Battle for the Title … Christian Eckes and the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care team have an opportunity to capture their first-career title in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) championship race on Friday night at Phoenix Raceway. Eckes solidified his place among the final four playoff combatants with his fourth victory of the season last Friday night at Martinsville Speedway. Eckes has earned 101 more cumulative points than any other NCTS competitor through 22 races. The New Yorker enters the title finale on a tear with one victory, four top-five’s, and six top-10 finishes in the six playoff races.
The Road to Phoenix … The road to Phoenix has been historic for Eckes in 2024. He became the first driver to eclipse the 1,000 laps-led mark in 14 years and the fifth driver in NCTS history to accomplish the feat, joining the likes former champions Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday Jr., and Jack Sprague. His victory at Martinsville also marked the 20th-consecutive top-10 result and his 21st overall, tying the record for the most top-10 finishes in a 23-race NCTS season. His 1,050 laps led included a stretch of leading the first 18 races, one shy of the all-time NCTS record for consecutive races led. Eckes and the NAPA Auto Care team led by crew chief Charles Denike have an MHR entry in the Championship finale for the first time in the organization’s existence.
Season to Date … Eckes’ remarkable consistency earned him the regular season crown over the first 16 races. He leads all NCTS competitors in several categories that illustrate the season-long strength of the NAPA Auto Care team. Eckes holds the best average finish of 5.5, the best average running position of 5.8, and has earned 311 stage points through 22 races, 67 points more than the next closest competitor. In total, Eckes has compiled four race victories, 11 stage wins, 14 top-five’s, and 21 top-10 finishes. He looks to add to those categories on Friday night to seal his first-career NCTS title.
Tune In … Championship coverage from Phoenix begins on Friday afternoon with qualifying at 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2, followed by the green flag at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. on Stay connected with the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmrnascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.
Christian Eckes Quote:
On his first Championship 4 berth:
“It’s been a great season with a lot of accomplishments for our NAPA Auto Care team, but the prize we’ve all worked for is in front of us Friday night. I’m super proud of this No. 19 team and everyone at MHR who’s put effort in over the last two seasons. It means a lot to drive this truck, and I’d love to bring this championship home for them. We’ve been good on the flat tracks and short tracks this year, so I think we’ll be competitive on Friday and have ourselves in position at the end of the night. We always focus on execution, and that’s what’s its going to come down to. Hopefully we can do that the best and execute a clean night and finish this season the right way.”
McAnally Hilgemann Racing PR
