TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Parker Kligerman won the Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, where the focus was on John Hunter Nemechek’s desperate push to advance in the playoffs.
Nemechek entered Saturday’s elimination race last in the eight-driver field, but could advance into NASCAR’s Round of 6 with some help.
He got it very early in the race when Chase Briscoe headed to the garage with a mechanical problem, then Kaz Grala wrecked.
But Nemechek was involved in his own accident and Briscoe got back on track.
His wounded truck was wrapped tightly in tape, and Nemechek seemed to barely be hanging on as he dodged and weaved several accidents to grab a hard-earned sixth-place finish. It gave him the final spot in the playoffs.
Kligerman won his second career Truck Series race, both at Talladega. This was just his seventh race of the year.
Bell finished second and was followed by Myatt Snider, defending race winner Grant Enfinger and Austin Cindric.
Grala’s first Truck Series race at Talladega was a bust. He was involved in an accident in the closing laps of the first stage and his race ended.
Grala had come into the race with four consecutive top-10 finishes, but was likely in need of a win to advance out of the Round of 8.