BROOKLYN, Mich. — Brett Moffitt isn’t eligible for the season-ending Chase in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Teammate Timothy Peters is, but on the final lap at Michigan International Speedway, that didn’t much matter.
"We just had such a run — we were rolling five to 10 miles an hour faster than them getting into Turn 1," Moffitt said. "I knew if there was room to get to the outside, I didn’t care if it was going to stick or not. I’m here to win races."
Moffitt passed Peters and William Byron to win Saturday’s Trucks race at Michigan by 0.098 seconds, a thrilling ending that gave Red Horse Racing a 1-2 finish. Peters took second but remains without a win this season — a victory could have solidified a spot in the Chase.
Moffitt won for the first time in six Trucks races. This was only his fourth start of the year on this series in the No. 11 Toyota, so he’s not eligible for the Chase.
Peters was two laps away from what would have been his first victory of the season, but Byron nosed ahead with a lap to go, and Moffitt was then able to move to the outside and take over the lead.
Daniel Hemric finished third and Byron ended up fourth.
"The 11 was coming with such a run. No choice — even if I tried to block, I’m pretty sure I’d have wrecked us both," Peters said. "Hindsight’s 20-20, and I’m sure that if I could go back and redo it, we probably would, but still a great day for us, we’re still alive. If I can’t win it, I like Daniel, but I’m glad Brett won."
Six of the eight Chase spots are accounted for by drivers who have won races this year. Hemric and Peters are both winless, but as of now, they’re in position to make the field on points. They can both take solace in the fact that Saturday’s winner wasn’t eligible.
Pole winner John Wes Townley finished 12th. There were seven cautions in the 100-lap, 200-mile race.
WHO’S HOT: Red Horse Racing owner Tom DeLoach had mixed emotions while watching his drivers take the top two spots.
"You’re thrilled for one of them, your feelings are hurt a little bit on the other one," he said. "It’s a fantastic day for Red Horse."
WHO’S NOT: Cole Custer led 18 laps but was done in by an accident late in the race and finished 22nd. He’s still winless this year.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Moffitt was the Sprint Cup rookie of the year last season but said he was victimized when Michael Waltrip Racing folded late in 2015.
"Every year in my career has kind of been like that. I’ve always been at the end of the year not knowing where I’m going to go," he said. "I thought I had a three-year deal with Michael Waltrip Racing, and when that closed down, that kind of put me right back in the same situation. Every time, it’s right when I start getting comfortable, it seems like the rug’s pulled out from under me."
UP NEXT: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Sept. 4. Erik Jones won there last year. He now races in the Xfinity Series.