Truck Series: Chandler Smith wins in frantic overtime at North Wilkesboro

Bailey Defoor
May 17
5 min read

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: James Gilbert / Getty Images

From last to first, Chandler Smith wins in North Wilkesboro in a hectic last-lap finish in overtime.

As it unfolded

Corey Heim started alongside Kyle Busch as they led the way to green. It was a clean start for all drivers as Heim got away good and pulled ahead of the rest by over a second by lap 5.

Busch was caught out by Giovanni Ruggiero on lap 6 and fell down to third.

Layne Riggs started in 27th and worked his way up to 14th on lap 29.

The first caution came on lap 47 as Tyler Tomassi stalled in the second turn. Under caution, Heim and a few drivers further back pit, but most of the top 10 stay out. Ruggiero takes the lead.

On lap 55, Ruggerio lined up on the inside with Stewart Friesen on the outside. On the restar

The black flag flew for multiple trucks on lap 58, meaning the driver is required to head back to the pits to speak with officials about a restart violation. Drivers include Tomassi, Frankie Muniz, Ryan Roulette and Norm Benning.

Heim caught up to the top 2, and battled for the lead as the stage closed, while Jake Garcia, Smith and Riggs battled for fourth.

Ruggiero kept the lead narrowly as Heim passed Friesen across the line.

Stage 1 Results:

No. 17 - Giovanni Ruggiero (TRICON Garage)
No. 11 - Corey Heim (TRICON Garage)
No. 52 - Stewart Friesen (Halmar Friesen Racing)
No. 13 - Jake Garcia (ThorSport Racing)
No. 38 - Chandler Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 34 - Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 18 - Tyler Ankrum (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
No. 19 - Daniel Hemric (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
No. 9 - Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports)
No. 07 - Kyle Busch (Spire Motorsports)

Under the stage caution, most drivers pit, namely the ones that did not pit under the last caution. Heim cycled back to the lead.

On lap 80, Heim lined up on the outside of Rigg's and led the field back to green flag racing. Heim went wide and Riggs pushed him up to the wall, Grant Enfinger and Brent Crews slipped through.

Riggs dropped, still being loose throughout the following laps, as he fell to 7th by lap 84.

Heim fought against Crews and traded 2nd place between them. On lap 92, Tyler Ankrum joined the battle.

Heim got passed Crews on lap 104.

On lap 113, Ankrum got by Crews for third and Smith followed closely, getting passed Crews on lap 120.

By lap 124, Heim started closing in on Endinger for the lead.

With 5 to go, Enfinger had a big slide and allowed for Heim to catch up.

On lap 138, Connor Jones lost a front tyre from 17th and made contact with the wall at turn 2, bringing out a last-minute caution to end the stage.

Stage 2 Results:

No. 9 - Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports)
No. 11 - Corey Heim (TRICON Garage)
No. 38 - Chandler Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 18 - Tyler Ankrum (McAnally Hilgemann Racing)
No. 34 - Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 07 - Kyle Busch (Spire Motorsports)
No. 71 - Rajah Caruth (Spire Motorsports)
No. 1 - Brent Crews (TRICON Garage)
No. 99 - Ben Rhodes (ThorSport Racing)
No. 7 - Sammy Smith (Spire Motorsports)

The majority of drivers pit, with Enfinger coming off pit road first, narrowly ahead of Heim.

On pit road, Kyle Busch was penalized for going too fast, and

At the choose, Enfinger chose the outside and Heim chose the inside for the first time of the day.

On the restart at lap 150, Smith connected with Heim and assisted Heim to get ahead of Enfinger as both cars clear for first and second.

On lap 172, Matt Crafton bounced off the wall at turn 1 while running in 18th, but continued.

Another caution was thrown on lap 211 when Tomassi lost a right tyre and made contact with the wall at the entrance of turn 1.

All lead lap trucks pit except Heim, Riggs, Ruggiero and Crews. Smith got off pit road first, followed by Garcia.

Heim and Riggs lead the way back to green on lap 219.

Smith passed Riggs for second on lap 221 and began chasing Heim for the lead.

Another caution came with 4 to go as Crews spun after contact with Ben Rhodes.

Just before the caution, Smith and Heim were in the middle of contesting the lead. It was determined that Heim was ahead at the time of the caution.

Heim led on the outside of Smith for the restart in overtime, and Heim got out ahead. Riggs flew up and cleared Smith.

Riggs bumped into Heim, sliding him sideways, at turn 4 and Riggs got on the inside, going a little sideways. Smith took advantage of the slow exit from Riggs and snuck around for the win

Provisional Results