Chandler Smith Dominates to Win Second Straight North Wilkesboro Truck Race

RPW EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY: Steven Brien / RPW – NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – Chandler Smith dominated Saturday afternoon’s FaithFest 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, leading 105 laps and setting a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series short-track record with an 8.479-second margin of victory over Front Row Motorsports teammate Layne Riggs.

The win was Smith’s second of the 2026 season and his second consecutive Truck Series victory at North Wilkesboro.

“If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have this great group of men and women behind me,” Smith said after climbing from his No. 38 Ford. “We’ve got good speed.”

Riggs finished second, extending his points lead over Kaden Honeycutt to 59.

“I was very happy just finishing the race there, glad our teammate got the win,” Riggs said after exiting his No. 34 Ford. “It just really took that long run for me to get going.”

Shane van Gisbergen matched his career-best Truck Series finish with a third-place result.

“Once I figured it out, I learned my own line and started working forward,” Van Gisbergen said. “Really enjoyed myself.”

Christian Eckes and Landen Lewis rounded out the top five.

Gio Ruggiero finished sixth, followed by Chase Elliott, Stewart Friesen, Corey Heim, and Ty Majeski to complete the top ten.

Riggs passed Carson Hocevar on Lap 52 and drove away to win Stage 1, his series-leading seventh stage victory of the season.

Hocevar finished second in the stage, followed by Smith, Christopher Bell and Elliott. Heim, Honeycutt, Eckes, Ruggiero and Grant Enfinger also earned stage points.

The first caution flew on Lap 14 when Donovan Strauss spun on the backstretch after contact from Corey LaJoie in his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut.

Another caution came on Lap 119 after Luke Baldwin spun exiting Turn 4 following contact with van Gisbergen.

Following the restart, Majeski stayed on older tires to capture Stage 2, his first stage victory of the season.

Smith finished second in the stage, followed by Ben Rhodes, Eckes and Friesen. Daniel Hemric, Andres Perez de Lara, Ruggiero, Heim and Elliott rounded out the top ten.

Just before the end of Stage 2, Hocevar suffered a flat left-front tire while leading, ending his chances after pacing the field for 74 laps.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns next Friday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park as the regular season nears its conclusion.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – Faithfest 250 

North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Saturday July 18, 2026

1. (9) Chandler Smith, Ford, 250.
2. (1) Layne Riggs, Ford, 250.
3. (19) Shane van Gisbergen (i), Chevrolet, 250.
4. (18) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 250.
5. (16) Landen Lewis, Chevrolet, 250.
6. (4) Giovanni Ruggiero, Toyota, 250.
7. (6) Chase Elliott (i), Chevrolet, 250.
8. (10) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 250.
9. (4) Corey Heim, Toyota, 250.
10.  (27) Ty Majeski, Ford, 250.
11.  (7) Kaden Honeycutt, Toyota, 249.
12.  (30) Tyler Reif, Chevrolet, 249.
13.  (15) Jake Garcia, Ford, 249.
14.  (22) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 249.
15.  (3) Christopher Bell (i), Toyota, 249.
16.  (17) Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 249.
17.  (12) Nick Leitz, Toyota, 249.
18.  (14) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 249.
19.  (24) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 249.
20.  (21) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 249.
21.  (23) Brenden Queen, RAM, 249.
22.  (11) Cole Butcher, Ford, 249.
23.  (20) Andres Perez de Lara, Chevrolet, 248.
24.  (25) Ryan Newman, RAM, 248.
25.  (8) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 248.
26.  (13) Justin Haley, RAM, 248.
27.  (2) Carson Hocevar (i), Chevrolet, 248.
28.  (28) Mini Tyrrell, RAM, 248.
29.  (34) Corey LaJoie, RAM, 247.
30.  (26) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 247.
31.  (35) Clayton Green, Ford, 246.
32.  (36) Frankie Muniz, Ford, 246.
33.  (29) Luke Baldwin, Ford, 245.
34.  (33) Nathan Nicholson, Chevrolet, Accident, 242.
35.  (31) Kasey Kleyn, Chevrolet, Electrical, 203.
36.  (32) Donovan Strauss, Chevrolet, Overheating, 134.