Eckes Leads MHR Brigade at New Hampshire with Top-10

Venue: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

FINISH: 9th

Start: 28th

Laps Led: 0

The second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) start of the season for Christian Eckes resulted in a ninth-place finish with a scrappy effort as he led the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) brigade. The driver of the No. 16 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST rebounded from a spin in Stage 1 to drive up inside the top five and recorded a top-10 result.

Eckes and crew chief Darren Fraley completed a masterful turnaround after qualifying 28th on Friday evening. The NAPA Nightvision team poured over notes and simulation overnight to begin the race with a significantly improved Chevrolet. Despite starting at the tail of the field due to unapproved adjustments, Eckes quickly vaulted into the top 20 in the first 13 laps. Following a restart on lap 42 and armed with fresh tires, he was collected in a multi-truck incident in Turn 4 but did not flat-spot any tires and only sustained minor damage to the tail. He lined up 21st for the subsequent restart and was scored 17th at the end of Stage 1 on lap 55.

Fraley wisely kept Eckes on track during the second stage caution as many of the lead lap trucks pitted. He restarted 10th on lap 61 and quickly inserted himself into legitimate contention. He cracked the top five by lap 69 and claimed fourth position by lap 78. As the middle segment progressed, the NAPA Nightvision Chevy built too tight in the center of NHMS’ flat corners as Eckes held fifth when a caution flew on lap 101. Eckes pitted for four tires and fuel under the caution but exited pit road in 15th and ran 12th at the end of Stage 2 on lap 110.

To ensure he could reach the finish on fuel, Fraley filled Eckes’ Chevrolet with fuel under the second stage caution which put him back in 22nd for the restart on lap 119. In his trademark fashion, Eckes quickly got to work on the restart and rejoined the top-15 by lap 125. Two-consecutive restarts allowed Eckes to advance to 13th by lap 143 and climbed the leaderboard into 10th by lap 146. Over the final 30 laps, Eckes pocketed the ninth position and ran there until the checkered flag to record a top-10 finish in his first NCTS start at “The Magic Mile”.

Christian Eckes Quote:

“We had to grind that one out today, for sure. Great effort by everyone on this NAPA Nightvision team. Appreciate Darren (Fraley), and everyone who laid a hand on this Chevrolet at the shop and getting this thing turned around. We were a lot more competitive today and felt like we should have finished in the top-five. We did a good job responding after the spin and getting behind on pit road, so certainly proud of everybody’s effort and fight this weekend.”