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Christian Eckes

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Christian Eckes
Eckes at Daytona International Speedway in 2023
BornChristian Donald Eckes
(2000-11-10) November 10, 2000 (age 24)
Middletown, New York, U.S.[1]
Achievements2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Regular Season Champion
2019 ARCA Menards Series Champion
2016 Snowball Derby Winner
2016 Myrtle Beach 400 Winner
Awards2016 CARS Late Model Stock Tour Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
112 races run over 7 years
Truck no., teamNo. 19 (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)
2023 position5th
Best finish3rd (2024)
First race2018 M&M's 200 (Iowa)
Last race2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
First win2021 Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 (Las Vegas)
Last win2024 Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
9 72 9
ARCA Menards Series career
46 races run over 4 years
Best finish1st (2019)
First race2016 Music City 200 (Fairgrounds)
Last race2019 Kansas ARCA 150 (Kansas)
First win2018 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (Salem)
Last win2019 Kansas ARCA 150 (Kansas)
Wins Top tens Poles
7 35 4
ARCA Menards Series East career
3 races run over 1 year
Best finish31st (2016)
First race2016 ComServe Wireless 150 (Dominion)
Last race2016 United Site Services 70 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
Statistics current as of October 26, 2024.

Christian Donald Eckes (pronounced "eck-iss"; born November 10, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. Eckes is the 2019 ARCA Menards Series champion, won the Snowball Derby in 2016, and was formerly a development driver for JR Motorsports and later Toyota.

Racing career

[edit]

Eckes grew up in Greenville, New York. He began racing Legends Cars at thirteen years old. He later moved up to racing late model stock cars and super late models.[2]

In 2015, Eckes began racing late models for JR Motorsports, as well as super late models for LFR Chassis as one of their driver development program drivers.[3][4]

In April 2016, Eckes made his ARCA Racing Series debut at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Tennessee, driving for Venturini Motorsports.[5] He finished eighth, the only top-ten in four ARCA races that year.[6] Eckes also made his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut at Dominion Raceway.[7] He ran two more events that year, at Columbus Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.[8]

He won three races in a row to end the season, one at Myrtle Beach Speedway, at Southern National Motorsports Park and the Snowball Derby, at Five Flags Speedway.[9] At the Snowball Derby, Eckes won over John Hunter Nemechek.[10] Although some reports pegged him as the youngest winner, those reports were erroneous, as Chase Elliott won the event in 2011 at age fifteen while Eckes was sixteen when he triumphed.[11]

In December 2016, Eckes and Venturini announced nine ARCA races in 2017.[12]

In July 2017, Eckes and Venturini re-signed for an enlarged ARCA schedule in 2018 that included fifteen races.[13] He triumphed for the first time at Salem Speedway in April 2018. Eckes kept fellow Venturini Motorsports driver Chandler Smith at bay over the closing portion of the race to secure the victory.[14] He followed up with wins at Illinois State Fairgrounds and Indianapolis Raceway Park during the year.

In the week following the win, Eckes landed a deal with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team Kyle Busch Motorsports to drive the team's No. 46 entry in four races in the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, starting at Iowa Speedway in June.[15]

Eckes beside his 2019 ARCA car at Madison

On October 24, 2018, it was announced that Eckes would run the No. 15 full-time for Venturini Motorsports in 2019.[16] Despite missing the Salem Speedway race in April due to a esophageal tear in his trachea,[17] he went on to win the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship with four wins, 13 top fives, and 17 top tens in 19 starts. Eckes was the first ARCA champion to not run every race since Tim Steele in 1997.[18]

During the 2019 season, he ran eight races in the Truck Series with KBM in the No. 51. Finishing 3rd at Homestead later that year, Eckes locked up KBM’s 7th Owner’s Championship.[19]

The following year, he joined the team's No. 18 for the full 2020 Truck season.[20] Eckes made the NASCAR playoffs but was eliminated after the first round; at Texas in October, Eckes was intentionally spun by Ben Rhodes, eliminating Eckes from the race. He later confronted Rhodes and had a verbal and physical confrontation.[21] He finished with a winless season and an eighth-place finish in the standings.

In 2021, Eckes moved to ThorSport Racing after being replaced at KBM by Chandler Smith.[22] He entered 10 races of the 22-race season, sharing the schedule with Grant Enfinger.[23]

Eckes' No. 98 truck at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

In 2022, after his maiden win at Las Vegas, Eckes would move up to full-time in the No. 98 after Enfinger moved back to GMS Racing. He finished and tied a career-best 8th in the final standings, despite having no wins.

Eckes' No. 19 truck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024.

On December 6, 2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Eckes would pilot the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado in 2023, replacing Derek Kraus. Eckes started the 2023 season with a third place finish at Daytona. He then scored wins at Atlanta, Darlington, and Kansas.[24][25] Eckes was eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 8 at Homestead.[26] He won two weeks later at Phoenix and finished fifth in the final points standings.[27]

Eckes started the 2024 season with a 10th-place finish at Daytona. Throughout the season, he won at Bristol, Martinsville, and Nashville, and claimed the regular season championship.[28][29][30][31] During the playoffs, Eckes won at Martinsville to make the Championship 4.[32]

On August 31, 2024, it was announced that Eckes will move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2025, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing.[33]

Personal life

[edit]

Eckes was born on November 10, 2000, to George and Darlene Eckes. He has an older sister, Erica. Eckes attended George Washington University Online High School.[2]

Motorsports career results

[edit]

NASCAR

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

[edit]
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCTC Pts Ref
2018 Kyle Busch Motorsports 46 Toyota DAY ATL LVS MAR DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW
8 		GTW
28 		CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP LVS TAL MAR
9 		TEX PHO
9 		HOM 35th 110 [34]
2019 51 DAY
22 		ATL LVS MAR TEX DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW
14* 		CHI KEN POC
4 		ELD
6 		MCH
15 		BRI MSP LVS
3 		TAL MAR
17 		PHO HOM
3 		20th 271 [35]
2020 18 DAY
22 		LVS
23 		CLT
14 		ATL
3 		HOM
8 		POC
33 		KEN
6 		TEX
2 		KAN
13 		KAN
2 		MCH
2 		DRC
12 		DOV
11 		GTW
32 		DAR
5 		RCH
18 		BRI
12 		LVS
8 		TAL
18 		KAN
6 		TEX
25 		MAR
4 		PHO
4 		8th 2238 [36]
2021 ThorSport Racing 98 Toyota DAY DRC
10 		LVS
9 		ATL BRD RCH KAN
4 		DAR COA
35 		CLT
11 		TEX NSH POC
12 		KNX GLN
13 		GTW
31 		DAR BRI LVS
1 		TAL MAR PHO
6 		21st 263 [37]
2022 DAY
3 		LVS
28 		ATL
16 		COA
6 		MAR
12 		BRD
5 		DAR
17 		KAN
5 		TEX
2 		CLT
4 		GTW
2 		SON
35 		KNX
12 		NSH
6 		MOH
5 		POC
8 		IRP
16 		RCH
8 		KAN
10 		BRI
8 		TAL
5* 		HOM
7 		PHO
30 		8th 2230 [38]
2023 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing 19 Chevy DAY
3* 		LVS
6 		ATL
1 		COA
30 		TEX
15 		BRD
30 		MAR
15 		KAN
30 		DAR
1* 		NWS
25 		CLT
6 		GTW
2 		NSH
23 		MOH
3 		POC
7 		RCH
11 		IRP
2 		MLW
3 		KAN
1 		BRI
2* 		TAL
19 		HOM
20 		PHO
1 		5th 2319 [39]
2024 DAY
10 		ATL
32 		LVS
6 		BRI
1* 		COA
8 		MAR
1* 		TEX
4 		KAN
3 		DAR
4 		NWS
6 		CLT
10 		GTW
2 		NSH
1** 		POC
3 		IRP
2* 		RCH
2 		MLW
3* 		BRI
4 		KAN
3 		TAL
6 		HOM
9 		MAR
1* 		PHO
3 		3rd 4034 [40]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

K&N Pro Series East

[edit]
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2016 LFR Driver Development Group 15 Ford NSM MOB GRE BRI VIR DOM
7 		STA COL
9 		NHA
18 		IOW GLN GRE NJE DOV 31st 98 [41]

ARCA Menards Series

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2016 Venturini Motorsports 66 Toyota DAY NSH
8 		SLM TAL TOL NJE POC MCH 40th 625 [42]
15 MAD
14 		WIN IOW
11 		IRP
26 		POC BLN ISF DSF SLM CHI KEN KAN
2017 DAY NSH
3 		SLM
8* 		TAL TOL
8 		ELK
2 		POC MCH MAD
5 		IOW
8 		IRP
10 		POC WIN
2 		ISF
6 		ROA DSF SLM
19 		CHI KEN KAN 16th 1980 [43]
2018 DAY NSH
8 		SLM
1 		TAL TOL
21 		CLT POC
11 		MCH MAD GTW
4 		CHI IOW
11 		ELK
2 		POC
13 		ISF
1 		BLN
11 		DSF
4 		SLM
7 		IRP
1* 		KAN 12th 2650 [44]
2019 DAY
4 		FIF
3 		SLM
INQ† 		TAL
26 		NSH
1* 		TOL
3 		CLT
7 		POC
3 		MCH
7 		MAD
7 		GTW
2 		CHI
7 		ELK
11 		IOW
2 		POC
1 		ISF
2 		DSF
1* 		SLM
2 		IRP
2 		KAN
1 		1st 5045 [45]
† – Qualified for the 2019 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 but was replaced by Harrison Burton due to illness

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Middletown native signs with Earnhardt team", Times Herald-Record, January 23, 2016
  2. ^ a b Fambro, Cassie (December 20, 2017). "Driving fast, but still in class: Christian Eckes' balancing act". Lake Norman Publications. Stride Learning. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. ^ White, Heath (January 12, 2016). "Christian Eckes Joins JRM Late Model Lineup for 2016". Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "Christian Eckes, Tanner Gray and Riley Herbst to Represent LFR Driver Development Group at Hickory Motor Speedway – LFR Chassis". www.lfrchassis.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "Christian Eckes Returns to Familiar Grounds for ARCA Season Debut". SpeedwayDigest. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Driver Christian Eckes 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Eckes Scores Top 10 Finish in Successful K&N East Debut". Speed51. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "Driver Christian Eckes 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Marquis, Andy (April 27, 2017). "Marquis: My Short Track Draft – race22.com". Race22. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Long, Dustin (December 7, 2016). "Christian Eckes wins Snowball Derby". NASCAR Talk. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  11. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (December 2, 2017). "PREVIEW: Kyle Busch to start 15th in Sunday's 50th Snowball Derby". NASCAR Talk. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "Snowball Derby winner Christian Eckes signs with Venturini for 2017". ARCA Racing Series. December 9, 2016. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  13. ^ "Rookie Christian Eckes lookin' up; extends partnership with VMS through 2018". ARCA Racing Series. July 20, 2017. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  14. ^ Radebaugh, Don (April 22, 2018). "Christian Eckes holds off Chandler Smith in ARCA Salem thriller". Autoweek. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  15. ^ McFadin, Daniel (April 26, 2018). "Christian Eckes lands four-race deal with Kyle Busch Motorsports in Truck Series". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Wilson, Steven B. (October 24, 2018). "Christian Eckes, Venturini Motorsports Together Again for Full ARCA Slate in 2019". Speedway Digest. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  17. ^ McFadin, Daniel (April 15, 2019). "Christian Eckes hospitalized for small tear in trachea, misses ARCA race". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  18. ^ "Christian Eckes wins ARCA Menards Series finale, championship". NASCAR. October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  19. ^ Rutherford, Kevin. "Christian Eckes, Brandon Jones Return to Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Roster". Frontstretch. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Christian Eckes to drive the No. 18 Safelite® Autoglass Tundra in 2020" (Press release). Kyle Busch Motorsports. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  21. ^ Cheek, Adam (October 25, 2020). "'KBM Trucks Run Over Everybody': Ben Rhodes Among Drivers Angry As Wrecks Mar Texas Truck Race". Frontstretch. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "Chandler Smith to drive No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2021". NASCAR.com. December 7, 2020.
  23. ^ "ThorSport 2021". February 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021.
  24. ^ Spencer, Reid (March 18, 2023). "Christian Eckes powers to overtime Craftsman Trucks victory at Atlanta". NASCAR. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  25. ^ Spencer, Reid (May 12, 2023). "Christian Eckes wins at Darlington for second Truck Series victory of 2023". NASCAR. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  26. ^ Cain, Holly (October 21, 2023). "Carson Hocevar converts Homestead win, joins Rhodes, Heim, Enfinger in Championship 4 field". NASCAR. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  27. ^ Albino, Dustin (November 3, 2023). "Ben Rhodes becomes fifth driver to win multiple Truck Series championships". NASCAR. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "Christian Eckes finds redemption in NASCAR Truck Series win at Bristol". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  29. ^ Spencer, Reid (April 5, 2024). "Christian Eckes survives late-race restarts, dominates Truck Series race at Martinsville". NASCAR. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  30. ^ Cain, Holly (June 28, 2024). "Christian Eckes leads all the way, secures Triple Truck Challenge prize in Nashville triumph". NASCAR. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Christian Eckes captures Truck Series regular season title with runner-up finish at Richmond". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  32. ^ Spencer, Reid (November 1, 2024). "Christian Eckes wins Truck race at Martinsville to propel into Championship 4; title contenders set". NASCAR. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  33. ^ "Christian Eckes driving full time for Kaulig Racing in 2025 Xfinity Series season". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  34. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  35. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  36. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  37. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  38. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  39. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  40. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  41. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  42. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  43. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  44. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  45. ^ "Christian Eckes – 2019 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Snowball Derby Winner
2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by ARCA Menards Series Champion
2019 		Succeeded by
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