Jake Garcia delivered one of the strongest recovery performances in Friday's Black's Tire 200 at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 13th after starting 36th. The ThorSport Racing driver overcame an accident during practice that forced his team to prepare a backup No. 98 Ford.
Garcia entered the afternoon facing the challenge of advancing through a competitive field while starting at the rear. His team worked to regain track position during the opening stage as Layne Riggs dominated the event.
The No. 98 Ford steadily improved as the race progressed, allowing Garcia to challenge for a position inside the top 10 during Stage 2. He ultimately finished 10th in the segment, collecting one additional championship point.
Garcia remained competitive during
the final stage despite the numerous accidents that disrupted the running order. He avoided the most significant problems and continued advancing as several competitors experienced damage during the closing laps.
Garcia ultimately finished 13th, gaining 23 positions from his original starting spot and earning 25 points. The result helped him maintain 11th in the overall NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings with 584 points, the highest-ranked driver who missed the championship Chase. Garcia will attempt to preserve that position during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Jake Garcia's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Martinsville
