Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Truck CarShield 200 at WWT Raceway at Gateway.
Click here for race action photos
Chastain’s family are watermelon farmers and Ross has a tradition after winning races smashing a watermelon in victory lane.
“Watermelons are in season,” said Chastain in the post race interview. “I am glad [smashing watermelons] has been a part of my career.”
Last week Chastain won at Iowa and smashed a watermelon only to be disqualified after the post-race car inspection.
So it was only fitting to win one week later and smash a watermelon again.
Things happen for a reason,” said Chastain.
Qualifying was rained out so owners points decided the race line up and Christian Eckes given the pole position but it was other front row starter, Grant Enfinger, who jumped to the early lead at WWT Raceway at Gateway. Enfinger dominated and won the first two stages of the NASCAR Truck CarShield 200.
But Enfinger lost his lead after the stage 2 pits finished in 6th place. After he lost track position his car did not performed as well as it did when he led the race.
Christian Eckes led in the late stages of the race but he too lost track position after late race caution. Eckes who raced earlier in the ARCA race finishing runner up to first career race winner Ty Gibbs, looked like he was going to finish in second place again but in the last lap he lost 2nd place and then was hit from behind sending him in a spin. The spin was the second in as many years at WWT Raceway. He finished the Truck race in a disappointing 14th place.
Todd Gilliland finished in second place, posting his second top-10 finish in three races at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2019.
Stewart Friesen finished in third place, postomh his first top-10 finish in two races at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
Sheldon Creed (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie. Grant Enfinger leads the point standings by 54 points over Stewart Friesen.
Story By Kevin Proot / St. Louis Motor Racing News
Photos By: Larry Vancil / St. Louis Motor Racing News
Final Results:
Finish | Start | Car # | Driver |
1 | 7 | 45 | Ross Chastain |
2 | 11 | 4 | Todd Gilliland |
3 | 4 | 52 | Stewart Friesen |
4 | 25 | 46 | Chandler Smith |
5 | 5 | 24 | Brett Moffitt |
6 | 2 | 98 | Grant Enfinger |
7 | 12 | 2 | Sheldon Creed # |
8 | 6 | 99 | Ben Rhodes |
9 | 3 | 88 | Matt Crafton |
10 | 10 | 13 | Myatt Snider |
11 | 9 | 16 | Austin Hill |
12 | 13 | 17 | Anthony Alfredo # |
13 | 18 | 44 | Kyle Benjamin |
14 | 1 | 51 | Christian Eckes |
15 | 14 | 2 | Tyler Dippel # |
16 | 8 | 18 | Harrison Burton # |
17 | 15 | 22 | Austin Wayne Self |
18 | 17 | 3 | Jordan Anderson |
19 | 19 | 12 | Gus Dean # |
20 | 16 | 20 | Spencer Boyd |
21 | 24 | 97 | Jesse Little |
22 | 23 | 34 | Bryant Barnhill |
23 | 21 | 33 | Josh Reaume |
24 | 26 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb |
25 | 27 | 6 | Norm Benning |
26 | 30 | 32 | Daniel Sasnett |
27 | 20 | 54 | Natalie Decker # |
28 | 22 | 8 | Camden Murphy |
29 | 31 | 1 | Cody McMahan |
30 | 28 | 87 | Tyler Ankrum # |
31 | 32 | 74 | Lou Goss |
32 | 29 | 0 | Gregory Rayl |
NASCAR CarShield 200 presented by CK Power trophy to be named for Mike Mittler
Longtime NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series team owner Mike Mittler passed away on Friday, May 10, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. The respected St. Louis-area race team owner had been involved in racing for more than 50 years and had a hand in the early careers of NASCAR stars Rusty Wallace and Kenny Wallace. In 1995, Mittler launched MB Motorsports and fielded front-running rides for NASCAR stars like Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Justin Allgaier, Regan Smith and Spencer Boyd, to name a few.
To honor Mike, World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, will name its NASCAR trophy after the local legend. From now on, the annual NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series CarShield 200 presented by CK Power’s trophy will be known as the Mittler Memorial Trophy. The trophy will be presented to the winner of the race by current and former members of the MB Motorsports team and Mittler family members.
WWT raceway also distributed 2,500 “This one’s for Mike” wristbands. On lap 63, all crew members will stood on pit wall in honor of Mike. All employees and family members of Mittler Brothers and MB Motorsports were guests of WWT Raceway owner and CEO Curtis Francois and Executive Vice President and General Manager GM Chris Blair.
“We encouraged all fans to wear blue and yellow – Mittler’s colors — to the race on June 22,” said Blair. “Our entire team was saddened by Mike’s passing. He was a great friend and loyal supporter of our track. I had known Mike a long time before my move to St. Louis and he welcomed me and treated me like family upon my move. Mike was special. He was a great man who inspired many.
“Mike understood the importance of our track to the St. Louis community and he was working hand in hand with us to revitalize NASCAR racing at our venue. He was proud to be a St. Louis businessman and a NASCAR team owner. Mike was constantly asking what he could do to help and was there for us whenever we needed him. He was actively involved in our race promotions, off-site activations, communication with NASCAR and connecting us to the local business community. He was more than just a team owner, or a sponsor. Mike was part of our family.
“Whenever we have a NASCAR race at this track, Mike will be a part of that race. His goal was to see us reach our full potential and he remained involved in our ultimate goal of bringing more NASCAR racing to St. Louis until the very end. We will keep working hard to make Mike proud and working hard on the mission we started many years ago.”