2019 Sugarlands Shine 250

Race details[1][2][3]
Race 20 of 23 in the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season
Date	October 12, 2019 (2019-10-12)
Location	Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Distance	94 laps, 250.04 mi (402.4 km)
Pole position
Driver	Matt Crafton	ThorSport Racing
Time	52.928
Most laps led
Driver	Johnny Sauter	ThorSport Racing
Laps	28
Winner
No. 20	Spencer Boyd	Young's Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network	FS1
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN

The 2019 Sugarlands Shine 250 is a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race held on October 12, 2019, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. Contested over 94 laps on the 2.66 mile (4.28 km) superspeedway, it was the 20th race of the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season, fourth race of the Playoffs, and first race of the Round of 6.

Background

Track

Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. A tri-oval, the track was constructed in 1969 by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking. The track currently hosts NASCAR's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km).

Entry list

Practice

First practice

Austin Hill was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 49.857 seconds and a speed of 193.115 mph (310.788 km/h).^[4]

Final practice

Harrison Burton was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 50.646 seconds and a speed of 189.077 mph (304.290 km/h).^[4]

Qualifying

Matt Crafton scored the pole for the race with a time of 52.928 seconds and a speed of 180.925 mph (291.171 km/h).^[5]

Qualifying results

. – Playoffs driver

Race

Summary

Matt Crafton started on pole, but was overtaken by Todd Gilliland in the second lap. Johnny Sauter took the lead afterwards, but also lost it, to Sheldon Creed. The first caution occurred when Harrison Burton spun in the tri-oval. Creed maintained the lead and won Stage 1.

Ross Chastain took the lead, but Tyler Dippel wrecked and brought out a caution. During stage 2, Moffitt and Friesen were found to be locking bumpers, causing NASCAR officials to force them to take a pass-through penalty. Both teams and some of the broadcasters disagreed with NASCAR’s assessment. Stewart Friesen won Stage 2 after passing Brett Moffitt and Austin Hill.

On lap 87, a large wreck occurred that took out Chastain after he turned across Creed's nose while trying to maintain his lead. In the final lap, Johnny Sauter held the lead until the tri-oval, where a block on Riley Herbst forced Herbst below the double yellow line. After NASCAR reviewed the footage, they deemed that Sauter's block caused Herbst to go below the yellow line. The race win was ultimately given to Boyd, while Sauter was demoted to 14th place.

Chastain and Tyler Ankrum left the race below the cutoff point for the playoffs. Due to Boyd's win, none of the other playoffs drivers were locked into the final round.

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 20

Stage Two Laps: 20

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 54

. – Playoffs driver