Christian Eckes wasn’t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant running the front bumper of his No. 19 Chevrolet twice.

After a restart with five laps remaining in Friday night’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes moved first the Toyota of Taylor Gray and then the Ford of Ben Rhodes, both of which were running on tires 40 laps to win the race and earn a spot in the Championship 4 race of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

He was not giving up this victory. @christianeckes wins and locks himself in the #Championship4! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JXBQWHiGNE

– NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) November 2, 2024

Six-time winner Corey Heim finished seventh and Ty Majeski finished 11th, both earning a spot in the 4-point championship, eliminating Gray, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth in the final round of 16 event of the playoffs.

Eckes, Heim, Majeski and Grant Enfinger will race for the title next Friday at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

After the restart on lap 196 of 200, Gray used his better tires to pass Eckes towards the inside. Eckes regained first place by bringing Gray back onto the track. A lap later, Rhodes passed Eckes, who completed the fourth lead change in the final five laps by bumping the No. 99 Ford on lap 198.

Free from his competitors, Eckes crossed the finish line two laps later, 1.191s ahead of Rhodes. Chase Purdy and Gray finished third and fourth, followed by Sanchez.

“Like I told everyone, I wasn’t going to lose this race: this truck was too good,” Eckes said. “Race No. 17 (Grey) was difficult. I feel bad for #99 (Rhodes). I just relaxed too much going into the corner.

“(Hearing the boos from the crowd). Everyone is really happy with me, but I don’t care. I’m proud of everyone who worked hard and we’re going to Phoenix.

The victory was Eckes’ fourth of the season, his second at Martinsville and the ninth of his career, but it came at a price.

After getting out of his truck, Gray angrily walked toward Eckes and expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms. A victory would have allowed Gray to advance to Championship 4 at the expense of Majeski, who instead took the final spot 28 points ahead of Gray.

“I was sent to the fence when I ran it perfectly clear in 1 and 2,” Gray said. “The more it changes, the more it’s the same. I have to run it next year all year (when both move to the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

“No. 19 (Eckes) was the class of the bunch, wasn’t he? But it’s not my fault that we had a better strategy than him. We came out with tires; we crossed the field and went up to him. I ran him clear and he drove me into the fence. I guess the only thing I could have done was destroy him like he destroyed me.

Eckes swept the first two stages, his 10th and 11th best of the season and led 187 of 200 laps. He held a substantial lead before a six-car crash in Turn 2 on Lap 190 brought out the sixth and final caution and sparked a frenzied finish.

For practical reasons, Gray, Sanchez, Ankrum and Caruth entered the race in unavoidable situations. Ankrum finished eighth and Caruth came home 31st after losing 21 laps in the garage as his team repaired a brake problem on his No. 71 Chevrolet.

Despite finishing third in each of the first two stages, Sanchez was 39 points ahead of 4th place in the Championship at the end of the race.

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