Carson Hocevar wins NASCAR Craftsman Truck Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway
LEBANON – Carson Hocevar won the third annual NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 on Friday night at Nashville Superspeedway
Hocevar, 20, from Portage, Michigan, grabbed the lead with 10 laps left before the final caution. The restart came with three laps to go and Hocevar was able to hold off the rest of the field. He led for 40 laps.
It was Hocevar's second career win. He won the SpeedyCash250 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 1.
Hocevar said he has learned from being close near the end in the past how to finish strong.
"I've been too emotional at times and too hungry to just go and get it and just let the race come to me," Hocevar said. "I was focused (after the last restart) and calm. The second we got to the white (flag) there was a lot of deep breaths. I knew I had one more corner to go and the second I got down the straightaway I knew I had no one coming and there was a lot of emotion there and I let it out."
Hocevar will be back Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 in the Spire Motorsports No. 77.
Zane Smith, the 2022 Truck Series champion, finished second for the second consecutive season and third was Nick Sanchez. Trucks series points leader Corey Heim finished fourth and maintained his lead in the standings. He led the most laps at 57.
Matt DiBenedetto, the only driver with a local connection driving for Willie Allen's Rackley-W.A.R. racing team, finished seventh. He led for three laps midway through the race and was still at fifth at the 120th lap before experiencing tire problems.
The race kicked off a full NASCAR weekend which incudes the Tennessee Lottery 250 Saturday (2:30 p.m. USA Network) and the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 Sunday (6 p.m. NBC).
Two-time Rackley Roofing 200 champion Ryan Preece has moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series and did not run in the trucks race.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Carson Hocevar wins NASCAR Craftsman Truck Rackley Roofing 200
