Bubba Wallace wins at Eldora

The Camping World Truck Series’ return to dirt at Eldora Speedway did not disappoint. Many people wondered if the Truck Series’ 2nd race at Eldora could contend with the anticipation and excitement that surrounded the event last year when NASCAR made its first return to dirt in over 40 years. Tonight Eldora Speedway delivered perhaps exceeding expectations. In fact, the racing was even better this time around with legitimate 3 and 4 wide racing on the most famous half mile dirt track in America. While many drivers contended at the front of the field, Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr paced the field for nearly the entire 2nd half of the race and led 98 of the 150 scheduled laps to earn the biggest win of his career.

However, Bubba’s journey to victory lane was quite a spectacle that was highlighted by an epic battle with Kyle Larson for the win over the final laps of the race. Larson worked his way up through the field throughout the night and moved into 2nd place with 30 laps to go while trailing Wallace by nearly 2 seconds. However, Larson was able to run down the #54 truck of Wallace from that 2 second margin within just a few quick laps. The two trucks traded paint and battled door to door for the lead. Larson edged out Wallace by a bumper when the caution flag flew with less than 25 laps to go. As Larson took control of the race lead, it appeared the Sprint Cup rookie was in-line to avenge last year’s runner-up finish. However on the restart Wallace was able to jump out ahead of Larson as the #32 truck slid up the race track and pounded the outside wall.

Larson’s Truck hit the wall so hard it appeared his night would end at that moment. Instead, Larson put together another late run and was able to run up to the back bumper of the #54 Truck for another battle for the lead with less than 10 laps to go. Larson was banging his #32 truck off the wall every lap in one of the most raw and determining displays of racing talent seen in NASCAR in quite some time. Larson eventually blew out his right front tire and broke the suspension on his truck with 3 laps to go after the Truck simply fell apart from the abuse. Wallace was able to breathe comfortably during those final few laps and bring home the victory. While Bubba’s win was impressive and defining for his young career, those that saw Kyle Larson race tonight were treated with a special display of raw talent that will be talked about for quite some time.