KANSAS CITY, Kan: Brett Moffitt made a monstrous return to the NASCAR scene, finishing solidly in the top five in Saturday night’s Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway.
Last month, TRICON Garage announced that the former NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion would join the Mooresville, N.C.-based team for a limited schedule beginning at Kansas.
After practicing his No. 1 Concrete Supply Toyota Tundra 10th, Moffitt struggled with his single-truck pace in qualifying and lined up 19th.
Undeterred by his mid-pack start, the Grimes, Iowa native demonstrated his truck’s prowess when the green flag dropped.
Moffitt’s race got off to a thrilling start as he deftly maneuvered through the chaos, swiftly ascending into the top 15. By the end of Stage 1, he had made significant progress, climbing six positions and finishing 13th
Looking for help with the balance of his race truck, the team made some adjustments and sent Moffitt back into battle, knocking on the door of the top-10.
A few laps into Stage 2, as the field began to spread, Moffitt took advantage of the speed in his truck and quickly climbed into the top-10 by Lap 50.
When the checkered flag was waived in Stage 2, Moffitt was the second-highest amongst the TRICON Garage team, in sixth.
Another solid pit stop on pit road kept the 13-time Truck Series champion in the heart of the battle at the start of Stage.
Moffitt executed early in Stage and maneuvered his truck inside the top five, where he hovered throughout the remaining laps of the race.
A solid green flag pit stop kept the No. 1 TRICON Garage team in the thick of the battle, but when pit stops finally cycled, Moffitt landed back in fifth, where he finished 9.237 seconds behind winner and TRICON Garage teammate Corey Heim.
While Moffitt came to Kansas Speedway with one mission to win, leaving the track with his 41st career top-five gives the 30-year-old driver confidence leading into his next Truck Series race.
“First and foremost, a really fast Toyota Tundra TRD Pro,” said Moffitt after the race. “These guys at TRICON brought me a really good piece. We struggled for track position early that kinda put us in a hole late.
“Then I felt like we had a little mishap on the Stage 3 restart. We finally got track position and then lost some and had to go earn it back. I don’t know if we would have come out third or fourth if we would have had anything for the No. 91 (Zane Smith) or the No. 11 (Corey Heim), but we were really good, and I was really happy with the truck.
“Glad Concrete Supply gave me the opportunity to come race with them and look forward to doing a few more.”
Following his 33rd career Truck Series top-10 finish, Moffitt will take a two-week break from Truck Series competition at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway but return to the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro driving duties at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Friday, May 24.
Follow Chris Knight on X (Twitter) @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].
