# 2023 Fr8 208

The 2023 Fr8 208 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the 15th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 miles (2.48 km) permanent tri-oval shaped superspeedway. The race was increased from 135 laps to 137 laps, due to a NASCAR overtime finish. Christian Eckes, driving for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, would take the win after making a pass on Nick Sanchez for the lead on the final lap. This was Eckes' second career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win, and his first of the season. This was also the first win for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the truck series. To fill out the podium, Sanchez, driving for Rev Racing, and John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Tricon Garage, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Background

Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.54-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
The venue was bought by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two intermediate ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with a new official length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit. In July 2021 NASCAR announced that the track would be reprofiled for the 2022 season to have 28 degrees of banking and would be narrowed from 55 to 40 feet which the track claims will turn racing at the track similar to restrictor plate superspeedways. Despite the reprofiling being criticized by drivers, construction began in August 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021. The track has seating capacity of 71,000 to 125,000 people depending on the tracks configuration.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 1 | Layne Riggs | Tricon Garage | Toyota | Infinity Communications Group |
| 02 | Kris Wright | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | FNB Corporation |
| 2 | Nick Sanchez (R) | Rev Racing | Chevrolet | Gainbridge |
| 04 | Kaden Honeycutt | Roper Racing | Ford | Carquest |
| 4 | Chase Purdy | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bama Buggies |
| 5 | Dean Thompson | Tricon Garage | Toyota | Thompson Pipe Group |
| 9 | Colby Howard | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | Grant County Mulch |
| 11 | Corey Heim | Tricon Garage | Toyota | Safelite |
| 12 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | Off the Grid |
| 13 | Hailie Deegan | ThorSport Racing | Ford | AdventHealth |
| 15 | Tanner Gray | Tricon Garage | Toyota | Dead On Tools |
| 16 | Tyler Ankrum | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | LiUNA! |
| 17 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Tricon Garage | Toyota | Berry's Manufacturing |
| 19 | Christian Eckes | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Care |
| 20 | Mason Maggio | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | HMY Yachts |
| 22 | Josh Reaume | AM Racing | Ford | JAG Metals |
| 23 | Grant Enfinger | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Champion Power Equipment |
| 24 | Rajah Caruth (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Wendell Scott Foundation |
| 25 | Matt DiBenedetto | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | Rackley Roofing |
| 30 | Ryan Vargas | On Point Motorsports | Toyota | Leargas Security |
| 32 | Bret Holmes (R) | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | Pate Holdings |
| 33 | Mason Massey | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford | Wespro JCB |
| 34 | Keith McGee (i) | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford | Reaume Brothers Racing |
| 35 | Jake Garcia (R) | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | Quanta Services |
| 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Fr8Auctions |
| 41 | Bayley Currey (i) | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Unishippers |
| 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Worldwide Express |
| 43 | Daniel Dye (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Heise LED Lighting Systems |
| 45 | Lawless Alan | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | AutoChargIt.com |
| 46 | Akinori Ogata | G2G Racing | Toyota | Kyowa, Eidemiller Precision |
| 51 | Jack Wood | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet | Logitech |
| 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | Halmar International |
| 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Toyota | UNITS Storage |
| 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | Great Lakes Flooring, Menards |
| 98 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford | Curb Records |
| 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford | Farm Paint |
| Official entry list |||||

## Starting lineup

Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Friday, March 17, at 3:00 PM EST, but was cancelled due to constant rain showers. The starting lineup was determined by a performance-based metric system. As a result, Zane Smith, driving for Front Row Motorsports, earned the pole.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 2 | 98 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford |
| 3 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford |
| 4 | 19 | Christian Eckes | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 11 | Corey Heim | Tricon Garage | Toyota |
| 7 | 23 | Grant Enfinger | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 4 | Chase Purdy | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 25 | Matt DiBenedetto | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 15 | Tanner Gray | Tricon Garage | Toyota |
| 12 | 35 | Jake Garcia (R) | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 16 | Tyler Ankrum | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota |
| 14 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 9 | Colby Howard | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 5 | Dean Thompson | Tricon Garage | Toyota |
| 17 | 51 | Jack Wood | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Toyota |
| 19 | 43 | Daniel Dye (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 2 | Nick Sanchez (R) | Rev Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 45 | Lawless Alan | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 24 | Rajah Caruth (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 1 | Layne Riggs | Tricon Garage | Toyota |
| 24 | 17 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Tricon Garage | Toyota |
| 25 | 02 | Kris Wright | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 33 | Mason Massey | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 12 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 22 | Josh Reaume | AM Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 04 | Kaden Honeycutt | Roper Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 41 | Bayley Currey (i) | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 20 | Mason Maggio | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||
| 32 | 13 | Hailie Deegan | ThorSport Racing | Ford |
| 33 | 32 | Bret Holmes (R) | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 46 | Akinori Ogata | G2G Racing | Toyota |
| 35 | 30 | Ryan Vargas | On Point Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | 34 | Keith McGee (i) | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 19 | Christian Eckes | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 23 | Grant Enfinger | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 25 | Matt DiBenedetto | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 98 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 4 | Chase Purdy | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 35 | Jake Garcia (R) | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 98 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 17 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 0 |
| 4 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 11 | Corey Heim | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 16 | Tyler Ankrum | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 23 | Grant Enfinger | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 2 | Nick Sanchez (R) | Rev Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 47
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 4 | 19 | Christian Eckes | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 35 | Running | 50 |
| 2 | 20 | 2 | Nick Sanchez (R) | Rev Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 11 | Running | 36 |
| 3 | 24 | 17 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 137 | 53 | Running | 0 |
| 4 | 30 | 41 | Bayley Currey (i) | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 5 | 3 | 99 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 137 | 3 | Running | 42 |
| 6 | 10 | 25 | Matt DiBenedetto | Rackley WAR | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 37 |
| 7 | 9 | 4 | Chase Purdy | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 8 | 18 | 56 | Timmy Hill | Hill Motorsports | Toyota | 137 | 2 | Running | 29 |
| 9 | 8 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 137 | 29 | Running | 45 |
| 10 | 17 | 51 | Jack Wood | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 2 | Running | 27 |
| 11 | 2 | 98 | Ty Majeski | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 137 | 0 | Running | 40 |
| 12 | 32 | 13 | Hailie Deegan | ThorSport Racing | Ford | 137 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 13 | 33 | 32 | Bret Holmes (R) | Bret Holmes Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 14 | 35 | 30 | Ryan Vargas | On Point Motorsports | Toyota | 137 | 0 | Running | 23 |
| 15 | 25 | 02 | Kris Wright | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 1 | Running | 22 |
| 16 | 19 | 43 | Daniel Dye (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 34 | 46 | Akinori Ogata | G2G Racing | Toyota | 137 | 0 | Running | 20 |
| 18 | 12 | 35 | Jake Garcia (R) | McAnally-Hilgemann Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 20 |
| 19 | 7 | 23 | Grant Enfinger | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 20 | 1 | 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 137 | 0 | Running | 31 |
| 21 | 27 | 12 | Spencer Boyd | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 16 |
| 22 | 14 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Toyota | 137 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 23 | 28 | 22 | Josh Reaume | AM Racing | Ford | 137 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 24 | 11 | 15 | Tanner Gray | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 137 | 0 | Running | 13 |
| 25 | 22 | 24 | Rajah Caruth (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 137 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 13 | 16 | Tyler Ankrum | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 136 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 27 | 15 | 9 | Colby Howard | CR7 Motorsports | Chevrolet | 134 | 0 | Track Bar | 10 |
| 28 | 23 | 1 | Layne Riggs | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 134 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 26 | 33 | Mason Massey | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford | 134 | 0 | Running | 8 |
| 30 | 16 | 5 | Dean Thompson | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 131 | 0 | Running | 7 |
| 31 | 5 | 42 | Carson Hocevar | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 127 | 0 | Accident | 6 |
| 32 | 21 | 45 | Lawless Alan | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 126 | 0 | Accident | 5 |
| 33 | 29 | 04 | Kaden Honeycutt | Roper Racing | Ford | 123 | 1 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 6 | 11 | Corey Heim | Tricon Garage | Toyota | 83 | 0 | Accident | 9 |
| 35 | 31 | 20 | Mason Maggio | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52 | 0 | Accident | 2 |
| 36 | 36 | 34 | Keith McGee (i) | Reaume Brothers Racing | Ford | 7 | 0 | Transmission | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 2 | 1 | Christian Eckes | 131 |
| 2 | 2 | Matt Crafton | 126 (-5) |
| 1 | 3 | Ty Majeski | 123 (-8) |
| 1 | 4 | Ben Rhodes | 119 (-12) |
| 4 | 5 | Zane Smith | 116 (-15) |
| | 6 | Grant Enfinger | 106 (-25) |
| 1 | 7 | Matt DiBenedetto | 103 (-28) |
| 2 | 8 | Chase Purdy | 97 (-34) |
| 2 | 9 | Carson Hocevar | 79 (-52) |
| 1 | 10 | Tanner Gray | 78 (-53) |
| Official driver's standings ||||