If Christian Eckes, the fifth-place driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, hopes to contend for his first win of the season in Saturday’s LiUNA! 150 at Lime Rock Park, the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver is going to have to overcome some physical hurdles, health-wise.
Josh Sims, a pit reporter for FOX Sports, revealed on Saturday morning’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice broadcast that Eckes suffered a Grade 3 Lateral Sprain in his left foot. According to Sims, the injury occurred as Eckes stepped in a hole while exiting Naval Base Coronado following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at the military base on Father’s Day weekend.
After suffering the injury, Eckes went to the infield care center at Naval Base Coronado to get the injury checked out before he headed back home.
According to WebMD.com, a torn or detached ligament is what elevates a sprain to Grade 3.
Eckes, who was only able to muster the 24th-fastest lap in Saturday’s practice session at Lime Rock Park, says that he feels fine in his No. 91 machine and hopes his team can make some adjustments to give him a shot at a solid qualifying run.
“I’m feeling like it’s not a very good story that I’m sitting here in a boot, but yeah, I feel fine in the car. I wish our NAPA Auto Care Chevy was a little bit better,” Eckes explained, “but [truck chief] Dave Elenz and the guys are going to make some good adjustments here.”
Based on what he experienced on track in practice, Eckes knows passing is going to be a tough task on Saturday afternoon at the 1.53-mile road course in Connecticut.
“It was definitely tough to pass in practice, so need to qualify well here,” Eckes said.
