Posted October 12, 2019 by Justin Melillo Feature

Spencer Boyd awarded victory after Johnny Sauter penalized at Talladega Superspeedway

Spencer Boyd heads down pit road toward victory lane after celebrating victory at Talladega Superspeedway on October 12th, 2019. Photo by Justin Melillo / TRE.

TALLADEGA, Ala. — It was pure jubilation for Spencer Boyd and his Young’s Motorsports teammates on the Talladega Superspeedway pit road during the post-race breakdown.

Moments after climbing from his No. 20 Silverado, the call came from NASCAR that the No. 13 had been penalized for a yellow line violation on the final lap of the Sugarlands Shine 250.

Johnny Sauter had crossed the line as the leader and assumed winner, but moments before, Sauter made a racing move that forced the truck of Riley Herbst below the double yellow line, which per the NASCAR rule book, would result in a black flag penalty.

Boyd would be the beneficiary, celebrating momentarily with his crew before climbing back in his truck to celebrate with donuts near the start / finish line.

“I got out, and they’re like ‘hey, you know, it’s under review, you never know what’s going to happen here'”, Boyd said in the new Talladega Superspeedway victory lane. “The guys gave me a great truck, and I’m just sitting there, and I’m like ‘man, second is amazing for us’.

“You know, we’re happy, we finished fourth at Daytona in this truck, and then one of my crew guys is like ‘you just won!’ and I’m like, I can’t believe this.”

The victory was Boyd’s first career victory in 23 career starts in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Boyd will also compete on Sunday in the 1000Bulbs.com 500 for Rick Ware Racing in the No. 52 Camaro.

Spencer Boyd in the deadline room following his first career NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway on October 12th, 2019. Photo by Justin Melillo / TRE.

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The Saturday afternoon event went into NASCAR overtime after an incident with two laps to go involving a nasty hit to the wall by Gus Dean, driver of the No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Silverado.

The event was scheduled for 94 laps on Saturday afternoon, but went an extra four laps on the day for a total of 98 laps completed.

Sauter led the field back to the green alongside Sheldon Creed at lap 97. Off of the final corner, Herbst had a run thanks to a push from Boyd. Herbst faked high, then went low.

Sauter threw the block, and forced both trucks below the double yellow line. Boyd went high, and as Sauter passed the line, Boyd crossed the line three wide with Herbst and Todd Gilliland.

Johnny Sauter (13) throws the block on Riley Herbst (51) on the final lap of the Sugerlands Sugar 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Sauter was penalized post-race for violating the yellow line rule after forcing Herbst below it, and Spencer Boyd (20) was awarded the victory. Photo by Justin Melillo / TRE.

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With two races to go until the Championship Four is set, Brett Moffitt commands the playoff drivers with a 45 point lead over the cut line. Stewart Friesen sits 22 points ahead of the cut in second, while Austin Hill is 12 points ahead in third.

Matt Crafton currently holds the fourth and final spot heading to Martinsville, but only by a single point over Tyler Ankrum in fifth, and one more point back to Ross Chastain in sixth.

The “NASCAR Hall of Fame 200” at Martinsville Speedway will be in two weeks, as the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series does not travel to Kansas Speedway next week with the Cup or Xfinity Series.

What a day at @TalladegaSuperS for @SpencerBoyd.

That first #GanderTrucks win is always a special moment. pic.twitter.com/WPIzexRXbU

— NASCAR Gander Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 12, 2019