# 2021 Toyota Tundra 225

The Toyota Tundra 225 was the 9th stock car race of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, and the inaugural running of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas at the Circuit of the Americas. The race took 41 laps to complete. At the end, Todd Gilliland of Front Row Motorsports would win the race, the second of his career and his first of the year. Kaz Grala of Young's Motorsports and Tyler Ankrum of GMS Racing would fill in the rest of the podium positions, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

## Background

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification motorsports facility located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. It features a 3.426-mile (5.514 km) road racing circuit. The facility is home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship. It previously hosted the Supercars Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and IndyCar Series.
On September 30, 2020, it was announced that COTA would host a NASCAR Cup Series event for the first time on May 23, 2021. The lower Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series were also added as support events. On December 11, 2020, it was announced that NASCAR would run the full 3.41 mile course.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | GMS Racing |
| 02 | Kaz Grala | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Young's Building Systems, Randco |
| 3 | Roger Reuse | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | I Heart Mac & Cheese |
| 4 | John Hunter Nemechek | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Romco Equipment Co. |
| 04 | Cory Roper | Roper Racing | Ford | Carquest Auto Parts |
| 6 | Norm Benning* | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | MDS A Sign Co. |
| 9 | Grant Enfinger | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | Good Sam |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | Driven2Honor.org, Fastener Supply Co. |
| 11 | Camden Murphy | Spencer Davis Motorsports | Chevrolet | Inox Supreme Lubricants |
| 12 | Tate Fogleman | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Solid Rock Carriers |
| 13 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | AHI Facility Services |
| 15 | Tanner Gray | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | Ford Performance |
| 16 | Austin Hill | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | United Rentals |
| 18 | Chandler Smith | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Safelite Auto Glass |
| 19 | Derek Kraus | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Toyota | NAPA AutoCare |
| 20 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freedom Warranty |
| 21 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Michael Roberts Construction |
| 22 | Austin Wayne Self | AM Racing | Chevrolet | AM Technical Solutions, GO TEXAN. |
| 23 | Chase Purdy | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Bama Buggies |
| 24 | Jack Wood | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Accessories |
| 25 | Timothy Peters | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | Rackley Roofing |
| 26 | Tyler Ankrum | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Circle B Diecast |
| 30 | Michele Abbate | On Point Motorsports | Toyota | Scosche, Ghost Lifestyle |
| 32 | Sam Mayer | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | Camping World |
| 33 | Cameron Lawrence | Reaume Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | Impact Health Labs, Front Line Mobile Health |
| 34 | Lawless Alan | Reaume Brothers Racing | Toyota | AUTOParkIt |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Crosley Brands |
| 40 | Ryan Truex | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Freightliner Trucks |
| 41 | Dawson Cram | Cram Racing Enterprises | Chevrolet | Good Sam |
| 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | MG Machinery LLC, PlainsCapital Bank |
| 44 | Logan Bearden | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Parker Electric, Bearden Automotive |
| 45 | Bayley Currey | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Chasco Contractors |
| 49 | John Atwell | CMI Motorsports | Ford | Multi Building Incorporated, LeComte Homes, Trussworks, LLC "Supporting The Future" |
| 51 | Parker Chase | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Vertical Bridge |
| 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | Halmar |
| 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Chevrolet | Good Sam |
| 66 | Paul Menard | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | Mattei Air Compressors |
| 72 | Samuel LeComte | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Multi Building Incorporated, LeComte Homes, Trussway |
| 75 | Parker Kligerman | Henderson Motorsports | Chevrolet | Good Sam |
| 83 | Brad Gross | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | Manufacturing News |
| 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | Menards, Oklahoma Joe's "Worth The While" |
| 98 | Christian Eckes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | FarmPaint.com |
| 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | Bombardier Learjet 75 |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew due to a stolen truck.

## Practice

The first and final practice took place on Friday, May 21 at 4:05 PM EST. Zane Smith of GMS Racing would win the pole with a 2:17.395 with an average speed of 89.348 miles per hour (143.792 km/h).
One incident would happen during practice: Brad Gross would spin with 26 minutes left in practice. Gross would receive damage from the spin and would not set a lap time.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 21 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:17.395 | 89.348 |
| 2 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:17.735 | 89.128 |
| 3 | 9 | Grant Enfinger | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:18.472 | 88.653 |
| Full final practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying would take place under torrential downpour on Saturday, May 22 at 10:06 AM EST. Qualifying consisted of two rounds- the first round would be 25 minutes long, and everyone would have a chance to set a lap time. Then, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the second round- a 10 minute round in which whoever set the fastest time in Round 2 won the pole. While Kaz Grala of Young's Motorsports would set the fastest time in Round 1, Tyler Ankrum would win the pole, beating Grala in Round 2 with a 2:40:401 with an average speed of 76.533 miles per hour (123.168 km/h).
Logan Bearden, Dawson Cram, Spencer Boyd, Samuel LeComte, John Atwell, Brad Gross, and Jennifer Jo Cobb would all fail to make the event.
There were numerous incidents in qualifying. First, Chase Purdy and Derek Kraus would crash into each other, sending Kraus spinning. Cobb would crash in qualifying in Turn 13, causing substantial damage to her vehicle. Samuel LeComte would spin after going wide exiting turn 20, hitting the curbs and spinning. Cory Roper would spin in Turn 11 after also going wide. Finally, Kraus was involved with another incident, this time with Roger Reuse.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) |
| 1 | 26 | Tyler Ankrum | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:40.401 | 76.533 | 2:43.591 | 75.041 |
| 2 | 02 | Kaz Grala | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:39.978 | 76.736 | 2:43.720 | 74.982 |
| 3 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:41.745 | 75.897 | 2:44.176 | 74.773 |
| 4 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 2:41.917 | 75.817 | 2:44.210 | 74.758 |
| 5 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 2:42.055 | 75.752 | 2:44.624 | 74.570 |
| 6 | 4 | John Hunter Nemechek | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 2:40.738 | 76.373 | 2:44.969 | 74.414 |
| 7 | 33 | Cameron Lawrence | Reaume Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 2:42.827 | 75.393 | 2:45.517 | 74.168 |
| 8 | 51 | Parker Chase | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 2:42.469 | 75.559 | 2:45.870 | 74.010 |
| 9 | 16 | Austin Hill | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 2:42.709 | 75.448 | 2:46.869 | 73.567 |
| 10 | 98 | Christian Eckes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 2:42.763 | 75.423 | 2:47.808 | 73.155 |
| 11 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 2:42:417 | 75.583 | 2:48.615 | 72.805 |
| 12 | 40 | Ryan Truex | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:42.589 | 75.503 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Eliminated in Round 1 |||||||||
| 13 | 75 | Parker Kligerman | Henderson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:42.950 | 75.336 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 14 | 45 | Bayley Currey | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:43.215 | 75.214 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 15 | 21 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:43.220 | 75.211 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 16 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 2:43.318 | 75.166 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 17 | 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:43.470 | 75.096 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 18 | 25 | Timothy Peters | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | 2:43.590 | 75.041 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 19 | 19 | Derek Kraus | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Toyota | 2:43.597 | 75.038 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 20 | 18 | Chandler Smith | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 2:44.098 | 74.809 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 21 | 32 | Sam Mayer | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | 2:44.126 | 74.796 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 22 | 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:44.153 | 74.784 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 23 | 9 | Grant Enfinger | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:44.272 | 74.730 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 24 | 11 | Camden Murphy | Spencer Davis Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:44.327 | 74.705 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 25 | 30 | Michele Abbate | On Point Motorsports | Toyota | 2:44.811 | 74.485 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 26 | 66 | Paul Menard | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 2:44.978 | 74.410 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 27 | 13 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 2:45.069 | 74.369 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 28 | 1 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | 2:45.114 | 74.349 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 29 | 22 | Austin Wayne Self | AM Racing | Chevrolet | 2:45.322 | 74.255 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 30 | 12 | Tate Fogleman | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:45.690 | 74.090 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 31 | 23 | Chase Purdy | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:45.867 | 74.011 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||||
| 32 | 34 | Lawless Alan | Reaume Brothers Racing | Toyota | 2:47.447 | 73.313 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 33 | 24 | Jack Wood | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2:47.998 | 73.072 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 34 | 04 | Cory Roper | Roper Racing | Ford | 2:49.825 | 72.286 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 35 | 3 | Roger Reuse | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 2:54.909 | 70.185 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 36 | 15 | Tanner Gray | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | | |
| 37 | 44 | Logan Bearden | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:46.121 | 73.898 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 38 | 41 | Dawson Cram | Cram Racing Enterprises | Chevrolet | 2:46.478 | 73.739 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 39 | 20 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:46.611 | 73.681 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 40 | 72 | Samuel Lecomte | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2:53.122 | 70.910 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 41 | 49 | John Atwell | CMI Motorsports | Ford | 2:54.396 | 70.392 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 42 | 83 | Brad Gross | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3:03.193 | 67.011 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 43 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 3:06.406 | 65.856 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Official first and second round results |||||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 12
| Fin | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 02 | Kaz Grala | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 26 | Tyler Ankrum | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 32 | Sam Mayer | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | John Hunter Nemechek | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 14
| Fin | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 19 | Derek Kraus | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 26 | Tyler Ankrum | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 02 | Kaz Grala | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 45 | Bayley Currey | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 32 | Sam Mayer | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 11 | Camden Murphy | Spencer Davis Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 15
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 5 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 41 | 8 | running | 52 |
| 2 | 2 | 02 | Kaz Grala | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 11 | running | 49 |
| 3 | 1 | 26 | Tyler Ankrum | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 4 | running | 48 |
| 4 | 23 | 9 | Grant Enfinger | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 33 |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | Sheldon Creed | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 14 | running | 41 |
| 6 | 21 | 32 | Sam Mayer | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 39 |
| 7 | 17 | 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 30 |
| 8 | 15 | 21 | Zane Smith | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 29 |
| 9 | 9 | 16 | Austin Hill | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 28 |
| 10 | 11 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 41 | 3 | running | 43 |
| 11 | 26 | 66 | Paul Menard | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 12 | 6 | 4 | John Hunter Nemechek | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 28 |
| 13 | 13 | 75 | Parker Kligerman | Henderson Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 14 | 28 | 1 | Hailie Deegan | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | 41 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 15 | 4 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 41 | 1 | running | 38 |
| 16 | 29 | 22 | Austin Wayne Self | AM Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 21 |
| 17 | 16 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 18 | 8 | 51 | Parker Chase | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 19 | 24 | 11 | Camden Murphy | Spencer Davis Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 20 | 12 | 40 | Ryan Truex | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 17 |
| 21 | 19 | 19 | Derek Kraus | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 22 | 27 | 13 | Johnny Sauter | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 23 | 32 | 34 | Lawless Alan | Reaume Brothers Racing | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 24 | 22 | 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 14 |
| 25 | 30 | 12 | Tate Fogleman | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 12 |
| 26 | 14 | 45 | Bayley Currey | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 27 | 31 | 23 | Chase Purdy | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 10 |
| 28 | 33 | 24 | Jack Wood | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 0 | running | 9 |
| 29 | 25 | 30 | Michele Abbate | On Point Motorsports | Toyota | 41 | 0 | running | 8 |
| 30 | 34 | 04 | Cory Roper | Roper Racing | Ford | 41 | 0 | running | 7 |
| 31 | 36 | 15 | Tanner Gray | David Gilliland Racing | Ford | 40 | 0 | running | 6 |
| 32 | 18 | 25 | Timothy Peters | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running | 5 |
| 33 | 20 | 18 | Chandler Smith | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 39 | 0 | running | 4 |
| 34 | 35 | 3 | Roger Reuse | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 38 | 0 | running | 3 |
| 35 | 10 | 98 | Christian Eckes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 36 | 0 | suspension | 2 |
| 36 | 7 | 33 | Cameron Lawrence | Reaume Brothers Racing | Chevrolet | 34 | 0 | running | 1 |
| Failed to qualify or withdrew ||||||||||
| 37 | | 44 | Logan Bearden | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 38 | | 41 | Dawson Cram | Cram Racing Enterprises | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 39 | | 20 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 40 | | 72 | Samuel Lecomte | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 41 | | 49 | John Atwell | CMI Motorsports | Ford | | | | |
| 42 | | 83 | Brad Gross | CMI Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| 43 | | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | | | | |