Drama Refuses To Die Down at Phoenix As Zane Smith’s Overtime Spin Jeopardizes Ben Rhodes

The grand finale of the 2023 NASCAR Truck Series at Phoenix was a rollercoaster of raw adrenaline and white-knuckle moments. In a twist laden with rivalry, Carson Hocevar’s race ended in shambles, a victim of Corey Heim’s retaliatory strike, leaving the Spire Motorsports driver with a DNF. Amidst the high-octane drama, Ben Rhodes executed a bold maneuver, inadvertently causing Grant Enfinger to suffer damage after a tight squeeze with Christian Eckes.

However, seemingly Rhodes’ maneuvers came back on to him when later during the race Zane Smith’s spin sent Ben Rhodes’ championship dreams in danger.

NASCAR initiated multiple overtime bids to crown a victor; the second one involved Ben Rhodes

Chaos erupted, leading to the first overtime when a collective crash brought the race to a screeching halt. The instigators? Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar, with Heim taking decisive action against Hocevar’s advancing challenge in the closing three laps, forcing him into the wall. The mayhem wrecked their trucks, ensnared Taylor Gray in the turmoil, and thrust the championship into its initial overtime, leaving only Enfinger and Rhodes in the running for glory.

Hocevar’s race concluded prematurely in 29th place, while Corey Heim’s pit road saga unfolded as his crew frantically worked to salvage his truck.

The race escalated to double overtime following Derek Kraus’s spin into the wall, just as the race leaders were on the cusp of the final lap, compelling officials to rescind the white flag in favor of the yellow. The twist pitched Ben Rhodes and Enfinger head-to-head for the coveted title.

Rhodes seized the lead during the restart, cutting sharply between Zane Smith and Christian Eckes and gaining a critical advantage over Grant Enfinger, who emerged with a battered vehicle. Enfinger seized the momentary pause to dash into the pits for crucial new tires and fuel, while Rhodes and the others pressed on.

Yet, the raceway seemed cursed with interruptions, as another crash during the second overtime’s onset led to a third. The field had barely launched off the starting line when Smith, leading the pack, faltered due to a missed shift. Rhodes’ ensuing contact sent him hurtling toward disaster. Despite the heavy damage to Rhodes’ No. 99 Ford, his team radiated confidence, asserting the integrity of the fender and the truck’s readiness to continue.

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In a remarkable turn of events, Ben Rhodes clinched the title against all the odds

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Entering the elite top-4 solely on accumulated points and without a single win to his name, Rhodes was the underdog among the quartet, his precarious journey through the round of 8 and then into the top-4 casting doubts on his chances. Yet, in a striking twist of destiny, while his rivals were preoccupied with thwarting the favored Corey Heim, Rhodes quietly slipped past to snatch the series title with a fifth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. Victory on the track wasn’t necessary for him; his eyes were set on outperforming Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Carson Hocevar.

Rhodes went for precisely that, edging out Enfinger by a single position at the finish line and clinching the championship by the slimmest margin of one point. His triumph also ensured ThorSport Racing the owner’s championship by a similar one-point advantage.

Heim, finishing 18th, claimed third place among the Championship 4 drivers, concluding the season 12 points adrift of Rhodes. Hocevar’s day ended in 29th place due to a crash, placing him fourth in the final standings, 24 points behind the champion.

The top eight saw Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Zane Smith, and Ty Majeski. Matt Crafton and Matt DiBenedetto, rounding out the top ten in ninth and tenth, respectively, were the last of the playoff drivers. Crafton’s ninth-place championship finish continued his impressive 17-year streak of finishing in the top nine, a record embellished with three championship victories. Not since the 2006 season, where he finished 14th, has Crafton concluded the year below ninth place.

Read More: “I Almost Lose It Three Times, It’s Crazy”- Triumphant Over Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes Claims Second Truck Series Championship at Phoenix