Zane Smith Wins Martinsville Truck Race and Punches His Ticket to the Championship Race

Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

MARTINSVILLE, VA – RIS – Zane Smith survived in the Camping Word Truck Series race on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway.  On the final restart in overtime, trucks got three- wide on the tiny half mile track.  Todd Gilliland was leading as he did all day, but that was to change.  Smith was running three-wide with Todd Gilliland and Stewart Friesen for the lead when Friesen made contact with Gilliland and spun Gilliland as the field took the white flag in overtime. Smith pulled ahead in Turn 1 as Friesen spun into the wall, bringing out the caution. Since the field had taken the white flag, the caution ended the race. Smith won the event.

Smith was hoping against hope to make the final four. He says he has no ride for next season and entered the race last among the eight playoff drivers. He was 40 points from the cutline, putting him in a must-win situation.

Smith joins John Hunter Nemechek, Matt Crafton and Ben Rhodes in the Nov. 5 title race at Phoenix Raceway.

Reigning series champion Sheldon Creed failed to advance. Also seeing their title hopes end Saturday were Friesen, Chandler Smith, and Carson Hocevar.

“Not making the final four is tough,” Creed said in a post -race interview.

Crafton, who has the most Camping World truck race series history,  narrowly avoided disaster when he was spun by teammate Grant Enfinger 15 laps from the scheduled distance. Crafton was able to keep going and remain in a transfer spot.

Creed’s truck suffered damage in the incident, getting forced into the wall while running three wide.

Nemechek advanced despite finishing 39th when he was eliminated in a crash. Nemechek wrecked after contact from Austin Wayne Self.

“He shouldn’t be out here if he’s just going to hook somebody in the right rear and turn them into the fence, he shouldn’t be out here,” Nemechek told FS1. “NASCAR should definitely look at that. It’s playoff contention. You’ve got to have respect and obviously he doesn’t.”

In this double header, the Xfinity Series races at 6:00 under the lights at NASCAR’s smallest track tonight.  Also an elimination race, The final four eligible racers will go for the season championship at Phoenix, as will the NASCAR Cup Series drivers, who will start engines at 2:00 PM on Sunday.

Unofficial Results: 23rd Annual United Rentals 200: October 30, 2021, Martinsville Speedway, 0.526 Mile Paved

Fin, Str, Driver, Trk, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 9, Zane Smith (P), No. 21 MRC Construction Chevrolet, 204, 6, 8, 4, 65, 5, 48, Running
2) 10, Austin Hill, No. 16 United Rentals Toyota, 204, 10, , , , , 36, Running
3) 27, Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance Ford, 204, , , , , , 34, Running
4) 6, Chandler Smith (P), No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota, 204, , , , , , 33, Running
5) 5, Matt Crafton (P), No. 88 Black Label Bacon/Menards Toyota, 204, 5, 5, , , , 44, Running
6) 30, Parker Kligerman, No. 75 Luck's Beans Toyota, 204, , , , , , 31, Running
7) 3, Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Bombardier LearJet 75 Toyota, 204, 4, 6, , , , 42, Running
8) 39, Taylor Gray, No. 17 FORD Ford, 204, , 7, , , , 33, Running
9) 4, Sheldon Creed (P), No. 2 Liftkits4less.com Chevrolet, 204, 2, 3, , , , 45, Running
10) 24, Timmy Hill, No. 56 Hill Motorsports Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 27, Running
11) 28, Corey Heim, No. 51 HYTE Toyota, 204, , , , , , 26, Running
12) 8, Carson Hocevar # (P), No. 42 Good Sam Chevrolet, 204, 9, 9, 2, 4, , 29, Running
13) 26, Kris Wright #, No. 02 First National Bank Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 24, Running
14) 14, Danny Bohn, No. 30 North American Motor Car Toyota, 204, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 18, Spencer Boyd, No. 20 Credit MRI Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 22, Running
16) 37, Chris Hacker, No. 45 Sherfick Companies Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 7, Stewart Friesen (P), No. 52 Halmar International Toyota, 204, 7, 10, , , , 25, Running
18) 12, Tate Fogleman, No. 12 Randco Industries Inc. Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 23, Hailie Deegan #, No. 1 Monster Ford, 204, , , , , , 18, Running
20) 21, Austin Wayne Self, No. 22 GOTEXAN/AM Technical Solutions Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 15, Grant Enfinger, No. 98 Champion/Curb Records Toyota, 204, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 20, Bret Holmes, No. 32 Southern States Bank Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 33, Dawson Cram, No. 41 Be Water Chevrolet, 204, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 17, Derek Kraus, No. 19 Incredible Bank Toyota, 204, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 2, Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Speedco Ford, 203, 1, 1, 3, 133, 2, 32, Running
26) 19, Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet, 203, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 34, Jack Wood, No. 24 Chevy Cares Chevrolet, 203, , , , , , 10, Running
28) 25, Josh Berry(i), No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 203, , , , , , 0, Running
29) 36, Spencer Davis, No. 11 Inox Supreme Lubricants Toyota, 202, , , , , , 8, Running
30) 38, Jesse Iwuji, No. 33 eRacing Association Toyota, 202, , , , , , 7, Running
31) 22, Johnny Sauter, No. 13 Farm Paint Toyota, 201, 8, 4, , , , 16, Running
32) 31, Sage Karam(i), No. 3 Bommarito.com/Montage Mountain Chevrolet, 200, , , , , , 0, Running
33) 11, Ryan Truex, No. 40 Marquis Spas Chevrolet, 198, , , , , , 4, Running
34) 35, Josh Reaume, No. 34 Hardy Boy Consulting Toyota, 198, , , , , , 3, Running
35) 40, Roger Reuse, No. 49 WCIParts.com Ford, 193, , , , , , 2, Running
36) 32, Jennifer Jo Cobb, No. 10 Fastener Supply Company Ford, 190, , , , , , 1, Running
37) 16, Cory Roper, No. 04 CarQuest Auto Parts Ford, 188, , , , , , 1, Running
38) 29, Colby Howard(i), No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 174, , , , , , 0, Running
39) 1, John Hunter Nemechek (P), No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, 129, 3, 2, 1, 2, , 18, Accident
40) 13, Chase Purdy #, No. 23 BamaBuggies.com Chevrolet, 33, , , , , , 1, Rear Gear
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Time: 1 Hrs, 54 Mins, 9 Secs.
Race Length: 204 Laps - 107.304 Miles
Average Speed: 56.402 MPH
Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Stage 1 Top 10: 38, 2, 4, 99, 88, 21, 52, 13, 42, 16
Stage 2 Top 10: 38, 4, 2, 13, 88, 99, 17, 21, 42, 52

Comments: Zane Smith has won the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway, his third career victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Prior to the start, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason indicated: No. 75 (Unapproved adjustments). 

Cautions: 14 for 89 laps;
Laps: 47-56 (No. 04 Spin Turn 4 / Stage 1 Conclusion [24]);
66-71 (No. 24, 04 Incident Turn 2 [56]);
82-86 (Debris Frontstretch [20]);
89-95 (No. 34, 15, 41, 40, 33, 25, 04, 32 Incident Frontstretch [24]);
102-110 (Stage 2 Conclusion [45]);
116-123 (No. 10 Incident Turn 2 [25]);
131-140 (No. 4, 22 Incident Turn 3 [12]);
143-146 (No. 19, 45 Incident Turn 4 [32]);
150-154 (No. 3, 24, 41 Incident Turn 4 [02]);
158-163 (No. 75, 13 Incident Turn 3  [1]);
178-183 (No. 13, 75 Incident Turn 3 [None]);
186-192 (No. 51, 12, 98, 25, 88, 19, 30 Incident Turn 4 [1]);
198-202 (No. 41, 51 Incident Frontstretch [12]);
204-204 (No. 38, 52 Incident Frontstretch [None]).

Lead Changes: 10 among 4 drivers;
T. Gilliland 1-71;
J. Nemechek (P) 72-73;
T. Gilliland 74-105;
Z. Smith (P) 106-109;
C. Hocevar # (P) 110-111;
Z. Smith (P) 112-122;
C. Hocevar # (P) 123-124;
Z. Smith (P) 125-173;
T. Gilliland 174-203;
Z. Smith (P) 204.

Cometic Gasket Pole Award: John H. Nemechek, No. 4
Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Zane Smith, No. 21
Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Chandler Smith, No. 18 

UNOFFICIAL Driver Points:
Pos)   Driver        Car   Starts        GL     Points        Ldr    Nxt    Race Wins  Stage Wins Playoff Pts
1)      Zane Smith (P)      No. 21         21     7       4000  0       0       1       3       9
2)      Ben Rhodes (P)     No. 99         21     0       4000  0       0       2       2       19
3)      Matt Crafton (P)    No. 88         21     0       4000  0       0       0       0       4
4)      John H. Nemechek (P)    No. 4 21     -3      4000  0       0       5       11     50
5)      Sheldon Creed (P) No. 2 21     -1      2274  -1726 1726  3       7       26
6)      Stewart Friesen (P)         No. 52         21     -1      2226  -1774 48     0       0       1
7)      Todd Gilliland      No. 38         21     2       2219  -1781 7       1       6       15
8)      Austin Hill  No. 16         21     2       2183  -1817 36     2       1       21
9)      Chandler Smith # (P)     No. 18         21     -3      2170  -1830 13     1       1       6
10)    Carson Hocevar # (P)     No. 42         21     -3      2167  -1833 3       0       0       2
11)    Grant Enfinger     No. 98         20     0       563    -3437 1604  0       1       0
12)    Johnny Sauter     No. 13         21     0       479    -3521 84     0       0       0
13)    Derek Kraus         No. 19         21     0       457    -3543 22     0       3       0
14)    Austin Wayne Self No. 22         21     0       436    -3564 21     0       0       0
15)    Tyler Ankrum       No. 26         21     0       409    -3591 27     0       0       0
16)    Ryan Truex No. 40         21     0       386    -3614 23     0       0       0
17)    Hailie Deegan #    No. 1 21     0       340    -3660 46     0       0       0
18)    Tanner Gray         No. 15         21     1       321    -3679 19     0       0       0
19)    Chase Purdy #      No. 23         20     -1      290    -3710 31     0       0       0
20)    Tate Fogleman      No. 12         21     0       280    -3720 10     1       0       0
21)    Parker Kligerman No. 75         11     2       254    -3746 26     0       0       0
22)    Danny Bohn         No. 30         19     -1      254    -3746 0       0       0       0
23)    Spencer Boyd       No. 20         18     1       231    -3769 23     0       0       0
24)    Christian Eckes    --       9       -2      228    -3772 3       1       0       0
25)    Cory Roper  No. 04         15     0       177    -3823 51     0       0       0
(#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs