LAS VEGAS, NV - It's race day in Las Vegas, Nevada for the NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series.  Early in the day, the drivers had a 20-minute practice session and immediately afterward completed their qualifying laps before the race later in the evening. After qualifying, the top 10 positions are as follows - noting that the Toyota car took the first four positions:

• Pos 1: John Hunter Nemecheck - Mobil 1 Toyota

• Pos 2: Kyle Busch - JBL Toyota

• Pos 3: Chandler Smith - Safelite Autoglass Toyota

• Pos 4: Ben Rhodes - Toyota

• Pos 5: Ryan Preece - United Rental Ford

• Pos 6: Zane Smith - Michael Roberts Construction Ford

• Pos 7: Matt Crafton - Slim Jim/Menards Toyota

• Pos 8: Tanner Gray - Ford Performance Ford

• Pos 9: Christian Eckes - Curb Records Toyota

• Pos 10: Ty Majeski - TSport Toyota

It was a drag duel between No. 18 Chandler Smith and No. 38 Zane Smith for the win. And the winner is… 19-year-old Chandler Smith driving Toyota with a .289 second lead across the finish line. This makes it the third win for C. Smith in the CWTS as he led 32 laps in Las Vegas this past Friday. After the post-race technical inspection, Z. Smith was disqualified for a lug nut violation. His car is part of the same team that appealed a separate wheel issue in the NASCAR Cup Series in Fontana last week. The disqualification has moved him from 2nd to last place (36th).

This goes to show you that it is anyone’s race. As Ben Rhodes No. 99 won both stage 1 and stage 2 he was unfortunately in a hard crash with teammate Ty Majeski No 66 during lap 103 and didn’t finish the race. So far this season, Rhodes has two wins under his belt and is third in the 10-driver playoff. Rhodes stated that he feels that everyone is driving a little dirtier now. He says “you’ve got to make the passes now. If you get put at the back, it’s hard to come to the front. If you are in the front, it’s hard to make that pass on the next guy. He also stated “I’m really aggressive with the truck. I try to be at least, and that’s just a product of racing.”

https://motorsport.tv/embed/dwuKdRi0-chandler-smith-emphasizes-gratitude-in-win-at-las-vegas

It was a very chaotic race, to say the least throughout the night with ten cautions leaving Spencer Boyd No. 12 with a dislocated shoulder. He said, “I’ve never really gotten hurt before. When I hit the inside wall, I was like ‘Whoa!’. I didn’t really see what happened, I knew someone got into my right rear and I was just kind of saving it down through the infield. Once you get in the dust, it took off, and it doesn’t look like I broke my arm, but I dislocated my shoulder. It was hard to get out of the truck with one arm, but the guys took care of me.”

SPENCER BOYD INJURY UPDATE INTERVIEW AFTER CRASH - 2022 NASCAR TRUCK SERIES AT LAS VEGAS

After the caution on lap 21 with No. 9 Blaine Perkins tires, most of the leaders went to pit lane. C. Smith, Jack Wood (fastest qualifier), Rhodes, and Colby Howard decided to stay out with others. There were a couple of penalties in the pit: Todd Bodine No. 62 and Stewart Friesen No. 52 will go to the tail after speeding on the pit lane. Rhodes won Stage 1 as they finished under a yellow caution. 

Stage 1 Results Top 10: 1. Ben Rhodes; 2. Chandler Smith; 3. Jack Wood; 4. Tanner Gray; 5. Carson Hocevar; 6. Matt Crafton; 7. Kyle Busch; 8. John Hunter Nemechek; 9. Ty Majeski; 10. Zane Smith

At the start of stage 2, Tanner Gray and Carson Hocevar take over the front row after Rhodes, C. Smith, and Wood head into pit lane. Kyle Busch tried to take the lead but couldn't get through. With 8 laps to go No 43, Thad Moffitt has to head to pit lane with a flat. With 6 laps to go No. 62, Todd Bodine spins and backs into a fence leading to a caution. On the green and 1 lap to go Majeski pushes Rhodes clear into turn one with Kyle Busch pushing to win stage 2 but was unable to finish in time.  Ben Rhodes wins stage two. 

Stage 2 Results Top 10: 1. Ben Rhodes; 2. Kyle Busch; 3. Ty Majeski; 4. John Hunter Nemechek; 5. Tanner Gray; 6. Chandler Smith; 7. Matt Crafton; 8. Christian Eckes; 9. Stewart Friesen; 10. Derek Kraus

Can it be done? Rhodes to win it all!! He has won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. With 32 laps to go to the end of the race, he definitely had a chance. Unfortunately, he was sent into the wall after contact from his teammate Majeski, who had just gotten sideways before the incident. He was done for the night and a caution is out. Fortunately, Rhodes was able to climb from the truck and was later evaluated and released from the infield care center.

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The race continues, but not without a couple more cautions. There were cautions with 20 and 9 laps to go. With these cautions Kyle Busch makes it back to the top 3 spot. He moves with the 2nd spot for most of these laps. With 2 laps to go it’s the duel of the Smiths. They remain side by side on the white flag. Here is when drivers have to be creative and decide what will be their best option for the win. On the final lap, Z. Smith clears C. Smith off turn two, then C. Smith crosses under Z. Smith and he retakes the lead into turn three! AND JUST LIKE THAT Chandler Smith wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway!

https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/1499965312112160768?s=20&t=kSzXGnhQ9-5LybLXsCI2yg