HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) – An underdog pilot for an underfunded team celebrated a storybook season ending with an improbable championship.

Brett Moffitt won the Truck Series championship for Hattori Racing, a small team so financially tense that there were times when the organization was not certain of being able to finish this season. But Moffitt, a practically NASCAR companion at 26, set up the year that made it impossible for the small team to retire.

Moffitt sealed the championship with a win, his sixth of the season, Friday night in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He won last week in Phoenix to place his Toyota team in the last four and surpassed his more financially-rich rivals to win the title by winning the race.

"I did not want a drama here, I just wanted a party," said Moffitt. "It was not easy this year, I do not think people understand how serious it was, we had a good year, but a championship really put an exclamation point on l & # 39; year. "

It's a great party for Moffitt and the team's owner, Shigeaki Hattori, a former driver who has experienced the Truck Series and Indy cars before focusing on team ownership. The pilot and owner battled NASCAR, and it was only the second full season for the Hattori team. Moffitt in 2015 was NASCAR's best rookie of the series, but he's never been able to land a safe and stable round.

Not even this season, in which the team has dominated, has nothing locked for the future.

Hattori is always looking for sponsors to keep his team afloat. Moffitt has no concrete plans for 2019.

"We do not have what some of the other teams have in terms of budget, but we have the best people," said team leader Scott Zipadelli. "I just hope we can continue."

Moffitt made his national debut in 2012 and was in the cup series three years later. Veteran drivers insist that Moffitt is one of the most talented – they call him a "wheel man" – and only adequate equipment holds him back. He has spent six years at this level – an unlikely league that should allow him to become a better racing team.

For Hattori, this victory proved that the teams that were initially able to scratch and become a competitive NASCAR team. With the right combination of people, the team overcame its limits.

"We all know now the story where we did not know if we would run all year, I did not know if I would have the opportunity to play a championship even after our first win," Moffitt said. "Everyone worked hard here."

As his team progressed, Moffitt credited dedicated sponsors "who arrived at the clutch and drove us to the race track."

Noah Gragson was the finalist of the championship and finished third in the race. Gragson drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports, backed by Toyota, the best NASCAR team and the heavyweight favorite to win the championship.

Myatt Snider won the Rookie of the Year title at the wheel of ThorSport Racing.

Chevrolet won its ninth constructor title, but the first in the Trucks series since 2012.

The championship trophy was presented to Moffitt by Ben Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France. Kennedy is a former driver who recently joined the executive position of the family business and his role in the post-race ceremony was revealing of the changing of the guard at NASCAR.

Results

Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida.

Length of the tour: 1.50 miles (starting position in parentheses)

1. (5) Brett Moffitt, Toyota, 134 laps, 0 marks, 40 points.

2. (1) Grant Enfinger, Ford, 134, 0, 53.

3. (3) Noah Gragson, Toyota, 134, 0, 34.

4. (2) Stewart Friesen, Chevrolet, 134, 0, 42.

5. (13) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 134, 0, 35.

6. (22) Matt Crafton, Ford, 134, 0, 44.

7. (8) John Hunter Nemechek, Chevrolet, 134, 0, 0.

8. (4) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 134, 0, 29.

9. (9) Jesse Little, Toyota, 134, 0, 35.

10. (11) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 134, 0, 29.

11. (14) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 134, 0, 26.

12. (6) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 134, 0, 25.

13. (15) Todd Gilliland, Toyota, 133, 0, 24.

14. (12) Myatt Snider, Ford, 133, 0, 23.

15. (17) Tyler Dippel, Chevrolet, 133, 0, 22.

16. (7) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 133, 0, 0.

17. (19) Cory Roper, Ford, 133, 0, 20.

18. (21) Jeb Burton, Toyota, 132, 0, 0.

19. (23) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 132, 0, 18.

20. (25) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 132, 0, 17.

21. (16) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 132, 0, 16.

22. (31) Justin Fontaine, Chevrolet, 131, 0, 15.

23. (24) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 130, 0, 14.

24. (10) Chris Windom, Toyota, 130, 0, 13.

25. (29) Ray Ciccarelli, Chevrolet, 129, 0, 12.

26. (27) D.J. Kennington, Chevrolet, 129, 0, 11.

27. (18) Robby Lyons, Chevrolet, 124, 0, 10.

28. (28) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 124, 0, 9.

29. (26) Tanner Thorson, Chevrolet, engine, 120, 0, 8.

30. (30) Reid Wilson, Chevrolet, engine, 80, 0, 7.

31. (20) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, suspension, 20, 0, 6.

32. (32) Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, vibration, 11, 0, 5.

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Race statistics

Average winner of the race Winner: 133.684 mph.

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes, 13 seconds.

Victory Margin: 2,000 seconds.

Warning flags: 2 for 12 rounds.

Lead changes: 10 among 7 pilots.

Lap Leaders: G.Enfinger 1-33; M.Crafton 34-36; N.Gragson 37-38; M.Crafton 39; B.Moffitt 40-66; N.Gragson 67-98; B.Moffitt 99-101; S.Creed 102; B. Rhodes 103-104; J. Anderson 105; B.Moffitt 106-134

Leaders' Summary (pilot, time led, led by laps): B.Moffitt, 3 times for 56 laps; N.Gragson, 2 times during 32 turns; G.Enfinger, once for 32 rounds; M.Crafton, 2 times for 2 turns; B.Rhodes, 1 time for 1 turn; J. Anderson, 1 time for 0 turns; S.Creed, 1 time for 0 turns.

Victories: B.Moffitt, 6; J. Sauter, 6; J. Haley, 3; G. Enfinger, 1; N. Gragson, 1; Joh.Nemechek, 1; B.Rhodes, 1.

The 10 best points: 1. B.Moffitt, 4045; 2. N. Gragson, 4034; 3. J. Haly, 4029; 4. J. Sauter, 4025; 5. G. Enfinger, 2284; 6. M.Crafton, 2280; 7. S. Friesen, 2265; 8. B. Rhodes, 2254; 9. Mr. Snider, 611; 10. T. Gilliland, 590.