During Saturday’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway, Carson Hocevar was there when it mattered.
With a chaotic final lap that gave way to a multi-car wreck, Hocevar pulled through the commotion to secure his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory. The Niece Motorsports driver finished 1.628 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch Motorsports’ Chase Purdy, who came in second.
Hocevar’s jubilation was contrasted by the heartbreak felt by Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez, who had started the 172-lap race from pole position, won the opening two stages, led 168 laps and crashed on the last circuit around the track.
Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith was also involved in the wreck, as he and Sanchez tangled during their battle for the lead. Smith finished 14th, Sanchez was relegated to 16th, while Hocevar drove his No. 42 Chevrolet to victory lane.
“I’ll take the fall for it, I wrecked a Chevy,” Hocevar admitted. “[Nick Sanchez] deserved to win for sure, but all the times that we’re the fastest car and I don’t win and this team doesn’t win — they deserve to win more than anything — I finally can stop getting the same question asked so many times.”
Halmar Friesen Racing’s Stewart Friesen finished third, ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski came in fourth and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Jake Garcia enjoyed a career-best result in fifth. Hailie Deegan, driver of the No. 13 for ThorSport Racing, finished sixth — her best result of the season thus far.
There were several additional incidents that occurred on the 1.5-mile track, resulting in 16 total caution flags throughout the two-hour race.
Notably, the red flag was brought out with 22 laps remaining, due to a significant crash involving Dean Thompson, Matt Mills, Armani Williams and Trey Hutchens. Thompson endured a significant hit in his No. 5 Tricon Garage entry.
While all drivers were able to climb out of their trucks, Thompson was moved to a stretcher by the medical crew upon exit. He has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation, according to a tweet from Tricon Garage.
Keyword: Last-Lap Commotion Leads Hocevar To Victory Lane