Gio Ruggiero captures his first NASCAR Truck Series Win at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday night in the Love’s RV Stop 225
Rookie Gio Ruggiero capped a typically dramatic afternoon of racing on the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway high banks with the 21-year-old’s first career trip to Victory Lane in Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
Gio Ruggiero’s Win at Talladega
Though not in the Playoffs, Ruggiero held off his Tricon Garage teammate and current championship leader Corey Heim in a two-lap overtime duel to the checkered flag, his No. 17 Toyota leading the way by a mere 0.059-second. The effort rewarded a strong day for the young driver, who won pole position and led a race-best 37 of the 90 laps.
He took the lead with two laps remaining in regulation after then-race leaders, ThorSport Racing teammates Ben Rhodes and rookie Luke Fenhaus made contact – both Fords spinning out and allowing Ruggiero and Heim to the front. The teammates held position for the two laps of overtime to claim the win.
“Super thankful all the guys on this 17-truck, they worked their butts off today and definitely brought the best piece today,’’ the Massachusetts driver Ruggiero said. “We showed it in qualifying and throughout the race there that we had the fastest piece. Thanks to Toyota and everybody who supports me. Great to win a race with my mom and dad here.’’
The Love’s RV Stop 225 Results
Heim’s runner-up effort was the best showing by one of the eight Playoff drivers, with only a single race remaining in this three-race round to finalize which four will race for the championship on October 31 at Phoenix Raceway.
Heim, the regular season points leader and ten-race winner, has led laps in all 23 races this season. He is the only driver with a secure entry to the Phoenix finale thanks to a victory in this round’s opening race at the Charlotte ROVAL a week ago.
ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski – the reigning series champion – turned in an impressive rally on the afternoon to finish third after dropping to 34th in the 36-car field early with collateral damage from an early-laps accident.
Rookie Dawson Sutton was fourth, followed by Playoff driver Layne Riggs, who, like Majeski, earned his top-five the hard way. He started at the rear of the field after an inspection violation. That caused him to be involved to varying degrees in multiple incidents during the race.
“I’m just glad to end the day in one piece,’’ said Riggs, driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. “I know Chandler [Smith] gave me a bad push getting into the corner there, and we both wrecked. Just so glad that wasn’t a day-ender.
“Started shotgun on the field and went to the back a few times, there at the end just trying to be patient and hold that bottom and hoping the top would break up, and it did. Really bummed we didn’t get any stage points. We’re not quite in the position we want to be in, but it’s a lot better than it could have been.’’
The NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Point Standings
Six of the eight Playoff drivers finished among the top ten, with Playoff driver Tyler Ankrum in sixth. Next were former three-time series champ Matt Crafton and part-time driver Corey Lajoie. Playoff competitors Rajah Caruth and Kaden Honeycutt, roundi out the top ten.
Three positions in the Championship 4 are still to be decided. Caruth heads to Martinsville 14 points up on the cutoff line with Ankrum plus-eight and Honeycutt plus-five. Majeski is five points below the line and Riggs six back.
Daniel Hemric had a tire go down late in the race during a green flag run and finished 34th. Grant Enfinger was 36th – essentially put both veteran drivers in a must-win situation next week at Martinsville. Hemric is 32 points below the cutoff line, and Enfinger is now 40 points back.
Enfinger, the defending race winner, was an innocent victim collected in an accident only four laps into the race. His No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevy is among four Playoff trucks suffering damage. But Enfinger’s Chevy was unable to continue making him the first title contender with issues.
“Bounced off a guy on the inside and thought I had it saved, just one of those Talladega deals,’’ the Alabama-native Enfinger said. “I love this place, but it just wasn’t meant to be today. … so our job’s pretty simple at Martinsville next week.”
Up Next
The series moves to the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway to decide which four drivers move forward in championship contention on October 24th. The Slim Jim 200 starts at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Christian Eckes – now a fulltime NASCAR Xfinity Series driver – is the defending race winner.