Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 3
Winner: Christian Eckes (race), Ben Rhodes (Championship)
Key highlights: In a race that saw 29 laps of overtime racing, Ben Rhodes came away with his second-career Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Christian Eckes, who was eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was the race winner. Championship runner-up Grant Enfinger gave it his all on the final restart in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet coming off Turn 4 in an all-out pursuit to the very end. The other two championship contenders, Heim and Hocevar had a more contentious situation on-track. Heim, whose 47 laps out front in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota were second most laps led on the night, was leading the championship-eligible drivers when Hocevar hit him going into Turn 2 with 30 laps remaining. Hocevar’s No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet was credited with a 29th-place finish from the garage, while Heim was scored 18th.
Full race recap: Christian Eckes wins thrilling Truck race at Phoenix, Ben Rhodes banks second career championship
At-track photos: At-track photos: 2023 Championship weekend
CHAMPIONSHIP 4 ORDER OF FINISH: Ben Rhodes (5th), Grant Enfinger (6th), Corey Heim (18th), Carson Hocevar (29th)