The Craftsman Truck Series season of 2023 ends Friday night with the Championship 4 race unleashing its fury on the 1-mile tri-oval track of Phoenix Raceway. Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, and Grant Enfinger will start from the green flag, and only one of these four speedsters will fulfill the dream of winning a Truck 150 Series championship.
But for Hailie Deegan, this season is quite special as she is getting promoted to the Xfinity Series and driving for AM Racing. Hence, a win in the 150-lap-long race would have tasted sweeter than ever. But unfortunately, she wound up 15th. However, her run could have been spoiled due to the contact between Conner Jones and Jake Drew. Luckily, she escaped the mess.
Contact enraged between Conner Jones and Jake Drew
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Friday’s race was nothing less than a slugfest. With winning being the need of the hour, almost every driver took turns to wreck each other. So much so that the race had to resort to four overtime restarts in order to end. With fewer than 50 laps to go in the Lucas Oil 150, which had 7 and even 8 wide trucks in door-to-door contention, a multi-truck crash ensued.
Caution for Conner Jones and Jake Drew.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 4, 2023
Following several laps for 16th, Jake Drew and Conner Jones slammed hard into the wall on lap 101 and slid back into the track, tangled together. As a result, the officials brought out the yellow flag while the race assistants tried their best to untangle the trucks as the drivers watched on. Sadly, for the duo, none of them were able to finish the race as Drew and Jones finished 33rd and 34th respectively in the 26-car field.
Watch this story: Hailie Deegan’s Surprising Sponsorship Shift
For Hailie Deegan, it was a close escape. Ben Rhodes got sandwiched between Hailie Deegan and Dean Thompson before he capitalized on his fresh tires and scooted forward. Even Hailie Deegan slid past the contact and narrowly escaped what could have ended her day. Had she not pressed her brakes and turned, she would have gone straight for the crash.
Hailie Deegan’s last sponsor for the season
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Pit Boss Grills is one of the most notable names in the grilling industry, and the brand partnered up with the #13 Ford team to sponsor Deegan’s final truck race before she moves up to the Xfinity.
According to Jayski.com, President Jeff Thiessen was elated to have Hailie Deegan run for them. Thiessen said, “Not only is she one of the most popular drivers in the world, but Hailie is also an inspiration in the motorsports industry and a great role model. We’re excited about this partnership, which aligns perfectly with our company’s values and our standing as the Official Grill of NASCAR.”
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.@PitBossGrills joins @HailieDeegan's No. 13 @FordPerformance F-150 at @phoenixraceway.
Starting today for a limited time only, race fans can use promo code HAILIE to receive 15% off any purchase on https://t.co/5wIWu2Zyom. Offer is valid through November 6, 2023.
— ThorSport Racing (@ThorSportRacing) October 30, 2023
Even Deegan was happy to have Pit Boss Grills as her primary sponsor. She said, “I’m stoked to partner with Pit Boss and be able to represent the Official Grill of NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway this weekend.”
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Read more: Hailie Deegan Dealt With Another Blow Amid Slipping Xfinity Dreams
Indeed, the flame-stricken Ford looked spectacular as it revved its engine on the quirky tri-oval racetrack at the foothills of the Estrella mountains. It’s only a matter of time before the racing community witnesses the new heights that Hailie Deegan rises to with her new team.