Four drivers make their Truck debut in M&Ms 200
NEWTON, Iowa — Chandler Smith, Mason Massey, CJ McLaughlin, and Juan Manuel Gonzalez each made their Truck Series debut in Sunday’s M&Ms 200.
Smith was the highest finishing driver of the four, finishing eighth after leading the opening 55 laps with the No. 51 KBM Toyota. Smith went over what he felt during the final run of the race.
“It was just super loose, and I had my hands full even racing around anybody, not even racing around anybody. It felt like I was on a dirt track a little bit there for a bit. I mean, if we ever go to a dirt track, I’ll be pretty solid.”
Massey and McLaughlin both drove for Reaume Brothers Racing. Massey, who made two starts in the K&N Pro Series East in 2014, drove his #34 Hicklin Garage Doors Chevrolet to a 21st place finish.
“Our goal coming into this was to finish the race. We had a pretty good truck, just fought being tight all day long and made it better on a couple stops.”
“It feels really good to make my first start. We’ve been working for a while to get here and from here, we try to work our way up, get more sponsorship. Anybody who comes on board, I promise you, you will not find a harder worker out here.”
McLaughlin has raced three times in the ARCA Menards Series this season and scored one top ten. McLaughlin drove his #33 Sci Aps Chevrolet to a 23rd place finish.
“It was a pretty big learning curve from the ARCA series into the Trucks so just trying to get used to how the truck kind of yaws in the middle of the corner.”
“We’re looking to do some Xfinity races but we’re waiting on the NASCAR approval process.”
Juan Manuel Gonzalez was knocked out of the race early on after hitting the wall. He finished 30th.
Good job CJ, Brought it back with the fenders still on it!