Brett Moffitt was in cruise control on his way to a second career championship in the Truck Series, as he had opened up a 3+ second lead over the field before a caution came out with three laps to go for a Dawson Cram spin, changing the whole complexion of the championship. Moffitt, second place Grant Enfinger, and three others all stayed out on older tires, while everyone else, including title contenders Sheldon Creed and Zane Smith, all came down pit road for fresh Goodyear tires. Moffitt and Enfinger got swallowed up on the restart as Creed vaulted to the lead and never looked back en route to his fifth win of the season and a championship, the first of his career. “My teammate was going to win the championship and I was going to run third,” Creed said. “I pride myself on my restarts week in and week out and just nailed the restart there. Driving this thing as hard as I can. I want this so bad.” (Staff Report, 2020) Creed made an aggressive move on the apron in turn 1, taking it 4 wide to get up side-by-side with Enfinger for 2nd before passing Chandler Smith for the lead through turns 3 and 4. Teammate Zane Smith challenged Creed in turn 1 on the final lap, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Creed pulled away down the backstretch and in turns 3 & 4, crossing the finish line over 6 tenths of a second ahead of (Zane) Smith. “I don’t know how I did it, I just drove as hard as I could,” Creed said. “My whole family … we have like 20 camp spots out here. I’m going to drink some cold beer tonight.” (Staff Report, 2020) Creed was the most dominant of all drivers in the Truck Series this year, leading the series in wins with 5 and leading over 500 laps on the season. Creed has proven himself worthy of a championship on numerous occasions throughout the year, so it should come as no surprise that he won it all, as he was the favorite coming in. He may have had to put on a show at the end of the race to get it done, but his nickname is “The Showstopper”, so it was fitting that he won the race in that fashion.

10th place finisher Brett Moffitt appeared to have a second championship win all but locked up before Dawson Cram’s spin with 3 laps to go changed everything. Moffitt’s team elected to stay out on old tires and keep the lead, which ended up being the wrong decision, as he fell from 1st to 10th in the two lap overtime sprint. Moffitt, who broke both of his legs earlier in the season, suffered yet another heartbreak in 2020 by losing this championship that he was so close to winning. “I don’t have much good to say,” Moffitt said. “We finally hit the set up right but can’t call a race to save our lives. It’s cost us multiple times this year; now it’s cost us a championship.” (Merryman, 2020) He was pressured on the final restart by Ben Rhodes after spinning the tires upon acceleration, setting him back pretty much immediately. After a disastrous run through turn 1 and 2 that dropped Moffitt to his 10th place finishing position, his title hopes were dashed, just like that. After breaking his legs at the start of the pandemic(which he didn’t miss any races as a result of injury), Moffitt was able to persevere and compete up towards the front on a consistent basis, as we’ve become accustomed too. He found himself in a position to compete for a title, as he did in 2018 and 2019 as well, but he only earned 1 win in the 2020 season, a sharp contrast to previous years where he’s consistently gotten the job done.  “I guess if broken legs isn’t enough of a handicap, race strategy is,” Moffitt said. “It’s been a frustrating year on and off the racetrack. To be honest, I’m just happy it’s over.” (Merryman, 2020) Moffitt doesn’t yet have a ride for next season, as his contract with GMS Racing hasn’t been renewed and he hasn’t announced any other plans for 2021.

Written on November 6th, 2020

Sources:

Staff Report(6 November 2020). Sheldon Creed Wins 2020 Gander Trucks Championship: NASCAR. Accessed 6 November 2020, Official Site Of NASCAR, www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/11/06/sheldon-creed-wins-2020-gander-trucks-championship/.

(6 November 2020). 2020 Lucas Oil 150. Accessed 6 November 2020, Racing-Reference, www.racing-reference.info/race/2020_Lucas_Oil_150/C.

Merryman, Jonathan(6 November 2020). Late-Race Call Leaves Brett Moffitt Upset: NASCAR. Accessed 6 November 2020, Official Site Of NASCAR, www.nascar.com/video/franchise/truck-series-post-race-reactions/late-race-call-leaves-moffitt-upset-and-short-off-the-2020-title/.