Since the second race of the season, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has rallied off five different winners and when the series returns to action next weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Dead On Tools 200 (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), it could very well see a sixth.
ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes is the only active driver entered at Darlington Raceway with a Camping World Truck Series win at the 1.366-mile track (2019). The last two Truck Series races at Darlington have been won by Sheldon Creed, who has moved fulltime into the NACAR Xfinity Series this season with Richard Childress Racing.
Three drivers are tied for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series best average finish among active drivers at Darlington Raceway with a 5.0, and all three are looking for their first win of the season – Grant Enfinger, John Hunter Nemechek and Christian Eckes.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Dead On Tools 200
The Place: Darlington Raceway
The Date: Friday, May 6
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,273,583
TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200 miles (147 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 147)
Six races in, seven spots still open in the Camping World Truck Series Playoffs
With six races in the books, seven spots are still up for grabs in the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs following the Bristol Dirt race.
Locked In:
Three drivers have locked themselves into the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by virtue of win this season – Zane Smith (two wins), Ben Rhodes and Chandler Smith (one win each).
Currently In On Points:
Four drivers have built up a points cushion of 25 points or more over the Playoff cutoff following Bristol – Stewart Friesen (+60 points from the Playoff cutoff), John H. Nemechek (+49), Christian Eckes (+39), Ty Majeski (+33) and Tanner Gray (+25).
Niece Motorsport’s Carson Hocevar is currently ranked ninth in the Camping World Truck Series Playoff outlook just 16 points up on the postseason cutoff. Right behind Hocevar is ThorSport Racing’s two-time series champion Matt Crafton, a mere nine points ahead of GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger in 11th – the first spot outside the Playoff cutoff.
Outside Looking In:
Nine different drivers outside the top-10 in the postseason outlook are still eligible to race their way into the Playoffs by the end of the regular season.
GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger is currently 11th in the Playoff outlook, nine points back from Matt Crafton in 10th – the final Playoff transfer position.
Following Enfinger is Derek Kraus (-23 points back from Playoff cutoff), Tyler Ankrum (-25). Matt DiBenedetto (-53), Timmy Hill (-57), Austin Wayne Self (-62), Tate Fogleman (-74) and Kris Wright (-76).
Keep in mind, a driver must be ranked in the top 20 in points to be eligible to earn a way into the Playoffs.
All Rhodes lead to Darlington
Looking ahead to next weekend’s Dead On Tools 200 (May 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Darlington Raceway, current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver standings leader, defending series champion and ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes is the only active winner entered in the race.
Rhodes is also the most recent winner in the series taking the checkered flag at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt. In six starts this season, Rhodes has put up one win (Bristol) and five top fives.
Rhodes will be looking to add another win to his stats sheet at Darlington next weekend. The Kentucky native has made three starts at the 1.366-mile track posting one win (2019), two top fives and two top 10s.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.
Four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers competing this weekend at Dover – This weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship drivers will be competing in either the NASCAR Cup Series or NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
Kyle Busch Motorsport’s drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Chandler Smith will be in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race this weekend at Dover. Nemechek will be competing in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with crew chief Jason Ratcliff. Nemechek has made three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts this season posting two top fives. He has also made five Xfinity Series starts at Dover posting three top-10 finishes.
Nemechek’s KBM teammate, Chandler Smith, will pilot the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota this weekend in the Xfinity Series race at Dover. Smith made his Xfinity Series career debut last weekend at Talladega. This weekend will be his Xfinity Series track debut at Dover.
Young Motorsport’s Kaz Grala will be driving the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet in this weekend’s Xfinity Series. Grala has made four starts in the Xfinity Series this season posting an average finish of 27.5. He also has two Dover Xfinity starts posting an average finish of 25.5.
Then on Sunday, David Gilliland Racing’s Ryan Preece will be back in the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford with crew chief Kevyn Rebolledo. Preece made his season debut in the Cup Series at Richmond Raceway posting a top-20 finish. Preece has made five NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover posting an average finish of 23.2.
