Friday’s Truck Series race was eventful, to say the least. After 22 straight races of non-overtime finishes, Friday night delivered two, in addition to one of the most chaotic races in recent memory and an incredible finish. But what can be learned from it?
Learn more about the race HERE.
It’s repetitive to talk about Heim week in and week out, but it seems like he is inevitable. He earned his third win of the season, and you could argue he should have won more, as he is the only driver to win multiple races this year. With his 14th career win, not only did he tie Johnny Benson and Kevin Harvick for 11th all-time, but also broke the record for the youngest driver in history to reach that mark. Heim is the clear favorite for the title, and he made it even more evident on Friday, a race he dominated, obliterating the field; at one point, he had a 17-second lead over the second-place runner, but that was before the chaos struck.
After a whole year of races ending on the scheduled distance for the Truck Series, a record 22 races, Friday’s Texas race had two overtime restarts, and it wasn’t a fluke either; the race was chaotic from start to finish. Safety trucks on the racetrack and on pit road as the field took the green flag for restarts, a driver and crew being called to the hauler. To say it was an eventful race is an understatement. But is it really a surprise? Drivers had no practice before the race, the track was green due to the rain that had fallen earlier, and Texas is known for hosting chaotic races regardless of the track conditions. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the chaos. NASCAR, however, could have had a better execution regarding officiating, allowing the field to restart while safety vehicles are on track, which is unsafe, besides wall repairs and scoring-loop controversies. The race definitely left much to discuss, and most topics are unsatisfactory.
The lack of overtime finishes may disguise that the Truck Series can still be messy, but finishes are not all that matters. It was clear on Friday how inexperienced drivers still cannot deal with adverse conditions, which can quickly be learned if NASCAR allows them more practice. From hitting wet grass at 170MPH, diving underneath a driver in the middle of a turn, to parking in front of someone else’s box on pit road, it’s easy to blame the drivers for these “rookie” mistakes, but is it fair to blame them? Still, the fact is, if drivers could practice more, it is possible that they could learn these without giving the series a bad look, and destroying some Trucks in the process.
Frankie Muniz was again having a decent race, and it seemed like he was about to have a top-10 run, until his right front tire blew out. It was his fourth DNF of the year in just eight races, most of which were not his doing. Muniz clearly showed his frustration, which is understandable, as his truck has been plagued with mechanical issues. The question is when that will turn around, if it will. Muniz had a fantastic start to the season, with a top ten finish right away at Daytona, but since then, it’s gone downhill. He, however, cannot do much about it. His execution has been nearly flawless, and things out of his control have taken away the results.
What did YOU take away from this race? Did you enjoy it, or was it too much chaos for your liking? Let us know what you think by joining our Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
