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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Kyle Larson Wins Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro

Kyle Larson scored an epic cup of Tyson popcorn nuggets trophy in all of motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

Kyle Larson scored an epic cup of Tyson popcorn nuggets trophy in all of motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. – The Craftsman Truck Series took the green flag Saturday afternoon for the Tyson 250 at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, the first time the track has hosted any NASCAR series since 1996.

Corey Heim led the field to green for the second consecutive week after a qualifying lap time of 20.072 seconds around the infamous short track. Heim continued to maintain his speed and lead laps early in Stage 1.

The first caution of the race was brought out by Timmy Hill when he got loose while trying to gain track position. Later in Stage 1, Carson Hocevar drove his way to the front.

With just six laps to go in Stage one, Timmy Hill got loose in Turn 2, bringing out a caution. After the restart with one lap to go, Heim went on to claim the Stage 1 win by passing William Byron.

Heim started in the front of the field for Stage 2, followed by Carson Hocevar and Cup Series regular Christopher Bell.

With 37 to go in Stage 2, another Cup Series regular, Kyle Larson found speed and steadily marched his way up from eighth place, eventually taking the lead from Heim. Larson continued to maintain his speed throughout Stage 2.

With six laps to go in Stage 2, Josh Williams turned Dean Thompson, bringing out the final caution at this juncture of the race. At this point, just 18 out of 36 trucks were on the lead lap.

(Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish) Kyle Larson Leads Laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway

After the restart, Larson solidified his Stage 2 win, his first in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Early in Stage 3, Josh Williams and Tanner Gray tangled, causing Williams to slide into barrels at the entrance to pit road.

Larson continued his domination through Stage 3, logging enough laps at the front of the field to have lead the most laps of the the race. However, with 50 laps to go in the race, a sizeable caution was brought out by Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth collecting several other cars in the process of their contact.

As the race wound down to its final 23 laps, Bubba Wallace, another Cup Series regular, took the lead from Larson. Wallace’s lead was short lived as Larson fought his way back to the lead with 10 laps to go.

After the last restart of the race, Larson took the checkered flag. The 30-year-old California native was pleased to win his first truck race of the 2023 season at a track he previously had no experience at.

“I had a good time, a lot of fun on the long runs there lapping trucks,” Larson said. “You know, I wasn’t supposed to run, so, you know unfortunately Alex [Bowman] got hurt and allowed me the opportunity to run this.”

(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish) Kyle Larson takes the checkered flag at the Tyson 250

(Photo: Kevin Ritchie| The Podium Finish) Kyle Larson takes the checkered flag at the Tyson 250

RESULTS

Stage 1

Corey Heim, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Colby Howard, Carson Hocevar, Stewart Frieden, Zane Smith, Kyle Larson, Chase Purdy and Tyler Ankrum

Stage 2

Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, Corey Heim, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto, Grant Enfinger, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Ankrum

Final

Kyle Larson, Ty Majeski, Matt DiBenedetto, Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, Corey Heim, Matt Crafton, Chase Purdy, Ross Chastain and Grant Enfinger

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