PGRL S6 W21 Recap

27 February 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 21
Premier Series | New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The Pretty Good Racing League delivered an electrifying showcase of racing prowess with back-to-back 60-lap thrillers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, featuring the NASCAR Craftsman trucks in the Loudon Performance Parade presented by Wrong Time Watch.

In the first race, Jeff Ward seized the pole position, flanked by Scott Eckrich on the front row. As the green flag waved, much of the field quickly settled into single file, with Ward asserting his dominance and pulling away from the pack. Meanwhile, Matt Taylor showcased impressive pace, applying relentless pressure on Eckrich for the 2nd spot. Despite Taylor’s persistent challenges, Eckrich held firm, thwarting each passing attempt in the opening laps.

As the race progressed, the field stretched out around the track, with Ward establishing a commanding lead of over two seconds as the fuel window opened. Taylor, opting for an undercut strategy, made an early pit stop on lap 28 in a bid to gain an advantage. However, Eckrich capitalized on the opportunity, overtaking Taylor for the lead with 14 laps remaining. Despite Taylor’s efforts to reclaim the top spot, Eckrich’s blistering pace proved insurmountable, as he stormed to victory with a commanding lead of over four seconds.

In the second race, the finishing order from the first race was inverted to determine the starting lineup, placing Woody Mahan and Sawyer Nelson on the front row. The field inversion triggered early cautions as drivers vied to gain positions, with Ward capitalizing on the restarts to advance through the field. Meanwhile, Eckrich faced adversity amid collisions further back in the pack.

The race dynamics were further influenced by pit strategies, with drivers opting for quick fuel stops during caution periods. Ward emerged as a frontrunner, wresting the lead from Mahan on lap 13. As the fuel window opened, Ward took an early pit stop on lap 31, leading a trickle of trucks down pit road. Amidst the pit cycle, Taylor, who had saved fuel throughout the race, inherited the lead and opted to stretch his fuel to the limit.

In the closing laps, Taylor’s strategic gamble paid off handsomely, as he maintained a five-second lead over Ward, coasting across the finish line to clinch a remarkable victory. Michael Chrobok continued to assert his dominance in the standings, holding a commanding 247-point lead over Ward with three weeks remaining before PGRL’s championship chase.

Looking ahead, PGRL gears up for another exhilarating showdown at Kentucky Speedway, featuring dual 55-lap races in the NASCAR Gen 4 stock cars, set to broadcast live on Tuesday, March 5th, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network.