Race three took place in the Arizona desert's Phoenix International Raceway. The track was hot and slick, which provided a great challenge to those who made the trip out west Wednesday night.
A relatively small field started the T3 Networks 125. Mark Murphy claimed his first pole of the season and immediately ran away from the field. The night's first caution came on the first lap when Mark Guthrie got sideways into turn three. The wreck also collected Ryan Mains and Mike Tellier.
The race continued on with just a couple yellows. The majority for the race ran green. Race leader, Mark Murphy made the call to split the race in two and pit halfway through a fuel run. Team Danger Zone drivers Zakk Miller and Zach Michael made the call to stay out as long as possible. Murphy was fast enough on new tires to not only un-lap himself, but take the race lead. Following the #28 and #14's pit stops, Murphy was on the lead lap all alone, until the caution came out with seven to go.
This setup a three lap dash for the win, Zach Michael got the lucky dog and restarted outside of Murphy. Both drivers went back and forth for the lead. With two to go, Murphy passed Michael, but the #14 dove into turn three and took the lead back. The #48 got back to Michael's inside in turn one on the white flag lap. Both were side by side until the #14 overdrove turn three and Murphy powered his way by and narrowly hung on to the win
Mark Murphy extended his points lead to eleven over Zach Michael. The CBS Truck Series heads to its first short track, USA International Speedway, next Wednesday!!