodes to bring out the fourth caution of the day and the end of stage two that went to Zane Smith.


Around goes the 51 while battling his teammate! 😧@CSmithDrive goes for a spin after racing @KBMteam teammate @christianeckes! pic.twitter.com/tWNBlLMnrF — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

During the caution, all of the leaders pitted with Zane Smith winning the race off of pit road. Zane Smith chose the outside while Christian Eckes chose the inside lane for the restart on lap 98. Eckes gets a huge jump for the lead as Smith fell to third-place. Smith was able to get the second spot back from Brett Moffitt and was now one second behind Eckes. By lap 120, Smith and Moffitt were trialing Eckes by 0.8 seconds. Nine laps later, Christian Eckes would lose the lead to Brett Moffitt and the second spot to Zane Smith.


The battle for the lead AND $50K at the end. 🤑 Who's your pick to win this stop on #TheTrip? pic.twitter.com/KzQBKQRQIa — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

Brett Moffitt tried to get away from Smith; however, Smith was reeling him in by lap by lap. Smith was able to take the lead from Moffitt a couple of laps later. The green flag pit stop cycle was underway as Moffitt pitted on lap 161 from the second position. A lap later, Zane Smith would come down to pit road for his service with Matt Crafton right behind him. Zane Smith resumed the lead once the green flag pit cycles ended on lap 168 and began to pull away from the rest of the field. With seven laps to go, Stewart Friesen got loose at turn two to bring out the fifth caution of the day.


HOLD EVERYTHING! 😱@StewartFriesen goes for a loop to bring out a late yellow at the @MonsterMile! pic.twitter.com/fHauSuL0fA — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

Zane Smith elected to take the outside lane while Brett Moffitt took the inside lane for the restart with three laps to go. Smith got an excellent jump to keep the lead as Matt Crafton moved up to second place while Brett Moffitt fell to fourth place. Smith would once again pull away and score his second win of the season by .989 seconds over the second-place finisher Matt Crafton. Smith also wins $50,000 in the Triple Truck Challenge.


🏁 x 2️⃣ $1 x 50,000. Pretty good day at the @MonsterMile, huh @zanesmith77? #TheTrip pic.twitter.com/E6c2oEqKQs — NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 21, 2020

The rest of the top ten finishers were Brett Moffitt third, Todd Gilliland fourth, Ben Rhodes fifth, Johnny Sauter sixth, Tyler Ankrum seventh, Austin Hill eighth, Stewart Friesen ninth, and Derek Kraus tenth. There were thirteen lead changes from ten drivers and five cautions for 27 laps.

            Complete playoff standings right now with three races remaining in the regular season are: Zane Smith is first (2 wins), Austin Hill second (1 win), Sheldon Creed third (2 wins), Grant Enfinger fourth (2 wins), Brett Moffitt fifth, Matt Crafton sixth (1 win), Christian Eckes seventh, Ben Rhodes 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 (-4), Tanner Gray twelfth (-63), Johnny Sauter thirteenth (-71), and Raphael Lessard fourteenth (-73).

The next race for the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will be on Sunday, August 30th, from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for the WWT Raceway 200 at noon on FS1.

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