Date: June 23, 2018
Event: Eaton 200 (Race 10 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 35 laps/35 laps/90 laps
Start/Finish: 17th / 8th (running, completed 160 of 160 laps)
Winner: Justin Haley of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)
A week after making his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start, Riley Herbst got behind the wheel of the No. 51 Advance Auto Parts Tundra to make his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Herbst worked hard all weekend to learn as much as he could and it showed as he finished eighth in his series debut.
Stage One Recap:
- Herbst started the 160-lap race in 17th and struggled early in the race with the aerodynamics of his truck in traffic.
- A caution on lap 23 allowed him to pit on lap 24 for four tires and adjustments before the stage ended.
- He was 14th when the first stage concluded.
Stage Two Recap:
- Herbst was able to start the second stage in fifth since he stayed out during the break after Stage One.
- He fell back to 13th on the restart, but fought his way back toward the front of the field.
- A caution on lap 66 ended the second stage early. Herbst pitted for right-side tires on lap 71 and returned to the track in fifth place.
Stage Three Recap:
- Herbst was fifth to start the final 90-lap stage.
- His Advance Auto Parts Tundra was a bit loose, so when he pitted for four tires on lap 99, the KBM team also made a track bar adjustment to help the handling.
- Several cautions slowed the final 60 laps of the race, including a red flag to clean oil off the track, but Herbst was able to avoid all of the mishaps on the track.
- He stayed in the top 10 for the remainder of the race, including a wild two-lap dash to the finish. He held on to bring his Tundra home in eighth place.
Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 51 Advance Auto Parts Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How did your first start go?
“It was good. I made a bunch of mistakes, which I felt cost us a higher position, maybe a top five, but overall it was a great day. Thanks to Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota and Advance Auto Parts for giving me the opportunity to come out here and race.”
Eaton 200 Recap:
- Justin Haley won the race followed by KBM’s Todd Gilliland, Johnny Sauter, Myatt Snider and Zane Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured nine cautions for a total of 53 laps. There were seven lead changes among seven drivers. KBM’s Noah Gragson led 63, Christian Eckes led 34 and Todd Gilliland led one lap.
How Herbst’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished 2nd
- Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 10th
- Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 46 Toyota, finished 28th
NCWTS Owner Championship Standings:
The No. 51 team is third in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, 86 points out of first.
Next Race:
Brandon Jones returns behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra when racing action resumes on Friday, June 29 at Chicagoland Speedway. Live coverage of the race begins at 9 p.m. ET on FS1. Herbst’s next race for KBM will be in the No. 46 Tundra at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Sept. 14.
