Lime Rock Park hasn’t hosted a NASCAR race in 14 years. That changed this weekend. Not only did the Lakeville, Connecticut, road course see the return of NASCAR, but it also welcomed the raceway’s first-ever Truck Series event. Is Lime Rock the ideal place for a truck race? Absolutely not, which is what makes it so much fun to watch.
In Lime Rock Park’s 68-year history, trucks have not roamed the natural terrain road course and its sweeping (and scenic) elevation changes. At least not NASCAR-sanctioned ones, anyway. But, as with any major event, there was plenty of prep work behind the scenes to make NASCAR at Lime Rock happen. The multi-year process included several updates, such as implementing additional safety features and extending the pit lane. According to a statement released last year:
“Lime Rock Park has been working closely with NASCAR leadership over the last two years to ultimately propel the incredible opportunity to host the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at the Park in 2025,” said Dicky Riegel, Lime Rock Park CEO. “To say that we are excited about this announcement is a major understatement, as this will surely be the biggest event in Lime Rock Park’s history.”
NASCAR found a home in Appalachia’s WASPiest corner for nearly 20 years, from 1993 to 2011. As for why the racing body left, well, the answer will depend on who you ask. Although never officially a permanent departure, there were hurdles. For one thing, a 1959 injunction banned racing on Sundays. Mind you, this was done just two years after the track was built. Although modified over the years and even appealed to the state supreme court. According to the Lakeville Journal:
“Lime Rock Park, the auto racing track, the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and the Lime Rock Citizens Council have been in court for more than four years over several issues, most prominently that of allowing racing on Sundays…The injunction has been modified over the years, but the Sunday racing ban has remained.”
The result? The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the ban. Of course, that doesn’t mean racing can’t happen on other days. With the track upgraded, more than 20,000 race fans were estimated to attend the weekend festivities. Lime Rock said it would be the largest spectator crowd in recent history. NASCAR is certainly hopeful, per a press release:
“Thanks to Dicky Riegel and the Lime Rock Park team for their commitment with NASCAR to bring an event to our passionate race fans in the northeast,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer. “We look forward to showcasing the intense competition of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at one of the most historic road racing circuits [this] season.”
Helping bring the race to the track was occasional Autopian contributor and Nutmegger Parker Kligerman. Was he at the race driving one of the trucks? Not quite, as he’s doing the Cup Series broadcast this weekend, which is in Atlanta. Gotta give Parker credit, his timing is always perfect…
Drivers were excited about the inaugural Truck Series race as well, and you’ll see why in the highlights below.
In this configuration, the track has seven turns (six right, one left), and the trucks manage to do a lap in under a minute. That’s a lot of wheel-sawing for trucks that are not designed to turn so quickly. Corey Heim, in his qualifying run, did the track in 55 seconds. If you think that’s slow, it’s worth remembering that Travis Okulski, another Autopian contributor, reportedly needed 1:02 to complete the same lap in a Mark V Supra, though it’s not clear if it was exactly the same configuration.
Officially named the LIUNA 150, a NASCAR preview listed six first-timers, but none were new to racing. Some ringers included former NASCAR Canada Series champion Alex Labbe, part-time Xfinity Series driver Thomas Annunziata, and four-time IMSA champ Jordan Taylor. Also on the grid was Frankie Muniz of Malcom in the Middle fame as he continues his full-time series campaign.
Ultimately, Corey Heim (above) dominated the Truck Series’ debut. Not only did Heim sweep the stages, but he also led for 99 of the race’s 100 laps. Having led in the Truck Series standings going into the weekend, Lime Rock marked Heim’s fifth win of what’s turning out to be a dominant season. The next Truck Series race will take place on July 25 at Indianapolis.
Top graphic image: Lime Rock Park
I’m at the track sitting in front of a fire as I type. Today was the best show I’ve seen at the ‘Rock. The racing was great despite Corey’s dominance. He came out and rocked a last minute 100mph lap to take the pole, it was awesome.
Thank you NASCAR for coming back. From a fan perspective, the folks running the track did a great job and made it an awesome day. Please keep coming back.
The entire concept of NASCAR Trucks is ludicrous.
The very thought of a bunch of 2 door trucks (Can you even get a 2 door truck anymore?) hauling ass – when NASCAR was predicated on hauling moonshine.
Everyone knows that trucks don’t haul anything but groceries and fragile masculinity anymore.
Years back when Ford discontinued its cars, there was speculation as to what would replace the Fusion in the Cup.
The Mustang was the obvious and eventual choice, but I was always intrigued by the idea that Ford could use the Edge. Still would like to see what a two door, squashed crossover looks like as a racecar.
It would probably look like a Range Rover Evoque.
Or an old VW Golf.
It’s fantastic that NASCAR has really embraced road and street courses – and that fans are watching.
I started following it in the late 90s, just as it was transitioning out a being a largely regional thing, and I remember hoping it wasn’t going to just be oval track racing, just at new tracks around the country.
Nothing wrong with oval track racing of course, it’s just extra cool when a series has a good mix.