Points leader Austin Hill secured a playoff spot by winning Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway for his first victory of the season.
“It’s just a big relief to be locked into the playoffs, just to have that momentum going forward,” Hill said after his fifth career series victory.
Hill led 65 of the race’s 134 laps. Brett Moffitt finished second and was followed by Grant Enfinger, Matt Crafton and rookie Derek Kraus. With the top-five finish, Kraus moved into what would be the last playoff spot. He leads Tyler Ankrum for that spot by four points after Ankrum fell out of a playoff spot with his 33rd-place finish.
The top 15 finishers will be inverted for the start of Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway (1:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
STAGE 1 WINNER: Brett Moffitt
STAGE 2 WINNER: Austin Hill
WHO HAD A BAD RACE: Tyler Ankrum had to go to the garage early because of brake problems after he had a right rear tire go down. He returned to the race 22 laps down. Ankrum finished 33rd. … Ross Chastain, who won last year’s Truck race at Kansas, had to pit twice for flat tires under green. Chastain finished 34th.
NEXT: The series races the second half of the weekend doubleheader at Kansas at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
