Gio Ruggiero won Friday’s NASCAR Truck race at Talladega Superspeedway, beating TRICON teammate Corey Heim by just 0.059s. This is the 19-year-old’s first career win, coming in his 23rd career start.
“Super thankful for all the guys on this No. 17 truck,” said Ruggiero. “They worked their ass off, and they definitely brought the best piece today. We showed it in qualifying and there throughout the race. Thanks to everybody at Toyota and everybody who supports me. it’s great to win a race with my mom and dad here as well.”
Gio Ruggiero, TRICON Garage Toyota
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
The Toyota teammates crossed the finish line 1-2 with Ty Majeski third, Dawson Sutton fourth, and Layne Riggs fifth. Tyler Ankrum, Matt Crafton, Corey Lajoie, Rajah Caruth, and Kaden Honeycutt filled out the remainder of the top ten.
In his first race back from a wrist injury, actor-turned-racer Frankie Muniz scored a top 20 finish, placing 20th in the race.
Stages 1 and 2
Ruggiero started the race from pole position, but it didn’t take long for disaster to strike. As the outside line attempted to get moving, Grant Enfinger attempted to move up and join the draft. At the exit of Turn 4, Chandler Smith gave Enfinger an awkward bump that sent him sideways and down the track. The two trucks then got hooked together and Enfinger’s No. 9 machine spun completely around in the middle of the pack.
Trucks scattered in every direction in an attempt to avoid him, but Jake Garcia hit Enfinger head-on and ended his day. Several other trucks were involved, including fellow playoff drivers Majeski and Hemric.
Grant Enfinger, CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: David J. Griffin – Icon Sportswire – Getty Images
Soon after, Smith was involved in another shove gone wrong as he sent Riggs sideways. The Front Row Motorsports driver sustained minimal damage, but the incident also sent Connor Mosack spinning.
Caruth went on to win Stage 1 in a much-needed points haul, crossing the line just ahead of LaJoie, Heim, Yeley, and Rhodes.
Yeley stayed out for the start of Stage 2, but Ruggiero quickly reclaimed the lead on the restart.
The next incident was triggered by a stack-up for a slowing Riggs, which led to Bret Holmes spinning into the inside wall.
Ruggiero went on to win Stage 2 after a big shove from Honeycutt, who crossed the line right behind him. Caruth was third, Yeley fourth, and Fenhaus fifth.
Stage 3
During green-flag pit stops, Hemric slowed with a cut tire. Toni Breidinger ran into the back of his truck, sustaining nose damage. However, the race remained green and stops cycled through with Heim out front.
Norm Benning’s No. 6 truck went up in flames in a scary incident at the exit of Turn 2, binging out a caution with 21 laps left.
Norm Benning up in flames
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
The race resumed with 15 laps to go, and things stayed clean until two laps to go. Fenhaus was pushing teammate Rhodes as they led the inside lane, but an aggressive bump at the exit of Turn 2 sent both trucks spinning to the apron.
In overtime, it was Spire vs. TRICON as teammates Caruth and LaJoie tried to push their way by Heim and Ruggiero, but they ultimately became disconnected at the very end.
| 1 |
G. Ruggiero TRICON Garage |
17 | Toyota | 90 | 5 | 52 | ||||
| 2 |
C. Heim TRICON Garage |
11 | Toyota | 90 | 0.059 | 6 | 45 | |||
| 3 |  |
98 | Ford | 90 | 0.126 | 10 | 34 | |||
| 4 |
D. Sutton Rackley W.A.R. |
26 | Chevrolet | 90 | 0.033 | 7 | 36 | |||
| 5 |
L. Riggs Front Row Motorsports |
34 | Ford | 90 | 0.102 | 12 | 32 |
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