By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Despite a mid-race spin, David Gravel survived the chaos at Michigan International Speedway and earned a top-10 finish in his first career NASCAR start.
Mid-Race Chaos
The Sprint Car racer avoided an accident on lap 50 that ended the race for Stewart Friesen. In the chaos, Gravel’s No. 24 ChevyGoods.com Chevrolet Silverado was clipped. The GMS Racing driver spun but kept his truck in one piece.
The remainder of the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race, Gravel stayed out of trouble. He battled for positions just outside the top-10, learning on the fly.
The Finish
The Henry Ford Health System 200 came down to two separate attempts at overtime. Gravel was ahead of the incident in the first attempt at overtime. In the second, he avoided the leaders as they spun to the inside in turn 1.
Gravel then battled Truck Series veterans Ben Rhodes and Parker Kligerman for position. He held off Rhodes as they swept by the wounded truck of Austin Hill. Coming to the checkered flag, Derek Kraus spun off turn four. Despite the spin, Kraus narrowly beat Kligerman and Gravel to the line. The 28-year-old took the checkered flag in 10th.
Gravel took to Twitter pre-race at I55 Raceway to talk about his Truck Series debut.
“I made a successful truck racing debut with a top-10,” explained Gravel. “I was really happy with how that went.”
From the sweeping 2-Mile asphalt oval, to the 1/3-Mile dirt bullring… David ready to chase after $20,000 in tonight’s Ironman 55!@WorldofOutlaws | @KevtronMedia @JJR41Updates | @I55Raceway pic.twitter.com/RmeBiWXCSv
— David Gravel (@DavidGravel) August 8, 2020
Early Race
Gravel started in 12th after the random draw for the starting grid. Without practice however, he was along for the ride in the early stages of the 200-mile truck race. The debutant did not finish either of the first two stages inside the top-10.
Prior to the Henry Ford Health System 200, Gravel had just one stock car start in the ARCA Menards Series season opener in February. The Watertown, CT native was scheduled to compete in six Truck races for GMS prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Gravel’s remaining 2020 NASCAR schedule is unclear.