May 27, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Ross Chastain brings home the truck trophy for Niece Motorsports at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C.—Ross Chastain didn’t have to drive it like he stole it because the lead and the win in North Carolina Education Lottery 200 fell right into his hands at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

His Niece Motorsports teammate Carson Hocevar appeared to be in command of the race with three laps to go before contact with Ryan Preece took both trucks out of contention.

Chastain came from third to first for his fourth Camping World Truck Series win and his first at Charlotte.

“Carson Hocevar and that 42 team dominated tonight,” said Chastain, who finished .102-seconds ahead of Enfinger. “Al Niece has given us trucks to come out here and fight for wins. I hate it so much for Carson. If I had chosen the bottom there like he did, I would have done the same thing. You’re just in a bad spot.”

Grant Enfinger, John Hunter Nemechek, Christian Eckes, Zane Smith, Tanner Gray, Kyle Busch, Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top 10.

Ty Majeski earned the pole but quickly lost the lead to Zane Smith, who had the fastest truck early on. He led 28 of the first 30 laps en route to the first stage win. Following the caution for Stage 1, Smith continued his charge at the front until Tate Fogelman spun in Turn 4 to trigger the second caution on Lap 53.

When the race returned to green, Derek Kraus had the lead with four laps to decide the stage. However, Rhodes, the defending truck champion, moved to the point when Kraus failed to launch. Behind the leaders, Matt Mills and Jack Wood got together entering Turn 1 and Rhodes was declared the Stage 2 winner.

After the leaders pitted Preece gained the point off of pit road and with a push from Nemechek was able to blow by Eckes. Hocevar challenged Preece for the lead on Lap 71 and completed the pass. Green flag pit stops began with 40 laps remaining. After 29 circuits at the point, Hocevar relinquished the lead on Lap 135. He cycled back to the point three laps later.

Hocevar, who finished second at Bristol Motor Speedway in April and second the following week at Darlington Raceway, finally appeared to be headed for his first Victory Lane celebration in the trucks series. Alas, Hocevar couldn't imagine that he wouldn’t be the Niece truck in Victory Lane.

With four laps remaining in regulation, Jesse Little collided with Tyler Ankrum between Turns 3 and 4.

“You’ve got to be (freaking) kidding me,” Hocevar said over the radio.

Hocevar lined up alongside Preece for the first attempt at a green-white-checker. Chastain gave Hocevar a push, but Preece was coming. As the front-runners entered Turn 4, Hocevar went around and collected Preece. Chastain went low and took the lead.

“Why man,” asked Hocevar, who would finish 16th after leading a race-high 57 laps. “I don't know what I’d do different.”

Preece was forced to pit due to a flat tire sustained in the wreck. Chastain lined up alongside Eckes for the second overtime attempt. Despite a bit of a wiggle down the backstretch, Chastain regained control. Points leader Nemechek briefly grabbed the lead on the bottom, but Chastain came back around for the win.

“I didn’t give him the push he needed to win,” Chastain said. “Man, I’m so proud of Carson Hocevar. I’ll say that over and over. That guy’s a future star. He’s such a goofy kid, but I love him. He learns so quick.

“He’s in the program that all the Chevy guys are in and we learn together and we lose together. World Wide Express came on board to support me…This is a Georgia watermelon and I’m ready to smash it.”

Nemechek leads the point standings by 7 points over Rhodes.