Christian Donald Eckes is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Eckes is the 2019 ARCA Menards Series champion, won the Snowball Derby in 2016, and was formerly a development driver for JR Motorsports and later Toyota.
Derek K. Kraus is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado for Young's Motorsports and the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports, as well as part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. He is also Kaulig and Legacy Motor Club's simulator driver. He has also previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East and West. He won the 2019 West Series championship and is also a former NASCAR Next member.
McAnally–Hilgemann Racing (MHR) is an American professional stock car racing team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team is based in Roseville, California, and is owned by Bill McAnally. In the NASCAR Truck Series, the team fields the No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado for Christian Eckes, the No. 43 for Daniel Dye, and the No. 91 for Jack Wood.
Jacob J. Garcia is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving a Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing.
The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the 29th season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season started with the NextEra Energy 250 on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended with the Craftsman 150 on November 3 at Phoenix Raceway.
The 2022 UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics was the 20th stock car race of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the first race of the Round of 8, and the 25th iteration of the event. The race was held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Ty Majeski, driving for ThorSport Racing, dominated during the end of the final stages, and earned his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. He would also earn a spot in the championship 4. Chandler Smith dominated a majority of the race, leading 89 laps. To fill out the podium, Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, and Parker Kligerman, driving for Henderson Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 NextEra Energy 250 was the 1st stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, February 17, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Florida, at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was scheduled to be contested over 100 laps, but was shortened to 79 laps due to rain. Zane Smith, the reigning winner of the race, driving for Front Row Motorsports, would win the race after leading when the final caution came out for rain. This was Smith's eighth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Tanner Gray, driving for TRICON Garage, and Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Fr8Auctions 208 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was increased from 135 laps to 137 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would take the win after making a pass on Nick Sanchez for the lead on the final lap. This was Eckes' second career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. This was also the first win for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the truck series. To fill out the podium, Sanchez, driving for Rev Racing, and John Hunter Nemechek, driving for TRICON Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 SpeedyCash.com 250 was the 5th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 25th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race was increased from 167 to 172 laps, due to numerous NASCAR overtime attempts. In a wild finish, Carson Hocevar, driving for Niece Motorsports, would win the race after the leaders of Nick Sanchez and Zane Smith crashed on the final lap. This was Hocevar's first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win. Sanchez would dominate the entire race, winning both stages and leading 168 of the 172 laps. To fill out the podium, Chase Purdy, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, and Stewart Friesen, driving for Halmar Friesen Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Long John Silver's 200 was the 7th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 25th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, April 14, 2023, in Ridgeway, Virginia at Martinsville Speedway, a 0.526 miles (0.847 km) permanent paper-clip shaped racetrack. The race was decreased from 200 laps to 124 laps, due to constant rain showers. In a race that sparked controversy, Corey Heim, driving for Tricon Garage, would win the race after putting on a dominating performance, winning both stages and leading 82 laps to earn his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, along with his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Kyle Busch, driving for his own team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Heart of America 200 was the 8th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 23rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Kansas City, Kansas at Kansas Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 134 laps to complete. Grant Enfinger, driving for GMS Racing, would make a three-wide pass for the lead with 30 laps to go, and eventually held on to score his eighth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. Enfinger also dominated a portion of the race, leading a race-high 65 laps. To fill out the podium, Corey Heim, driving for Tricon Garage, and Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Buckle Up South Carolina 200 was the 9th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 4th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Darlington, South Carolina at Darlington Raceway, a 1.366 miles (2.198 km) permanent egg-shaped racetrack. The race was increased from 147 to 158 laps, due to several NASCAR overtime attempts. Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would capture the win after leading when the final caution came out on the last lap. This was Eckes' third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his second of the season. Eckes and pole-sitter Corey Heim had dominated the entire race, leading 82 and 66 laps, respectively. To fill out the podium, Stewart Friesen, driving for Halmar Friesen Racing, and Tanner Gray, driving for Tricon Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Toyota 200 presented by CK Power was the 12th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 10th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Madison, Illinois at Gateway Motorsports Park, a 1.25 miles (2.01 km) permanent quad-oval shaped racetrack. The race was increased from 160 to 162 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Grant Enfinger, driving for GMS Racing, would take advantage of the lead on the final restart with two laps to go, and earned his ninth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his second of the season. Enfinger and Ty Majeski both dominated the entire race, leading 65 and 55 laps. To fill out the podium, Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and Stewart Friesen, driving for Halmar Friesen Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 O'Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio was the 14th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 2nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Lexington, Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a 2.400 miles (3.862 km) permanent road course. The race took the scheduled 67 laps to complete. Corey Heim, driving for Tricon Garage, would start on the pole and dominate the majority of the race, leading a race-high 30 laps, and earning his fourth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his second of the season. To fill out the podium, Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, and Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 TSport 200 was the 17th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the first race of the Round of 10, and the 2nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, August 11, 2023, in Brownsburg, Indiana at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, a 0.686 miles (1.104 km) permanent quad-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In a dominating performance, Ty Majeski, driving for ThorSport Racing, would win both stages and lead a race-high 179 laps, earning his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. He would also earn a spot in the next round of the playoffs. To fill out the podium, Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and Layne Riggs, driving for Spire Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Clean Harbors 175 was the 18th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the second race of the Round of 10, and the first iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, in West Allis, Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Mile, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 175 laps to complete. Grant Enfinger, driving for GMS Racing, would hold off Carson Hocevar with under 10 laps to go, and earned his 10th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his second of the season. Enfinger would dominate the majority of the race, winning both stages and leading a race-high 95 laps. He would also earn a spot in the next spot of the playoffs. To fill out the podium, Hocevar, driving for Niece Motorsports, and Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively. This was the first Truck Series to be held at Milwaukee Mile since 2009.
The 2023 Kansas Lottery 200 was the 19th stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the final race of the Round of 10, and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, September 8, 2023, in Kansas City, Kansas at Kansas Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent quad-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 134 laps to complete. In a wild overtime finish, Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would steal the win after making a three-wide pass on Corey Heim and Zane Smith, taking the lead on the final corner and earning his fourth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his third of the season. Nick Sanchez, Heim, and Carson Hocevar would be the dominate drivers of the race, leading 43, 40, and 32 laps respectively. To fill out the podium, Taylor Gray, driving for Tricon Garage, and Matt DiBenedetto, driving for Rackley WAR, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Love's RV Stop 250 was the 21st stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the second race of the Round of 8, and the 18th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 94 laps, but was extended to 99 laps due to a NASCAR overtime finish. In a wreck-filled race with numerous cautions, Brett Moffitt, driving in a one-off race for Front Row Motorsports, would steal the win after making an aggressive move on Christian Eckes for the lead on the final lap. This was Moffitt's 13th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. Moffitt and Nick Sanchez would dominate the majority of the race, leading 22 and 25 laps, respectively. To fill out the podium, Ben Rhodes, driving for ThorSport Racing, and Dean Thompson, driving for Tricon Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2023 Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 was the 22nd stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the final race of the Round of 8, and the 27th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, October 21, 2023, in Homestead, Florida at Homestead–Miami Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 134 laps to complete. Carson Hocevar, driving for Niece Motorsports, would make a successful late-race pass for the lead on Ben Rhodes, and led the final remaining laps to earn his fourth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his fourth of the season. He would earn a spot in the Championship 4. To fill out the podium, Rhodes, driving for ThorSport Racing, and Corey Heim, driving for Tricon Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Zane Smith, who originally finished in the second position, was disqualified following post-race inspection due to a windshield violation.
The 2023 Craftsman 150 was the 23rd and final stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Championship 4 race, and the 29th iteration of the event. The first stages of the race were held on Friday, November 3, 2023, and the final stages were held on Saturday, November 4. The race was held in Avondale, Arizona at Phoenix Raceway, a 1 mile (1.6 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 150 laps, but was extended to 179 laps, due to numerous NASCAR overtime restarts. In one of the wildest and wreck-filled Truck Series races in history, Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would survive four overtime restart attempts, and held off the field to earn his fifth career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his fourth of the season. Championship driver Corey Heim would dominate the early stages of the race, leading 47 laps until getting spun by Carson Hocevar with 30 laps to go. To fill out the podium, Jake Garcia, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and Chase Purdy, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
