Brett Moffitt finally snagged his first win of the 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season and it couldn’t have come at a better time. By winning Saturday’s Clean Harbors 200 at Kansas Speedway — the first race in the Round of 8 of the Playoffs — Moffitt secures his place in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Moffitt stated enthusiastically. “Such a way to turn our season around for the No. 23 team.”
Moffitt had to hold off Sheldon Creed — who had won both Stages 1 and 2 earlier in the race — on an overtime finish, which was set up when Moffitt made contact with his teammate Zane Smith while battling for the lead with a few laps remaining in the race.
During his post-race victory interview, Moffitt apologized and took blame for ending Smith’s chances at the win.
“I gotta apologize to [Zane Smith] for trying to block him, but we were racing hard for a championship spot and it’s what you’ve got to do,” Moffitt said.
Here is video of the incident between Moffitt and Smith:
WHAT. A. BATTLE.
Brett Moffitt vs. Zane Smith for the lead at Kansas. Smith goes around. pic.twitter.com/t2EWRuh3TB
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 17, 2020
This marks Moffitt’s 12th-career NGROTS victory and it will also secure his third-consecutive place in the Championship 4.
Behind the GMS Racing duo of Moffitt and Creed was Austin Hill, who recovered after damage was sustained with contact from Christian Eckes at the end of Stage 2.
Grant Enfinger finished fourth and Chandler Smith was fifth.
Eckes, Timothy Peters, Matt Crafton, Derek Kraus and Trevor Bayne rounded out the top-10 finishers on the day.
Hailie Deegan, who was making her debut in the series, finished a respectable 16th, one lap off the pace in DGR Crosley’s No. 17 truck.
Playoff contender Tyler Ankrum was swept up in a 10-truck melee in Stage 2, which was caused when Raphael Lessard made contact with Moffitt. This sent Lessard into Ankrum, which sent Ankrum into the wall and out of the race.
Ankrum entered the race eighth in the eight-man championship battle. He will most likely need a win in order to advance to the Championship 4.
Here is the updated 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Round of 8 Playoff Grid with two races remaining in the round:
- Brett Moffitt, (locked in by way of win)
- Sheldon Creed, +26 points
- Austin Hill, +19
- Zane Smith, +7
—Cut Line—
5. Grant Enfinger, -7
6. Matt Crafton, -15
7. Ben Rhodes, -33
8. Tyler Ankrum, -56
Post-Race Stat Pack:
