2023 Fr8 208
{{Short description|3rd race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report|Type=CUST|Location=Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia|Announcers=Jamie Little, Phil Parsons, and Michael Waltrip|Year=2023|Race_Name=Fr8 208|Scheduled_mi=207|Course_mi=1.54|Scheduled_laps=135|Scheduled_km=334|Avg={{Convert|92.344|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}|Car=19|First_Driver=Christian Eckes|First_Team=McAnally-Hilgemann Racing|Most_Driver=John Hunter Nemechek|Most_laps=53|Most_Team=Tricon Garage|Pole_Team=Front Row Motorsports|Date=March 18|Network=FS1|Pole_Driver=Zane Smith|Description=Race 3 of 23 of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series|Official_name=15th Annual Fr8 208|Course_km=2.48|Radio=MRN|Image=Atlanta Motor Speedway.svg|Grid_from_prev_perf=yes|Distance_mi=210|Distance_laps=137|Distance_km=337}}
The 2023 Fr8 208 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a {{Convert|1.54|mi|km}} permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was increased from 135 laps to 137 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would take the win after making a pass on Nick Sanchez for the lead on the final lap. This was Eckes' second career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season.{{Cite web |last=Skala |first=Chris |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Christian Eckes Prevails at Atlanta for First Truck Series Win Since 2021 |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/03/18/christian-eckes-prevails-atlanta-first-truck-series-win-since-2021/ |access-date=March 18, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}} This was also the first win for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the truck series. To fill out the podium, Sanchez, driving for Rev Racing, and John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Tricon Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Background
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of {{convert|1.54|mi|km|adj=on}} where before it was {{convert|1.522|mi|km|adj=on}}. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021.{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Motor Speedway to re-profile track in 2022 and drivers are expressing frustration with the changes |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/atlanta-motor-speedway-to-re-profile-track-in-2022-and-drivers-are-expressing-frustration-with-the-changes/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Motor Speedway track reprofile begins {{!}} NASCAR |url=https://www.nascar.com/gallery/atlanta-motor-speedway-track-reprofile-begins/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Official Site Of NASCAR |language=en-US}} The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.
= Entry list =
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!# !Driver !Team !Make !Sponsor |
| 1 |
| 02 |
| 2
|Nick Sanchez (R) |
| 04
|Ford |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 9 |
| 11 |
| 12 |
| 13
|Ford |
| 15 |
| 16 |
| 17
|nowrap|John Hunter Nemechek (i) |
| 19
|nowrap|McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |
| 20 |
| 22
|Ford |
| 23 |
| 24
|Rajah Caruth (R) |
| 25 |
| 30 |
| 32
|Bret Holmes (R) |
| 33
|Ford |
| 34
|Keith McGee (i) |Ford |
| 35
|Jake Garcia (R) |
| 38
|Ford |
| 41
|Bayley Currey (i) |
| 42 |
| 43
|Daniel Dye (R) |
| 45
|[http://autochargit.com AutoChargIt.com] |
| 46 |
| 51 |
| 52 |
| 56 |
| 88
|Ford |nowrap|Great Lakes Flooring, Menards |
| 98
|Ford |
| 99
|Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/3/17/3233_ENTNUM.pdf Official entry list] |
|---|
Starting lineup
Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 17, at 3:00 PM EST, but was cancelled due to constant rain showers.{{Cite web |title=2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Atlanta Race Page |url=https://www.jayski.com/truck-series/2023-nascar-craftsman-truck-series-atlanta-race-page/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site |language=en-US}} The starting lineup was determined by a performance-based metric system. As a result, Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, earned the pole.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Wyatt |date=March 17, 2023 |title=Truck Qualifying Rained Out; Zane Smith Receives Pole at Atlanta |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/03/17/truck-qualifying-rained-out-zane-smith-receives-pole-at-atlanta/ |access-date=March 17, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make |
| 1
|38 |Ford |
|---|
| 2
|98 |Ford |
| 3
|99 |Ford |
| 4
|19 |
| 5
|42 |
| 6
|11 |
| 7
|23 |
| 8
|88 |Ford |
| 9
|4 |
| 10
|25 |
| 11
|15 |
| 12
|35 |Jake Garcia (R) |
| 13
|16 |
| 14
|52 |
| 15
|9 |
| 16
|5 |
| 17
|51 |
| 18
|56 |
| 19
|43 |Daniel Dye (R) |
| 20
|2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |
| 21
|45 |
| 22
|24 |Rajah Caruth (R) |
| 23
|1 |
| 24
|17 |John Hunter Nemechek (i) |
| 25
|02 |
| 26
|33 |Ford |
| 27
|12 |
| 28
|22 |Ford |
| 29
|04 |Ford |
| 30
|41 |Bayley Currey (i) |
| 31
|20 |
| colspan="5" |Qualified by owner's points |
| 32
|13 |Ford |
| 33
|32 |Bret Holmes (R) |
| 34
|46 |
| 35
|30 |
| 36
|34 |Keith McGee (i) |Ford |
| colspan="5" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/3/17/3233_STARTROW.pdf Official starting lineup] |
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 45
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|19 |Christian Eckes |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |10 |
|---|
| 2
|38 |Zane Smith |Front Row Motorsports |Ford |9 |
| 3
|23 |Grant Enfinger |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |8 |
| 4
|88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |7 |
| 5
|25 |Matt DiBenedetto |Rackley WAR |Chevrolet |6 |
| 6
|98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |5 |
| 7
|52 |Stewart Friesen |Halmar Friesen Racing |Toyota |4 |
| 8
|99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |3 |
| 9
|4 |Chase Purdy |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |2 |
| 10
|35 |Jake Garcia (R) |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 45
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Pos. !# !Driver !Team !Make !Pts |
| 1
|88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |10 |
|---|
| 2
|98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |9 |
| 3
|17 |John Hunter Nemechek (i) |Tricon Garage |Toyota |0 |
| 4
|99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |7 |
| 5
|11 |Corey Heim |Tricon Garage |Toyota |6 |
| 6
|38 |Zane Smith |Front Row Motorsports |Ford |5 |
| 7
|16 |Tyler Ankrum |Hattori Racing Enterprises |Toyota |4 |
| 8
|23 |Grant Enfinger |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |3 |
| 9
|52 |Stewart Friesen |Halmar Friesen Racing |Toyota |2 |
| 10
|2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |Rev Racing |Chevrolet |1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 47
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!St !# !Driver !Team !Make !Laps !Led !Status !Pts |
| 1
|4 |19 |Christian Eckes |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |137 |35 |Running |50 |
|---|
| 2
|20 |2 |Nick Sanchez (R) |Rev Racing |Chevrolet |137 |11 |Running |36 |
| 3
|24 |17 |John Hunter Nemechek (i) |Tricon Garage |Toyota |137 |53 |Running |0 |
| 4
|30 |41 |Bayley Currey (i) |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |0 |
| 5
|3 |99 |Ben Rhodes |ThorSport Racing |Ford |137 |3 |Running |42 |
| 6
|10 |25 |Matt DiBenedetto |Rackley WAR |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |37 |
| 7
|9 |4 |Chase Purdy |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |32 |
| 8
|18 |56 |Timmy Hill |Hill Motorsports |Toyota |137 |2 |Running |29 |
| 9
|8 |88 |Matt Crafton |ThorSport Racing |Ford |137 |29 |Running |45 |
| 10
|17 |51 |Jack Wood |Kyle Busch Motorsports |Chevrolet |137 |2 |Running |27 |
| 11
|2 |98 |Ty Majeski |ThorSport Racing |Ford |137 |0 |Running |40 |
| 12
|32 |13 |Hailie Deegan |ThorSport Racing |Ford |137 |0 |Running |25 |
| 13
|33 |32 |Bret Holmes (R) |Bret Holmes Racing |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |24 |
| 14
|35 |30 |Ryan Vargas |On Point Motorsports |Toyota |137 |0 |Running |23 |
| 15
|25 |02 |Kris Wright |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |137 |1 |Running |22 |
| 16
|19 |43 |Daniel Dye (R) |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |21 |
| 17
|34 |46 |Akinori Ogata |G2G Racing |Toyota |137 |0 |Running |20 |
| 18
|12 |35 |Jake Garcia (R) |McAnally-Hilgemann Racing |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |20 |
| 19
|7 |23 |Grant Enfinger |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |29 |
| 20
|1 |38 |Zane Smith |Front Row Motorsports |Ford |137 |0 |Running |31 |
| 21
|27 |12 |Spencer Boyd |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |16 |
| 22
|14 |52 |Stewart Friesen |Halmar Friesen Racing |Toyota |137 |0 |Running |21 |
| 23
|28 |22 |Josh Reaume |AM Racing |Ford |137 |0 |Running |14 |
| 24
|11 |15 |Tanner Gray |Tricon Garage |Toyota |137 |0 |Running |13 |
| 25
|22 |24 |Rajah Caruth (R) |GMS Racing |Chevrolet |137 |0 |Running |12 |
| 26
|13 |16 |Tyler Ankrum |Hattori Racing Enterprises |Toyota |136 |0 |Running |15 |
| 27
|15 |9 |Colby Howard |CR7 Motorsports |Chevrolet |134 |0 |Track Bar |10 |
| 28
|23 |1 |Layne Riggs |Tricon Garage |Toyota |134 |0 |Running |9 |
| 29
|26 |33 |Mason Massey |Reaume Brothers Racing |Ford |134 |0 |Running |8 |
| 30
|16 |5 |Dean Thompson |Tricon Garage |Toyota |131 |0 |Running |7 |
| 31
|5 |42 |Carson Hocevar |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |127 |0 |Accident |6 |
| 32
|21 |45 |Lawless Alan |Niece Motorsports |Chevrolet |126 |0 |Accident |5 |
| 33
|29 |04 |Kaden Honeycutt |Roper Racing |Ford |123 |1 |Running |4 |
| 34
|6 |11 |Corey Heim |Tricon Garage |Toyota |83 |0 |Accident |9 |
| 35
|31 |20 |Mason Maggio |Young's Motorsports |Chevrolet |52 |0 |Accident |2 |
| 36
|36 |34 |Keith McGee (i) |Reaume Brothers Racing |Ford |7 |0 |Transmission |0 |
| colspan="10" |[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/3/18/32303_UNOFFRES.pdf Official race results] |
Standings after the race
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| ! Pos
! Driver ! Points |
|---|
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 131 |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 126 (-5) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 123 (-8) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 119 (-12) |
| align="left"| 10px 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 116 (-15) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 106 (-25) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 103 (-28) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 97 (-34) |
| align="left"| 10px 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 79 (-52) |
| align="left"| 10px 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 78 (-53) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2023/3/18/32303_UNOFFDRIVPTS.pdf Official driver's standings] |
- Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NASCAR next race|Previous_race=2023 Victoria's Voice Foundation 200|Series=NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series|Monsteryear=2023|Next_race=2023 XPEL 225}}
{{NASCAR on Fox}}
{{2023 NASCAR Truck Series}}