The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series headed to Nashville Superspeedway under a cloud of anticipation, but the weekend was quickly interrupted by a rain delay that pushed the green flag back by several hours.
A Rain‑Delayed Battle at Nashville
When the track finally dried, the No. 81 iHeartRadio truck rolled off the grid in 32nd position, a consequence of qualifying being washed out, and driver Kris Wright immediately felt the car’s loose handling.
The early laps saw Wright sliding off the racing line, dropping a full lap behind the leaders, but the crew kept a cool head as the field shuffled.
During the first break, the team made a series of aerodynamic and spring‑rate tweaks that began to settle the truck’s balance, allowing Wright to claw his way back into the lead lap.
By the end of the second stage, the driver was positioned 27th, but a late‑race surge produced a string of top‑20 lap times that hinted at untapped speed.
Although the strategy never fully clicked, Wright succeeded in keeping the truck clean of damage, a modest achievement that contributed to McAnally‑Hilgemann Racing’s solid weekend, which included a top‑five finish and three trucks in the top‑10.
The finish left Wright 22nd in the series points standings, and the team is now turning its focus to the upcoming event at Michigan International Speedway, hoping to translate the lessons learned in Tennessee into a stronger result.