After a two-week break, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck series jumps back into action under the lights at Nashville Superspeedway for the Rackley Roofing 200 (Friday, June 23, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio), marking the last race of the 2023 Triple Truck Challenge.
To date, Nashville has hosted 15 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Races producing 12 different winners. The inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race dates back to August 10, 2001 – a race won by Scott Riggs, driving a Dodge for Jim Smith. Riggs led 131 of the 150 laps. Currently, Johnny Benson Jr., Kyle Busch, and Ryan Preece lead all drivers in wins at Nashville with two victories each.
Since its inception in 2019, no driver has been able to win all three Triple Truck Challenge races in one season to collect the $500,000 bonus. The streak continues this year after GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger took home the $50,000 bonus at World Wide Technology Raceway, followed by ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes’ win at Charlotte. “The Trip” will close out this season’s program at the 1.33-mile track with a new race winner receiving $50,000 or one of the two previous winners pocketing an additional $150,000.
Toyota Trucks lead the pack with the most wins in Music City, coming in at six victories. Ford follows with four trips to Victory Lane and Chevrolet with two.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Rackley Roofing 200
The Place: Nashville Superspeedway
The Date: Friday, June 23
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 199.5 miles (150 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 95), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers to watch in Music City, USA
Although there are no previous winners entered this weekend, there are several drivers who have consistently been at the front of the pack at the 1.33-mile track located just outside Nashville.
GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger returns to Nashville after a red-hot start to the season, taking two checkered flags at Kansas and World Wide Technology Raceway and seven top -10 finishes. Although Enfinger was involved in a crash last year at Nashville that resulted in a DNF, he finished third in 2021.
The 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Zane Smith has had a rough stint the last five races. But the driver of the No. 38 ThorSport Racing Chevrolet has done exceptionally well at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing second last year with 70 laps led and fourth in 2021. Smith has two wins this season (Daytona, COTA), three poles, and five top-five finishes.
Halmar Friesen Racing’s Stewart Friesen is no stranger to the 1.33-mile track either. In two starts (2021 and 2022), he finished fifth in both events. In 12 starts this season, he’s led 13 laps and collected four top-five finishes.
And last but not least to keep an eye on this weekend would be TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray. The 18-year-old from Denver, N.C. will be piloting the No. 17 Toyota this weekend, the same truck and team NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece took to Victory Lane at Nashville the last two seasons (2021-22). Gray has made nine starts this season putting up three top-10 finishes. This weekend will be Gray’s series track debut at Nashville.
Regular Season Title Watch: Corey Heim leads point standings with four to go
TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim continues to have a strong year as he continues to hold the driver points lead in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with four races left in the regular season. The 20-year-old, Heim, is currently just one point up on ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski in second. Not only does a driver get the prestige of winning the regular season championship, but also 15 additional Playoff points to take into the postseason.
Heim’s points lead began after a strong finish at North Wilkesboro – winning Stage 1 and finishing sixth overall – gaining him a total of 48 points to jump from third in the standings lead over Ty Majeski and Zane Smith. The Georgia native has accumulated one win (Martinsville), four top-five and nine top-10 finishes this season.
The driver of the No. 11 Toyota cannot yet clinch the Regular Season Championship since there are still four wins and 240 points available.
ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski (-1 point back from the points leader) and Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith (-9) also continue to run well this season. Although Majeski has yet to win a race this year, he has collected six top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Smith, who swept the Regular Season and Post-Season Championship in 2022, has accumulated two wins, five top-five and five top-10 finishes.
Looking to Nashville, of the top three drivers in points, Smith holds the best average finish at the 1.33-mile track with a 3.0, followed by Majeski (6.0) and Heim (33.0). Heim has only made one start at Nashville (last season) but was caught in an incident that relegated him to a 33rd-place finish.
Six competitors locked into NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs
With four races to go in the regular season, here’s a look at the current CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings:
Locked In:
Six drivers have locked themselves into the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs by virtue of wins this season – Zane Smith (Daytona, COTA), Christian Eckes (Atlanta, Darlington), Carson Hocevar (Texas), Corey Heim (Martinsville), Grant Enfinger (Kansas, WWTR), and Ben Rhodes (Charlotte).
Currently in on Points:
Two drivers have built up a points cushion of 21 points or more over the Playoff cutoff following World Wide Technology Raceway – Ty Majeski (+113 points above the Playoff cutoff) and Matt Crafton (+21). Majeski is looking to earn a spot in the Playoffs for just the second-time in his career (2022); while Crafton is looking to extend his series record of seven Playoff appearances (2022 ’21, ’20, ’19, ’18, ’17, ’16) to eight.
With 14 points above the cutoff and ranked ninth in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff outlook is Halmar Friesen Racing’s Stewart Friesen is looking to make the Playoffs for the fifth-time in his career (2022, ’21, ’19, ’18). Friesen has finished fifth in both of his career starts at Nashville.
Following not far behind Friesen, is Rackley W.A.R’s Matt DiBenedetto, seven points above the cutoff. DiBenedetto is looking to make his first appearance in the Playoffs this season.
On the Outside Looking In:
Another 10 drivers sit outside the Playoff cutline, and time is running out for them to race their way into the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs.
TRICON Garage’s Tanner Gray is 11th in the Playoff standings, seven points behind Matt DiBenedetto. Gray will have the opportunity to drive the No. 17 Toyota this weekend at Nashville, the same truck Ryan Preece took to Victory Lane at the track the last two seasons.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Sanchez sits 11 points off the final Playoff position.
Following Gray and Sanchez is Chase Purdy (-38 points back from Playoff cutoff), Jake Garcia (-58), Tyler Ankrum (-79), Rajah Caruth (-96), Hailee Deegan (-107), Colby Howard (-111), Daniel Dye (-109), and Taylor Gray (-126).
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar to attempt Xfinity Series debut at Nashville – The 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Zane Smith and Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar will be the only NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers attempting double duty this weekend.
Smith will attempt to get behind the wheel of the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford on Saturday. The California native has made 11 previous career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His career-best finishes were fifth in Iowa and Phoenix in 2019.
Hocevar will look to get behind the wheel of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. The 20-year-old has made three previous career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with his best-career finish of sixth at Darlington this year.
“Carson Hocevar is a rising talent who earned the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Spire Motorsports prides itself on identifying talented race drivers who are still in the early stages of their career and pairing them with veterans who can help get the most out of that talent. Carson fits the bill perfectly.”
Spencer Boyd to make milestone start at Nashville – Young’s Motorsports’ Spencer Boyd will attempt to make his 100th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career start this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.
In 99 previous Truck Series starts, Boyd has put up one win, two top fives and three top 10s.
This season Boyd has managed an average finish of 25.5 and is ranked 27th in the driver standings heading into Nashville this weekend.
