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 With a shove from the Ford of Ryan Blaney, Crafton had taken the
lead from eventual runner-up Erik Jones on Lap 145 moments before
Kennedy was launched into the fence from contact with David
Gilliland's Ford.
The victory was the fourth of the season for the two-time defending
series champion, who won for the first time at Kentucky and the
eighth time in his career.
"I've got to thank Ryan Blaney--he was all about that restart,"
Crafton said in Victory Lane. "I know we had the best truck here
when we got track position. When we got track position earlier, we'd
drive away from everybody."
But Crafton, who led 44 laps, lost the top spot during a pit stop on
Lap 100, when he had to wait for John Wes Townley to clear to his
inside before he could enter his pit stall.
"I think that was the only reason we lost the lead," Crafton said.
"But this Toyota Tundra was really, really good."
The race was slowed for the seventh time on Lap 140, when contact
from the No. 05 Chevrolet of John Wes Townley sent the No. 23
Silverado of Spencer Gallagher hard into the outside wall.
NASCAR red-flagged the proceedings for 3 minutes, 28 seconds for
track clean-up, leaving Jones in the lead for a restart on Lap 145.
But Gallagher's wreck was nothing compared with the jolt Kennedy
took on the restart lap after contact with Gilliland's Ford sent
Kennedy's Toyota to the top of the SAFER barrier and into the catch
fence.
"I thought I was clear," Kennedy said on his radio. The driver of
the No. 11 Tundra had moved up the track into Gilliland's Ford after
being cleared by his spotter.
"I heard 'Clear' on the radio, so I moved up to the wall and as soon
as I went to the wall," Kennedy said after leaving the infield care
center. "I guess Gilliland had a run on the outside and pretty much
hit me in the right rear -- and I went up.
"I guess I was on top of the wall. I remember being on top of the
wall for quite some time. I didn't see much -- just a bunch of dust
and debris flying. Then came down. The ride from the wall to the
ground was pretty hard. But I'm OK.
"Thank God for everything that NASCAR has done to keep this sport
safe. 'Cause for me to get out of my car on my own power after a hit
like that is pretty incredible."
Blaney finished third, followed by Daniel Suarez and Timothy Peters.
Two support poles in the catchfence had to be replaced, a process
that would consume 90 minutes. Accordingly, NASCAR called the race
with five laps left.
It was the second straight race in one of NASCAR's top three touring
series in which a car has hit the fence protecting the grandstands.
In last Sunday's Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series at Daytona
International Speedway, Austin Dillon's Chevrolet was launched into
the fence during a last-lap wreck in the tri-oval.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race -- UNOH 225
Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, Kentucky
Thursday, July 09, 2015
1. (1) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 145, $59498.
2. (3) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 145, $48487.
3. (6) Ryan Blaney(i), Ford, 145, $34948.
4. (4) Daniel Suarez(i), Toyota, 145, $22029.
5. (10) Timothy Peters, Toyota, 145, $19072.
6. (2) Tyler Reddick, Ford, 145, $17403.
7. (31) David Gilliland(i), Ford, 145, $14608.
8. (7) John Wes Townley, Chevrolet, 145, $16314.
9. (12) Cameron Hayley #, Toyota, 145, $16205.
[to top of second column] |
10. (9) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 145, $17018.
11. (13) John H. Nemechek #, Chevrolet, 145, $15959.
12. (5) Johnny Sauter, Toyota, 145, $15766.
13. (15) Ray Black Jr #, Chevrolet, 145, $15657.
14. (23) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 145, $15548.
15. (19) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 145, $15811.
16. (14) Ben Kennedy, Toyota, Accident, 145, $15497.
17. (16) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 144, $15188.
18. (11) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 143, $15079.
19. (22) Mason Mingus, Chevrolet, 143, $14970.
20. (30) Cody Coughlin, Toyota, 143, $12811.
21. (18) Korbin Forrister #, Chevrolet, 141, $15052.
22. (21) Justin Jennings, Chevrolet, 140, $14643.
23. (20) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 140, $13284.
24. (8) Spencer Gallagher #, Chevrolet, Accident, 139, $13175.
25. (29) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 132, $12216.
26. (17) Tyler Young, Chevrolet, 132, $11957.
27. (28) Caleb Holman, Chevrolet, Accident, 124, $11848.
28. (26) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, Suspension, 98, $11508.
29. (27) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, Electrical, 32, $11400.
30. (25) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Electrical, 16, $10900.
31. (24) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Engine, 2, $9400.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 117.268 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 51 Mins, 17 Secs. Margin of Victory: Caution.
Caution Flags: 8 for 30 laps.
Lead Changes: 13 among 7 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M. Crafton 0; T. Reddick 1-4; D. Suarez(i) 5-22; T.
Reddick 23-30; E. Jones # 31-45; R. Black Jr # 46; J. Nemechek # 47;
R. Blaney(i) 48-58; M. Crafton 59-100; E. Jones # 101-128; R.
Blaney(i) 129-131; T. Reddick 132; E. Jones # 133-144; M. Crafton
145;.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): E. Jones # 3 times
for 55 laps; M. Crafton 2 times for 43 laps; D. Suarez(i) 1 time for
18 laps; R. Blaney(i) 2 times for 14 laps; T. Reddick 3 times for 13
laps; R. Black Jr # 1 time for 1 lap; J. Nemechek # 1 time for 1
lap.
Top 10 in Points: M. Crafton -- 417; T. Reddick -- 397; E. Jones #
-- 388; J. Sauter -- 359; J. Townley -- 330; T. Peters -- 322; C.
Hayley # -- 315; S. Gallagher # -- 308; D. Hemric # -- 308; B.
Kennedy -- 297.
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