Haley Wins Wild Finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

Mike DiNova USA TODAY Sports

BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO – RIS – Justin Haley was handed a gift win on Sunday when the winner of the NASCAR Truck series took its yearly journey to the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  It was the first race in the playoffs for the championship in Florida in November.  The circumstances seem almost unreal.

The battle for the lead was between two Kyle Busch Motorsports drivers, Noah Gragson and Todd Gililan.  Gililand was leading in what would be the first win for the young driver, but he left his outside open on the final turn.  Gragson, who had won the first two stages, made the move and both drivers crashed, giving the victory to third-place Haley.

Haley, a 19-year-old driver from Winamac, Ind., led only a single lap all race, and it proved to be the most important one. He claimed his second checkered flag of the season.

"We were just in the right place at the right time" Haley said while celebrating in Victory Lane. "I can't thank everyone at GMS Racing enough. It was a truly blessed day."

Haley also becomes the sixth different winner in as many races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and scores GMS Racing's first win at the historic 2.459-mile road course.

A visibly dejected Gilliland expressed his anger toward his Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate following the contact in Turn 10.

"I should have never let him get to me," Gilliland said. "We should have given him the inside. We had the fastest truck, and we didn't win again."

Gragson took immediate responsibility for the contact in the final corner, apologizing profusely to his teammate.

"That was on me," said Gragson. "I was racing for the win."

"I apologize to Todd, the No. 4 team and everyone at KBM. I was expecting a little more room on the bottom, and we made contact. Again, I want to apologize to everyone on that 4 team, that was on me."

Following the intense finish, Haley locks himself into the Round of 6 continuing his hunt for the NASCAR Camping Truck Series championship. The Round of 6 begins Oct. 27 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

"This is what we came to do," Haley added. "This is road course racing, and now we are really looking forward to Vegas. Mission accomplished."

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action Sept. 14 for the second race in the playoffs, the World of Westgate 200 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Unofficial Race Results for the 6th Annual Chevrolet Silverado 250 - August 26, 2018 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park - 2.5 Mile Road

Fin, Str, Driver, Truck, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 8, Justin Haley (P), No. 24 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, 65, 3, 2, 2, 5, 3, 56, Running
2) 7, John Hunter Nemechek(i), No. 8 D.A.B. Constructors Inc./Fleetwing Corp. Chevrolet, 65, 4, , , , 4, 0, Running
3) 17, Brett Moffitt (P), No. 16 Don Valley North Toyota Toyota, 65, 6, , , , 2, 48, Running
4) 5, Timothy Peters, No. 25 Allegiant Chevrolet, 65, 8, 1, 2, , 8, 39, Running
5) 4, Matt Crafton (P), No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, 65, 5, , , , 5, 44, Running
6) 6, Johnny Sauter (P), No. 21 ISM Connect Chevrolet, 65, 7, 1, 9, , 7, 39, Running
7) 16, Stewart Friesen (P), No. 52 We Build America Chevrolet, 65, , , , , 6, 35, Running
8) 9, Austin Hill, No. 02 Young's Building Systems/Randco Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 29, Running
9) 2, Noah Gragson (P), No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota, 65, 1, 3, 35, 2, 1, 48, Running
10) 10, Alex Tagliani, No. 12 RONA Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 27, Running
11) 15, Todd Gilliland #, No. 4 Frontline Toyota, 65, , 1, 11, , , 26, Running
12) 13, DJ Kennington, No. 49 APC Auto Parts Chevrolet, 65, 10, , , , , 26, Running
13) 14, Harrison Burton, No. 51 Hunt Brothers Pizza/Fields Toyota, 65, , , , , , 24, Running
14) 1, Ben Rhodes (P), No. 41 FEI World Equestrian Games Ford, 65, 2, 1, 6, , , 32, Running
15) 12, Cody Coughlin, No. 2 JEGS.com Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 22, Running
16) 22, Jordan Anderson, No. 3 KnightFire Protection/Bommarito.com Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 11, Grant Enfinger (P), No. 98 Champion Power Equipment/Curb Records Ford, 65, 9, , , , 9, 24, Running
18) 20, Justin Fontaine #, No. 45 ProMATIC Automation/Superior Essex Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 3, Myatt Snider #, No. 13 The Carolina Nut Co. Ford, 65, , , , , 10, 19, Running
20) 25, Norm Benning, No. 6 H&H Transport Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 18, Austin Wayne Self, No. 22 GO TEXAN Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 21, Bo LeMastus #, No. 54 Crosley Brands/DGR-Crosley Toyota, 64, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 27, Jason White, No. 33 Powder Ventures Excavations Chevrolet, 63, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 23, Wendell Chavous, No. 15 Sobriety Nation Chevrolet, 63, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 31, Jesse Iwuji, No. 34 Zulu Audio/Silk Title & Escrow Chevrolet, 63, , , , , , 12, Running
26) 30, Justin Kunz, No. 0 Liqui-Moly Chevrolet, 62, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 24, Roger Reuse, No. 97 WCIparts.com Chevrolet, 35, , , , , , 10, Vibration
28) 28, Ray Ciccarelli, No. 50 VIPracingexperience.com/Image Tech Chevrolet, 34, , , , , , 9, Vibration
29) 26, Jennifer Jo Cobb, No. 10 Driven2Honor Chevrolet, 32, , , , , , 8, Oil Line
30) 19, Max Tullman(i), No. 20 Zoomi Chevrolet, 29, , , , , , 0, Transmission
31) 32, Mike Harmon(i), No. 74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet, 7, , , , , , 0, Brakes
32) 29, Joe Nemechek, No. 87 D.A.B. Constructors Inc./Fleetwing Corp. Chevrolet, 2, , , , , , 5, Brakes

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie 
Total Race Length - 65 Laps - 162.5 Miles
Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 05 Mins, 24 Secs
Average Speed: 76.476 MPH
Margin of Victory: 2.223 Seconds
Race Comments: Justin Haley won the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory.
Prior to the green flag, the following trucks dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason indicated: Nos. 6 and 98 (unapproved adjustments), No. 22 (engine change).
Caution Flags: 5 for 18 laps: Laps: 22-24 (Stage 1 Conclusion [12]);
32-34 (#20 Stopped On Track [22]);
42-48 (Stage 2 Conclusion [3]);
50-51 (#22, 52, 8 Incident Backstretch [45]);
61-63 (#22 Incident Turn 3 [6]).
Lead Changes: 8 among 6 drivers: B. Rhodes (P) 1-6;
N. Gragson (P) 7-22;
T. Peters 23-24;
N. Gragson (P) 25-33;
J. Haley (P) 34;
N. Gragson (P) 35-44;
J. Sauter (P) 45-53;
T. Gilliland # 54-64;
J. Haley (P) 65;

Duralast GT Brakes ‘Brake in the Race Award’ - Stage 1:  Noah Gragson, #18 Stage 1
Duralast GT Brakes ‘Brake in the Race Award’ - Stage 2:  Noah Gragson, #18 Stage 2
Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race:  Ilmor Engines (IE), #24 
Mobil 1 Driver of the Race:  Justin Haley, #24 
Sunoco Rookie of the Race:  Todd Gilliland, #4