Preece wins Nashville Truck race for second consecutive year

Preece, making just his eighth career start in series, held off a hard charge by Zane Smith in the final two laps to win Friday night at Nashville for the second consecutive season.

The win is also the second consecutive for David Gilliland Racing, which won last week’s dirt race at Knoxville, Iowa, with driver Todd Gilliland in the No. 17 Ford.

With the win, Preece also collected a $50,000 bonus as part of the Triple Truck Challenge.

“I didn’t want it to be that close (at the end), But my hat’s off to DGR and all the crew for this one,” Preece said. “We won a second guitar – I might have to start a band!

“I just want you guys to know a lot of this is built in the shop. Speed is built in the shop. DGR worked their tails off and I know what it takes to win races. They give me phenomenal race cars.

“I’m just proud to be the one holding the steering wheel.”

Carson Hocevar finished third, Ty Majeski was fourth and Stewart Friesen rounded out the top-five.

Completing the top-10 were Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum, Max Gutierrez, John Hunter Nemechek and Matt Crafton.

Gutierrez was making just his second series start and will race Saturday in his home country of Mexico.

Stage 3

Following the break between Stages 2 and 3, the lead-lap trucks all pit with Parker Kligerman the first off pit road thanks to a two-tire pit stop.

When the race resumed on Lap 103, Kligerman was followed by Preece, Zane Smith and Friesen.

Preece powered past Kligerman on the inside to return to the lead on the restart.

Todd Bodine spun off Turn 4 and down the frontstretch on Lap 119, which brought out a caution.

A handful of trucks pit but Preece remained on the track and in the lead when the race returned to green on Lap 125.

While racing four-wide in Turn 3 on Lap 127, Corey Heim, Grant Enfinger and Matt DiBenedetto all hit the wall.

On the restart on Lap 136, Preece remained out front followed by Eckes, Zane Smith and Friesen.

Just after the restart, Hailie Deegan wrecked entering Turn 1, bringing out the eighth caution of the race. Colby Howard was also caught up in that incident.

Preece continued to lead when the raced returned to green on Lap 141.

With eight laps to go, Zane Smith moved into second and set his sights on Preece.

Stage 2

Preece grabbed the lead on a late restart and easily held off Zane Smith to earn the Stage 2 win.

Heim was third, Eckes fourth and Friesen rounded out the top-five.

Following the break between Stages 1 and 2, all the lead-lap trucks pit with Majeski the first off pit road. Jesse Little was penalized for an uncontrolled tire during his stop and had to restart from the rear of the field.

On the restart on Lap 54, Majeski was followed by Zane Smith and Preece.

Zane Smith quickly powered back into the lead on the restart.

Tanner Gray hit the wall on Lap 61 with a flat tire and was forced to pit under green for repairs.

On Lap 69, Nemechek spun on the backstretch after contact with Hocevar to bring out the fourth caution of the race.

Several trucks elected to pit but Hocevar was penalized for speeding on pit road and had to restart from the rear of the field.

When the race resumed on Lap 74, Zane Smith led the way but Preece jumped out front right after the restart.

Stage 1

Zane Smith easily held off Preece to take the Stage 1 win, leading all 45 laps.

Heim was third, Friesen fourth and Chandler Smith rounded out the top-five.

Preece started on the pole but Zane Smith quickly powered to the lead on Lap 1.

On Lap 8, Jack Wood spun after contact with Crafton and wrecked in Turn 4, which brought out the first caution of the race.

The race returned to green on Lap 14 with Zane Smith out front followed by Preece and Hocevar.

Camden Murphy wrecked in Turn 2 on Lap 20 to place the race back under caution. Zane Smith continued to lead the way on the restart on Lap 25.

Gutierrez started the race from the rear of the field after failing post-qualifying inspection and unapproved adjustments.

Gray had to start the race from pit road after fueling his truck before the green flag.

Cla	#	Driver		Manufacturer	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval	Laps Led
1	17	Ryan Preece		Ford	150	1:56'32.446			74
2	38	Zane Smith		Ford	150	1:56'32.953	0.507	0.507	70
3	42	Carson Hocevar		Chevrolet	150	1:56'33.000	0.554	0.047
4	66	Ty Majeski		Toyota	150	1:56'34.019	1.573	1.019	4
5	52	Stewart Friesen		Toyota	150	1:56'35.833	3.387	1.814
6	98	Christian Eckes		Toyota	150	1:56'37.283	4.837	1.450
7	16	Tyler Ankrum		Toyota	150	1:56'38.256	5.810	0.973
8	22	Max Gutierrez		Chevrolet	150	1:56'38.717	6.271	0.461
9	4	John Hunter Nemechek		Toyota	150	1:56'39.630	7.184	0.913
10	88	Matt Crafton		Toyota	150	1:56'39.646	7.200	0.016
11	19	Derek Kraus		Chevrolet	150	1:56'39.974	7.528	0.328
12	99	Ben Rhodes		Toyota	150	1:56'41.895	9.449	1.921
13	61	Chase Purdy		Toyota	150	1:56'42.112	9.666	0.217
14	40	Dean Thompson		Chevrolet	150	1:56'43.013	10.567	0.901
15	18	Chandler Smith		Toyota	150	1:56'43.175	10.729	0.162
16	91	Colby Howard		Chevrolet	150	1:56'43.538	11.092	0.363
17	44	Kris Wright		Chevrolet	150	1:56'44.525	12.079	0.987
18	9	Blaine Perkins		Chevrolet	150	1:56'44.583	12.137	0.058
19	02	Jesse Little		Chevrolet	150	1:56'44.873	12.427	0.290
20	75	Parker Kligerman		Toyota	150	1:56'46.117	13.671	1.244	2
21	47	Kaden Honeycutt		Toyota	150	1:56'47.528	15.082	1.411
22	20	Stefan Parsons		Chevrolet	150	1:56'48.214	15.768	0.686
23	56	Timmy Hill		Toyota	150	1:56'48.597	16.151	0.383
24	45	Alan Lawless		Chevrolet	150	1:56'48.724	16.278	0.127
25	12	Spencer Boyd		Chevrolet	150	1:56'49.040	16.594	0.316
26	43	Nick Leitz		Chevrolet	150	1:56'49.254	16.808	0.214
27	62	Todd Bodine		Toyota	148	1:57'05.145	2 Laps	2 Laps
28	1	Hailie Deegan		Ford	144	1:54'32.284	6 Laps	4 Laps
29	33	Chris Hacker		Toyota	144	1:56'47.423	6 Laps	2'15.139
30	15	Tanner Gray		Ford	143	1:56'54.912	7 Laps	1 Lap
31	25	Matt DiBenedetto		Chevrolet	132	1:42'49.717	18 Laps	11 Laps
32	23	Grant Enfinger		Chevrolet	126	1:33'29.016	24 Laps	6 Laps
33	51	Corey Heim		Toyota	126	1:33'29.160	24 Laps	0.144
34	30	Camden Murphy		Toyota	20	19'49.850	130 Laps	106 Laps
35	24	Jack Wood		Chevrolet	6	3'12.899	144 Laps	14 Laps
36	46	Chase Janes		Ford	1	26'37.752	149 Laps	5 Laps