Driver wins opening race of NASCAR weekend, then blows a tire at Kansas Speedway

Tanner Gray roared to victory in the weekend’s opening salvo of auto racing on Friday afternoon at Kansas Speedway.

Gray motored his No. 18 Toyota Camry to the checkered flag in the ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 on the 1.5-mile asphalt track near the Legends complex in Kansas City, Kan.

Gray’s timing was impeccable, too: The 25-year-old from New Mexico developed a flat rear tire mere seconds after crossing the finish line.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was next up Friday evening to cap a doubleheader of racing in KCK — and for Gray personally. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was also in the starting lineup for the night playoff race, finishing sixth.

A story on ARCAracing.com said Gray’s flat during the ARCA event was a slow leak resulting from contact with fellow driver Amber Balcaen’s car on the race’s final restart.

Finishing after Tanner in the ARCA top five Friday: Connor Zilisch, Lavar Scott, Corey Day and Giovanni Ruggiero. Balcaen placed sixth in the field of 28.

Speaking of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race ...

The Craftsman Truck Series playoff field was whittled from 10 to eight drivers as the lights came on and Corey Heim took the checkered flag in the Kubota Tractor 200.

Heim overtook a sputtering Ty Majeski, who was out of gas, on the final lap. It’s Heim’s sixth trucks win of the season and surely among his most remarkable, as he started the race from the next-to-last position.

Heim led 64 of 134 laps Friday in his No. 11 Tricon Garage Camry.

Layne Riggs, who had won two straight races, finished second in the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford.

So here’s what the final playoff eight will look like when playoff racing resumes for the Craftsman Trucks next Friday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama:

Christian Eckes (who finished third Friday), Heim and Nick Sanchez had already advanced. Runner-up Majeski clinched a berth after Stage 1, and Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Tyler Ankrum and Grant Enfinger round out the eight.

Two playoff-eligible drivers were eliminated: Ben Rhodes and Daniel Dye.

Carl Edwards to drive NASCAR pace car

Kansas Speedway officials say NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards will serve as the honorary pace car driver for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, presented by ESPN BET.

Edwards, who is from Columbia, amassed 72 victories during his illustrious NASCAR career. He was selected as one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers last year and earlier this year was announced as a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee.

Saturday schedule at Kansas Speedway

Fan-friendly events, along with NASCAR Cup and Xfinity practice and qualifying sessions, are on tap Saturday at Kansas Speedway.

Along with, of course, another marquee race.

Here’s the general lineup:

• Kansas Lottery 300 practice is set for 10:05 a.m., with qualifying to follow at 10:35 a.m., ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Xfinity Series playoff race.
• NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying — ahead of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 playoff race — is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. and 12:45 p.m., respectively.
• The Kansas Lottery 300 revs up right after the Cup qualifying at 2:30 p.m.
• A concert featuring Hudson Drive will close out the evening at the track.

This story will be updated.

ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150

Friday, at Kansas Speedway

Note: With finishing position, starting position, car number, driver, car make, and laps completed.

1. (5) 18 Tanner Gray, Toyota, 100; 2. (4) 28 Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 100; 3. (8) 6 Lavar Scott, Chevrolet, 100; 4. (9) 82 Corey Day, Chevrolet, 100; 5. (2) 20 Giovanni Ruggiero, Toyota, 100; 6. (10) 22 Amber Balcaen, Toyota, 100; 7. (6) 73 Andy Jankowiak, Toyota, 100; 8. (11) 33 Lawless Alan, Ford, 99; 9. (13) 34 Isaac Johnson, Ford, 98; 10. (16) 97 Jason Kitzmiller, Chevrolet, 98; 11. (19) 74 Mandy Chick, Chevrolet, 98; 12. (12) 25 Toni Breidinger, Toyota, 98; 13. (15) 32 Christian Rose, Ford, 96; 14. (23) 7 Eric Caudell, Chevrolet, 96.

15. (21) 12 Takuma Koga, Toyota, 95; 16. (24) 99 Michael Maples, Chevrolet, 95; 17. (20) 9 Sebastian Arias, Chevrolet, 93; 18. (3) 15 Kris Wright, Toyota, 90; 19. (25) 31 Rita Goulet, Chevrolet, 64; 20. (14) 35 Greg Van Alst, Ford, 62; 21. (7) 2 Andres Perez, Chevrolet, 47; 22. (22) 11 Cody Dennison, Toyota, 25; 23. (18) 17 Marco Andretti, Chevrolet, 23; 24. (17) 10 Christopher Tate, Toyota, 20; 25. (27) 48 Brad Smith, Ford, 12; 26. (26) 06 Kevin Hinckle, Ford, 10; 27. (28) 03 Alex Clubb, Ford, 9; 28. (1) 55 Isabella Robusto, Toyota, 1.

This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Driver wins opening race of NASCAR weekend, then blows a tire at Kansas Speedway."