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HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Brett Moffitt, a child with a mustache reminiscent of Leo DiCaprio – yet a 26-year-old pilot companion – is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion after a decisive victory in the Ford EcoBoost 200 on Friday night at the Homestead -Miami Speedway.
In a race that featured at least two warnings, both for scheduled breaks, Moffitt escaped from the rest of the pack after taking the lead of fellow countryman Noah Gragson in the 99 championship on lap 99 out of 134.
Moffitt finished 2,000 seconds ahead of pole winner Grant Enfinger, who beat Gragson for second place in a green flag cycle at the 103-lap mark. Gragson was third at 5.006 seconds.
CUTTING LINE: Hamlin on pole, Kyle Busch second for final
Teammates GMS Racing, Justin Haley and Johnny Sauter, did not participate in the battle for the title. Haley finished eighth and Sauter, who was attempting to win a second title in the series, struggled against poor maneuverability conditions throughout the race and finished 12th, the final driver on the main lap.
Driving for Hattori Racing Enterprises, underfunded, owned by former Japanese driver Shigeaki Hattori, Moffitt clinched his sixth win of the season (and a second in a row) and the seventh of his career. More than 20 years ago, Hattori won the first of his two Indy Lights races at Homestead after leading 64 of a Lola / Buick's 67 laps.
"It was the longest 20 to 30 laps of my life," said Moffitt of the final checkered flag race. "Dude, I was just glad we could get to the white flag safely without warning." We had a great truck all day.
"It's unreal. We all know the story so far. We did not know if we would run all this year. [know] if I had the opportunity to run for a championship, even after our first win. Everyone worked hard here.
"We had so many partners who came in hard times and took us to the race track."
Hattori struggled with sponsorship issues throughout the season and Moffitt has not yet announced a contract for next season, but that did not deter the driver from the # 16 Toyota from beat against Gragson after a restart on the 68th lap, before taking it to the 99th lap. – after two concerted rounds at his rival for the title.
"I had just had my tires a bit too hot the first time I had rubbed them by, and I probably did not get involved enough in this," said Moffitt, who competed in the series. of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup before taking off with HRE. "I let them cool down and I ran to the top trying to take a swing.
"He was a little behind, and we could still run very well, which is quite unusual for Homestead."
Moffitt briefly lost the lead but gained three seconds on Gragson in the championship battle when the drivers arrived in the pits for their last stops, Gragson on lap 101 and Moffitt a circuit later. After returning to the point on lap 106, Moffitt was not challenged for the rest of the way.
Sauter's performance was also surprising, as his team had never managed to set up a workable setup.
"It was horrible," admitted Sauter, who did not find the form that brought him to Victory Lane six times this year. "No hold, we've laid an egg tonight, when you have such bad shit, you go home and ask yourself," What the hell's happened? "
Stewart Friesen was fourth and Sheldon Creed fifth. Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek, Haley, Jesse Little and Ben Rhodes complete the top 10.
Myatt Snider, who finished 14th, won the honors of the Sunoco rookie for the series.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Ford EcoBoost 200 Series
Finish, (starting position), driver, manufacturer, laps completed
1. (5) Brett Moffitt (P), Toyota, 134.
2. (1) Grant Enfinger, Ford, 134.
3. (3) Noah Gragson (P), Toyota, 134.
4. (2) Stewart Friesen, Chevrolet, 134.
5. (13) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 134.
6. (22) Matt Crafton, Ford, 134.
7. (8) John Hunter Nemechek (i), Chevrolet, 134.
8. (4) Justin Haley (P), Chevrolet, 134.
9. (9) Jesse Little, Ford, 134.
10. (11) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 134.
11. (14) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 134.
12. (6) Johnny Sauter (P), Chevrolet, 134.
13. (15) Todd Gilliland #, Toyota, 133.
14. (12) Myatt Snider #, Ford, 133.
15. (17) Tyler Dippel, Chevrolet, 133.
16. (7) Ross Chastain (i), Chevrolet, 133.
17. (19) Cory Roper, Ford, 133.
18. (21) Jeb Burton (i), Toyota, 132.
19. (23) Brennan Poole, Toyota, 132.
20. (25) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 132.
21. (16) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 132.
22. (31) Justin Fontaine #, Chevrolet, 131.
23. (24) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 130.
24. (10) Chris Windom, Toyota, 130.
25. (29) Ray Ciccarelli, Chevrolet, 129.
26. (27) DJ Kennington, Chevrolet, 129.
27. (18) Robby Lyons, Chevrolet, 124.
28. (28) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 124.
29. (26) Tanner Thorson, Chevrolet, Engine, 120.
30. (30) Reid Wilson, Chevrolet, Engine, 80.
31. (20) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, Suspension, 20.
32. (32) Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, Vibration, 11.
Playoff driver (P).
# Recruit.
(i) Not eligible for serial points.
Average speed of the winner of the race: 133.684 mph.
Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes, 13 seconds.
Victory Margin: 2,000 seconds.
Flags of caution: two for 12 rounds.
Leader changes: 10 among seven drivers.
Reid Spencer writes for the NASCAR Wire Service.
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