Purdy Top Truck in Talladega Qualifying

(TALLADEGA, AL – Sept 30, 2023 – RIS) Chase Purdy drove the host state sponsored Bama Buggies Chevy truck to the pole for Saturday’s Love’s RV Stop 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Purdy sped to the top of the time sheets in both sessions of qualifying, followed by rookie Nick Sanchez who will start second in Saturday afternoon’s race.

In the first round of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying at Talladega, Brett Moffitt hit the track first, followed by Bryan Dauzat, who beat Moffitt’s time of 54.835 sec/174.633 by 0.032 second. Clay Greenfield’s truck would not start, sending Jennifer Jo Cobb out next, with a lap of only 55.554 / 172.373.

Cory Roper was a fraction slower than Cobb, at 55.575 / 172.303 before Ryan Vargas set a time of 54.877 / 174.499. Jason White ran a 55.743 / 171.788 afrer Keith McGee’s 55.828 / 171.527. 

Greg Van Alst scored the quickest lap so far at 54.635 / 175.272, the first truck over 175 mph. Garrett Smithley, next on the track, settled into fourth place so far, at 54.863 / 174.544 with Spencer Boyd’s time, 55.230 / 173.384, sixth out of the ten trucks qualified so far before Tyler Hill’s lap of 54.953 / 174.258 dropped him to seventh.

Lawless Alan clocked in at 54.449 / 175.871

David Gilliland, returning to Talladega’s truck race after six years, jumped to the top of the time sheet at 54.217 / 176.624, the first truck faster than 175 mph and over four-tenths of a second quicker than Van Alst. Gilliland’s supremacy lasted only one truck, as Dean Thompson bumped him by 0.074 second with a lap of 54.143 / 176.865. Bret Holmes, the first rookie to take to the track, slotted into third place at 54.337 / 176.234 then Parker Kligerman.

Jack Wood took his truck to the top of the chart and first over 177 mph, at 53.993 / 177.356, with Jake Drew next on the track, clocking a lap of 54.174 / 176.764 for third on the pylon. Colby Howard moved into the top ten with a lap of 54.368 / 176.133. Chandler Smith’s lap of 54.732 / 174.962 moved him into tenth as the chart looks now, with Tanner Gray next on the track, setting a time of 54.418 / 175.971 moving into eighth. 

Daniel Dye drove the No. 43 truck to a lap of 54.740 / 174.936 before Tyler Ankrum moved to tenth with a lap of 54.461 / 175.832. Hailie Deegan hit the track next, clocking in at 54.490 / 175.739 

Bayley Currey’s lap of 54.654 / 175.211

Stewart Friesen clocked in with a 54.447 / 175.877 run, then Matt Crafton moved to fifth at 54.262 / 176.477, followed onto the track by Jake Garcia who moved to second at 54.031 / 177.232. Rajah Caruth, in his 25th start, got into the top ten with a lap of 54.290 / 176.386. Chase Purdy leaped to the top of the pylon with a lap of 53.584 / 178.710 then Taylor Gray ran only 54.554 / 175.532.

Zane Smith went out next, setting his time trials lap at 54.379 / 175.097, out of the top ten with a shot at the second round of qualifying. Ty Majeski moved into the top ten with his clocking of 54.098 / 177.012. Ben Rhodes moved to sixth so far, at 54.160 / 176.809, then Nick Sanchez bounced to second in the top ten, at 53.740 / 178.191.

Grant Enfinger only clocked into 22nd position, with a lap of 54.634 / 175.275 before Carson Hocevar moved into third position with a lap of 53.992 / 177.360 before Christian Eckes’ lap of 54.355 / 176.175 was only good for fifteenth so far before Corey Heim, the last racer to run in the first round of qualifying, moved into seventh with a lap of 54.139 / 176.878, setting up the second round of qualifying.

In the second round of qualifying, the top five runners are all not qualified for the playoffs. Jake Drew went out first, registering a time of 54.467 / 175.813. Ben Rhodes, next on the track, clocked in at 54.136 / 176.888 to out-qualify Drew by 0.331 second. Dean Thompson’s time of 54.049 / 177.173 was quicker than Rhodes’, and Corey Heim lapped at 54.144 / 176.861 for third so far, followed onto the track by Ty Majeski who moved to second at 54.061 / 177.133. Rookie Jake Garcia moved to the top of the table with a 54.010 / 177.300 lap. Jack Wood spun his tires exiting the pits, slowing his lap to 54.087 / 177.048. Carson Hocevar ran a 54.123 / 176.930, with Nick Sanchez next on the track at the top of the sheet at 53.653 / 178.480, leading to Chase Purdy as the final contestant to qualify with a lap of 53.368 / 179.433 for the pole position in this afternoon’s race.

Qualifying Results: Love’s RV Stop 250, Talladega Superspeedway
Round 1
Pos, Driver, Truck, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 53.584 sec, 178.710 mph, ---, ---
2) Nick Sanchez # (P), No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 53.740, 178.191, 0.156 sec, 0.156 sec
3) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 53.992, 177.360, 0.408, 0.252
4) Jack Wood, No. 51 TrueTimber Chevrolet, 53.993, 177.356, 0.409, 0.001
5) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Quanta Services Chevrolet, 54.031, 177.232, 0.447, 0.038
6) Ty Majeski (P), No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford, 54.098, 177.012, 0.514, 0.067
7) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 54.139, 176.878, 0.555, 0.041
8) Dean Thompson, No. 5 CST Industrial Toyota, 54.143, 176.865, 0.559, 0.004
9) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Campers Inn RV Ford, 54.160, 176.809, 0.576, 0.017
10) Jake Drew, No. 61 Toyota Tsusho Toyota, 54.174, 176.764, 0.590, 0.014
11) David Gilliland, No. 1 Serial 1 Premium E-Bikes Toyota, 54.217, 176.624, 0.633, 0.043
12) Matt Crafton, No. 88 Jack Links/Menards Ford, 54.262, 176.477, 0.678, 0.045
13) Parker Kligerman(i), No. 75 Tide Chevrolet, 54.267, 176.461, 0.683, 0.005
14) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 54.290, 176.386, 0.706, 0.023
15) Bret Holmes #, No. 32 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet, 54.337, 176.234, 0.753, 0.047
16) Christian Eckes (P), No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, 54.355, 176.175, 0.771, 0.018
17) Colby Howard, No. 9 Titan Construction Chevrolet, 54.368, 176.133, 0.784, 0.013
18) Zane Smith (P), No. 38 Love's/ RV Stop Ford, 54.379, 176.097, 0.795, 0.011
19) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Sport Clips Toyota, 54.418, 175.971, 0.834, 0.039
20) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 GearWrench Toyota, 54.447, 175.877, 0.863, 0.029
21) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 54.449, 175.871, 0.865, 0.002
22) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 54.461, 175.832, 0.877, 0.012
23) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Odyssey Battery Ford, 54.490, 175.739, 0.906, 0.029
24) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 Dead On Tools Toyota, 54.554, 175.532, 0.970, 0.064
25) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 54.634, 175.275, 1.050, 0.080
26) Greg Van Alst, No. 20 CB Fabricating Chevrolet, 54.635, 175.272, 1.051, 0.001
27) Bayley Currey, No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet, 54.654, 175.211, 1.070, 0.019
28) Chandler Smith(i), No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 54.732, 174.962, 1.148, 0.078
29) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 RaceToStopSuicide.com Chevrolet, 54.740, 174.936, 1.156, 0.008
30) Bryan Dauzat, No. 28 FDNY Racing Chevrolet, 54.803, 174.735, 1.219, 0.063
31) Brett Moffitt(i), No. 34 Fr8Auctions Ford, 54.835, 174.633, 1.251, 0.032
32) Garrett Smithley(i) (OP), No. 02 Trophy Tractor/Celsius Chevrolet, 54.863, 174.544, 1.279, 0.028
33) Ryan Vargas (OP), No. 30 Critical Path Security Toyota, 54.877, 174.499, 1.293, 0.014
34) Tyler Hill (OP), No. 56 Buffalo Wild Wings/UNITS Toyota, 54.953, 174.258, 1.369, 0.076
35) Cory Roper (OP), No. 04 Fly Alliance/CarQuest Ford, 55.575, 172.308, 1.991, 0.622
36) Jason M White (OP), No. 22 Powder Ventures Excavations Ford, 55.743, 171.788, 2.159, 0.168
37) Spencer Boyd, No. 12 Alabama Roofing Professionals Chevrolet, 55.230, 173.384, 1.646, 0.513
38) Jennifer Jo Cobb, No. 10 Concierge Motorsports Chevrolet, 55.554, 172.373, 1.970, 0.324
39) Keith McGee, No. 33 More Core Ford, 55.828, 171.527, 2.244, 0.274
40) Clay Greenfield, No. 95 Backyard Blues Pools Chevrolet, No Time, No Time, -----, -----

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Truck, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 53.368 sec, 179.433 mph, ---, ---
2) Nick Sanchez # (P), No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 53.653, 178.480, 0.285, 0.285
3) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Quanta Services Chevrolet, 54.010, 177.300, 0.642, 0.357
4) Dean Thompson, No. 5 CST Industrial Toyota, 54.049, 177.173, 0.681, 0.039
5) Ty Majeski (P), No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford, 54.061, 177.133, 0.693, 0.012
6) Jack Wood, No. 51 TrueTimber Chevrolet, 54.087, 177.048, 0.719, 0.026
7) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 54.123, 176.930, 0.755, 0.036
8) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Campers Inn RV Ford, 54.136, 176.888, 0.768, 0.013
9) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 54.144, 176.862, 0.776, 0.008
10) Jake Drew, No. 61 Toyota Tsusho Toyota, 54.467, 175.813, 1.099, 0.323

Starting Line Up by Row Love’s RV Stop 250, Talladega Superspeedway
Pos, Driver, Truck, Time, Speed
1) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 53.368 sec, 179.433 mph
2) Nick Sanchez # (P), No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 53.653, 178.480
3) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Quanta Services Chevrolet, 54.010, 177.300
4) Dean Thompson, No. 5 CST Industrial Toyota, 54.049, 177.173
5) Ty Majeski (P), No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford, 54.061, 177.133
6) Jack Wood, No. 51 TrueTimber Chevrolet, 54.087, 177.048
7) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 54.123, 176.930
8) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Campers Inn RV Ford, 54.136, 176.888
9) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 54.144, 176.862
10) Jake Drew, No. 61 Toyota Tsusho Toyota, 54.467, 175.813
11) David Gilliland, No. 1 Serial 1 Premium E-Bikes Toyota, 54.217, 176.624
12) Matt Crafton, No. 88 Jack Links/Menards Ford, 54.262, 176.477
13) Parker Kligerman(i), No. 75 Tide Chevrolet, 54.267, 176.461
14) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 54.290, 176.386
15) Bret Holmes #, No. 32 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet, 54.337, 176.234
16) Christian Eckes (P), No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, 54.355, 176.175
17) Colby Howard, No. 9 Titan Construction Chevrolet, 54.368, 176.133
18) Zane Smith (P), No. 38 Love's/ RV Stop Ford, 54.379, 176.097
19) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Sport Clips Toyota, 54.418, 175.971
20) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 GearWrench Toyota, 54.447, 175.877
21) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 54.449, 175.871
22) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 54.461, 175.832
23) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Odyssey Battery Ford, 54.490, 175.739
24) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 Dead On Tools Toyota, 54.554, 175.532
25) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 54.634, 175.275
26) Greg Van Alst, No. 20 CB Fabricating Chevrolet, 54.635, 175.272
27) Bayley Currey, No. 41 Unishippers Chevrolet, 54.654, 175.211
28) Chandler Smith(i), No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 54.732, 174.962
29) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 RaceToStopSuicide.com Chevrolet, 54.740, 174.936
30) Bryan Dauzat, No. 28 FDNY Racing Chevrolet, 54.803, 174.735
31) Brett Moffitt(i), No. 34 Fr8Auctions Ford, 54.835, 174.633
32) Garrett Smithley(i), No. 02 Trophy Tractor/Celsius Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
33) Ryan Vargas, No. 30 Critical Path Security Toyota, Owner Points, 
34) Tyler Hill, No. 56 Buffalo Wild Wings/UNITS Toyota, Owner Points, 
35) Cory Roper, No. 04 Fly Alliance/CarQuest Ford, Owner Points, 
36) Jason M White, No. 22 Powder Ventures Excavations Ford, Owner Points,
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookir, (P) Playoffs

Did Not Qualify:
No. 12 Spencer Boyd, No. 10 Jennifer Jo Cobb, No. 33 Keith McGee, No. 95 Clay Greenfield

Track Qualifying Record: Tyler Reddick: 10/18/14, 51.256 sec, 186.827 mph

Track Race Record: Todd Bodine: 10/04/08, 01:43:06, 145.513 mph