LAS VEGAS — Tanner Gray could see the lead in the closing laps of Friday’s Ecosave 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Inexperience daunted him from sealing the deal.
After not scoring stage points in either of the opening two stages, Gray sliced through the field and was in position to capitalize on a superb final restart. The lone driver holding him from the lead was his Tricon Garage teammate and 12-time winner in the series Corey Heim.
MORE: Race results | At-track photos: Vegas
Gray was able to get to Heim’s rear bumper, but wasn’t close enough to make a move for the lead. Instead, he faded to third in the final laps, allowing Grant Enfinger by for second place. Heim scored his 13th series victory.
“I just got too tight at the end of the run,” Gray said. “I think I burned it up coming from the rear and just didn’t do a good enough job when I got to (Heim). I thought I was definitely better and didn’t make the right lane choices when it mattered. I felt like if I could have gotten out front, maybe I wouldn’t have had to push it as hard and burn it up.
“A lack of experience racing up front and feel like I didn’t do a good enough job. Just wish I could have had a few of those decisions back and done some things differently.”
The third-place finish marked Gray’s best result in nearly two calendar years, dating back to his most recent top-five finish at Darlington Raceway in May 2023, 39 starts ago. Throughout a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw just a handful of top-10 results, the No. 15 team had a best outing of sixth at Kansas Speedway last September.
Running toward the front of the pack again was a relief for the seventh-year driver. It was rare air to be contending for the victory. He jumped two spots in the regular-season championship standings to 10th.
“It’s frustrating when you know you have a truck that can win and don’t close it out,” Gray added. “That’s really the first time in the entire time I’ve been in the Truck Series that I feel like I’ve had a legitimate chance to win a race straight up like that. It’s frustrating to not be able to close that out.”
After announcing earlier this week that he is due to become a first-time father in August, Gray concludes an immense week with a podium finish.