The major NASCAR series took a break for two weeks as broadcast partner NBC filled their schedules with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and the Craftsman Trucks essentially had a bit of a vacation that came back to the track at Richmond Raceway with Cup and Craftsman. Xfinity is set to return coming up at Michigan.
The trucks had quite a bit on the line for their return to racing as the season points were set for the playoffs with the checkers at Richmond. Drivers with wins were locked with a handful that had untouchable points leads coming into the Clean Harbors 250.
Corey Heim had a definite playoff lead with five season wins. Christian Eckes came to Richmond with three wins. Nicholas Sanchez carried two as Ty Majeski and Rajah Caruth brought one each. The challenge put more stress on points drivers coming in with no wins yet.
For Richmond, Christian Eckes started on the pole spot with Ty Majeski in the second. The 250 laps presented challenging racing with 12 lead changes and 9 cautions. Stage one was taken by Eckes and Grant Enfinger took the second. It was Ty Majeski, after coming back from an early pit road penalty, who was in position for a late race restart to take the lead and run up front to the win.
This put a second season win on the books for Majeski. With finishes and points totaled, the top 10 moving into the Craftsman Truck Playoffs was set.
Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Nicholas Sanchez, Raja Caruth are in with wins and Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Ben Rhodes and Daniel Dye are advancing with points.
The next race is up in two weeks at the Milwaukee Mile.
The Saturday track events for Clean Harbors 250 race day also ran the practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Cook Out 400 for Sunday evening. Denny Hamlin will be taking the field to the green flag.
Photos from Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Richmond Raceway are below
