NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Christian Eckes is going to have quite a bit to deal with during Saturday’s event at Lime Rock Park, as he competes at the Connecticut road course while injured.
Josh Sims reports that Eckes, driver of the No. 91 NAPA AUTO CARE Chevrolet Silverado RST for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, is dealing with a Grade 3 Lateral Sprain in his left foot, which occurred while leaving Naval Base Coronado on Father’s Day Weekend.
According to WebMD.com, a Grade 3 Lateral Sprain occurs in the lower ankle and is “a complete tear of the ankle ligament,” and causes severe pain, swelling, and bruising, as well as an inability to walk normally — since the ankle feels unstable.
Eckes stepped in some kind of hole while leaving the racetrack and rolled his left foot. The Middletown, New York-native went to the infield care center to have it checked out before leaving California on crutches.
As for this weekend, Sims reports that his left foot is still “very unstable” and is still difficult to walk on, and at Lime Rock Park, Eckes will be moving around the NASCAR Truck Series garage on a scooter.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing does NOT have a backup driver prepared to jump in the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado RST, as Eckes says he’s fully committed to running the entirety of Saturday’s event – after testing it out in the sim and figuring out that, while the strength isn’t 100% of what he needs, it’ll still be enough for him to compete.
The main question marks for Eckes: How he’ll feel when the checkered flag waves on Saturday, and what kind of performance he’ll be able to put forward.
“I’m feeling like it’s not a very good story when I’m here in a boot, but I feel fine in the [truck],” Eckes told Josh Sims after practice.
Eckes ranked 24th in NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice from Lime Rock Park on Saturday morning, with a fast time of 56.066 seconds, approximately 1.7 seconds off the pace of session-leader Chandler Smith.
The LiUNA 150 will take place Saturday, July 11 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
