AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 25: Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 NAPA AutoCare Chevrolet, Ty Majeski, driver of the #98 Cincinnati/Curb Records Ford, and Zane Smith, driver of the #38 Speedco/Peak Ford, race during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas on March 25, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series raced at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Saturday afternoon. Who took home the trophy?
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series traveled to Circuit of the Americas for the fourth event of the 2023 season.
This year’s installment of the race marks only the third time the series has ever raced at COTA.
Last year’s winner, Zane Smith, started seventh while Ross Chastain, a full-time Cup Series driver, earned the pole.
Other notable entrants in the race include other Cup Series driver Kyle Busch, former Indy Car driver Ed Jones making his debut and 62-year-old Dale Quarterley who is making his Truck Series debut and his first NASCAR-sanctioned event since 2008.
NASCAR Truck Series: Zane Smith holds off Kyle Busch to win at COTA
Christian Eckes dominated the first stage, holding off Ty Majeski and Corey Heim to secure the stage win, earning precious playoff points along the way. He wound up finishing 30th after a suspension issue took him out of the race.
Kyle Busch, the best Truck Series driver of all-time, won stage two, fending off Zane Smith and Lawless Alan.
At the end of the day, it was Smith, the 2022 series champion, winning the race. It’s his second consecutive win at COTA, second win of the year and ninth career win. He continues to dominate the series and is an early favorite to win back-to-back championships, something that hasn’t been done since Matt Crafton did it in 2013 and 2014.
NASCAR Truck Series: Xpel 225 results
- Zane Smith
- Kyle Busch
- Ty Majeski
- Tyler Ankrum
- Ross Chastain
- Corey Heim
- Nick Sanchez
- Tanner Gray
- Kaz Grala
- Ben Rhodes
- Taylor Gray
- Grant Enfinger
- Rajah Caruth
- Stewart Friesen
- Kaden Honeycutt
- Hailie Deegan
- Lawless Alan
- Daniel Dye
- Jake Garcia
- Colin Garrett
- Kris Wright
- Logan Bearden
- Bret Holmes
- Colby Howard
- Timmy Hill
- Mason Filippi
- Chase Purdy
- Dale Quarterley
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Christian Eckes (OUT – SUSPENSION)
- Parker Kligerman (OUT – ELECTRICAL)
- Spencer Boyd (OUT – ELECTRICAL)
- Matt Crafton (OUT – ACCIDENT)
- Carson Hocevar (OUT – AXLE)
- Dean Thompson (OUT – ACCIDENT)
- Ed Jones (OUT – SUSPENSION)