For the 13th time in NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series history, the competitors will head to Pocono Raceway next week for the CRC Brakleen 150 (Saturday, July 22 at 12:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio).
Known as the “Tricky Triangle” for its triangular 2.5-mile layout, Pocono Raceway has held national series events since the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in 1974 where Richard Petty captured the checkered flag, piloting the No. 35 Dodge.
Since the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series began racing at the famed track in 2010, part-time driver and owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kyle Busch has been the only repeat winner (2015, 2018) at the famed track nestled in the Pocono Mountains. No full-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver has ever returned to Victory Lane here.
Several current full-time drivers have experienced winning at Pocono Raceway outside of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series though. A total of six drivers have taken the checkered flag at Pocono in the ARCA Menards Series: Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Zane Smith, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Taylor Gray.
Four of these drivers are already multi-winners this season and have locked themselves into the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs – Eckes, Smith, Enfinger and Heim. Ty Majeski and Taylor Gray will look to grab their first victory of the season at Pocono next week.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: CRC Brakleen 150
The Place: Pocono Raceway
The Date: Saturday, July 22
The Time: Noon ET
The Purse: $757,274
TV: FS1, 11:30 a.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 150 miles (60 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 15),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 30), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 60)
Two races left to set the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff field
With two races to go in the regular season, the battle to advance is heating up. Here’s a look at the current NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff outlook:
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, Nashville), Corey Heim (Martinsville, Mid-Ohio), Grant Enfinger (Kansas, WWTR), and Ben Rhodes (Charlotte).
Currently in on Points:
One driver has built up a points cushion of +95 points over the Playoff cutoff following Mid-Ohio in seventh is ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski. Matt DiBenedetto of Rackley W.A.R. follows behind (+5) in eighth.
Two points above the postseason cutoff and ranked ninth in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff outlook is Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez. Following behind is the driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford Matt Crafton, one point above the cutoff.
On the Outside Looking In:
Another 10 drivers sit outside the Playoff cutline but only have two more races to earn their way into the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs.
Halmar Friesen’s Stewart Friesen is 11th in Playoff standings, just one point behind Matt Crafton. TRICON Garage’s Tanner Gray sits 24 points off the final Playoff position.
Following Friesen and Gray is Chase Purdy (-49 points back from Playoff cutoff), Tyler Ankrum (-79), Jake Garcia (-77), Daniel Dye (-138), Rajah Caruth (-147), Taylor Gray (-147), Hailie Deegan (-154), and Colby Howard (-169).
Clinch Scenarios for Pocono:
Can Clinch via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 4th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Ty Majeski, Matt DiBenedetto or Nicholas Sanchez.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch with 12 points (14 if Matt DiBenedetto wins, 15 if Nicholas Sanchez wins)
- Matt DiBenedetto: Could only clinch with help
- Nicholas Sanchez: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Matt Crafton or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings.
- Ty Majeski: Would clinch with 16 points
- Matt DiBenedetto: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Ty Majeski, Matt DiBenedetto, Nicholas Sanchez, Matt Crafton, Stewart Friesen, Tanner Gray, Chase Purdy, Tyler Ankrum, Daniel Dye, Rajah Caruth, Hailie Deegan, Colby Howard, Bret Holmes, Dean Thompson, Lawless Alan, Spencer Boyd
Can Clinch Regular Season Championship
Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:
- Corey Heim: Could only clinch with help
Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle trudges on
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Sunoco rookie class have traversed their way through 14 races. With just two races remaining in the regular season, let’s take a deeper look at where they’re sitting as they prepare to take on the “Tricky Triangle” in Pocono.
Leading the rookie pack with 386 points is Nick Sanchez, piloting the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet. He posted a ninth-place finish last weekend at Mid-Ohio, earning him the Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award for the third time this season. Sanchez continues to be the highest finishing rookie so far with his best finish being second-place in Atlanta.
Following suit in the second-place spot in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings is Bill McAnally Racing’s Jake Garcia with 308 points. Garcia posted a 16th-place finish at the famed Mid-Ohio last weekend, and the driver of the No. 35 Chevrolet has also earned three Sunoco Rookie of the Race awards this season. Garcia’s best finish in 14 races is fifth at Texas Motor Speedway.
Hanging steady in third with 247 points is GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye. Dye returns from Mid-Ohio posting a 14th-place finish. The Deland, Florida native’s best finish so far this season is 11th at Gateway.
Tied for fourth and fifth are GMS Racing’s Rajah Caruth and TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray with 238 points. Caruth’s best finish this season was a sixth-place at Darlington and Gray’s best finish was an eighth-place finish at Martinsville.
Rounding out the rookie class with 200 points is Bret Holmes Racing’s very own, Bret Homes in the No. 32 Chevrolet. Holmes best finish this season was a 13th-place at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Kaden Honeycutt to join Niece Motorsports at Pocono Raceway – For the eighth time this year, Kaden Honeycutt will return to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, this time at Pocono Raceway. Teaming up with Niece Motorsports, Honeycutt will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado.
“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel and am extremely thankful to Al Niece and everyone at Niece Motorsports for the opportunity,” said Honeycutt. “We’re hopeful that we can get some more partners to come on board and make some more starts this season. I’ve been working at the shop the last few months, so I know how hard this organization is working to field fast trucks. I’m looking forward to Pocono.”
The 19-year-old Texas native turned heads earlier this season after several strong performances at some of the toughest tracks. He’s earned four top-15 finishes in seven starts, including ninth at the Bristol Dirt track and 10th at Darlington.
“Kaden has really impressed a lot of people in the Truck Series this season, so we are happy to have him behind the wheel of one of our Chevrolets,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “Our team is working hard to build the fastest trucks we can. We visited Victory Lane at Pocono in 2019 and we’re looking for more of the same next weekend.
