For the 13th time in NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series history, the competitors are headed to Pocono Raceway 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 nestled in the Pocono Mountains, 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). 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 this weekend.
Practice and qualifying for the CRC Brakleen 150 will be Friday, July 21 at 1:35 p.m. ET on FS1.
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 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)
Corey Heim can almost taste the Regular Season Championship with two to go
Despite missing Gateway due to illness, 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 just two races left in the regular season. The 20-year-old is currently 26 points up on reigning CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion, Zane Smith.
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 over Ty Majeski and Zane Smith. The Georgia native has accumulated two wins (Martinsville, Mid-Ohio), six top- five and 11 top- 10 finishes.
The driver of the No. 11 Toyota can clinch the Regular Season Championship this weekend but will need help. Heim (or whoever is the points leader is) needs to be up by the corresponding number after the race to clinch:
Pocono – 60 or 61 points, depending on tie-break
Richmond – 0 or 1 point, depending on tie-break
Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith (-26 point back from the points leader) continues to stay close to the top spot. Although Smith had a tough stretch from Darlington to Gateway, he managed to bounce back in Nashville, as well as Mid-Ohio, finishing second at each track.
The 24-year-old, who swept the Regular Season and Post-Season Championship in 2022, has accumulated two wins, seven top- five and seven top- 10 finishes this season.
Two to go: The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff field is almost set
With two races to go in the regular season, the battle to advance is heating up. 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 win 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 – ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski. Matt DiBenedetto (+5) of Rackley W.A.R. follows behind.
With two points above the 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 Ford is ThorSport Racing’s 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
Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle trudges on
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series rookie class have traversed their way through 14 races. With just one other race 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 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 at Atlanta.
Following suit in the second-place spot is Bill McAnally Racing’s Jake Garcia with 308 points. Posting a 16th-place finish at the famed sports car course, the driver of the No. 35 Chevrolet has also earned three Sunoco Rookie of the Race awards. 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. Rounding out the rookie class with 200 points is Bret Holmes Racing’s very own, Bret Homes in the No. 32 Chevrolet.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Three NASCAR Cup Series drivers to pull double duty at the “Tricky Triangle” – Of the 39 entries in this weekend’s CRC Brakleen 150, three NASCAR Cup Series drivers will attempt to pull double duty. Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain have each visited Victory Lane at the fame track nestled in the Pocono Mountains.
Kyle Busch (2015, 2018) is the only repeat winner at Pocono Raceway for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Busch, who will pilot the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet, is one of four drivers who have won the race from the pole (2018). He currently holds the most top-five finishes and most laps led (148 laps) for the series at the track. Kyle Busch Motorsports is still on the hunt for their 100th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win.
Christopher Bell has two previous starts at the famed track and has never finished outside of the top-10. Bell, who last saw victory lane in 2017 at the Tricky Triangle, will be behind the wheel of the No. 61 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota. The Norman, Oklahoma native finished 10th in his Pocono Raceway debut in 2017.
Bell isn’t the only returning driver who has never finished outside of the top-10 at the 2.5-mile track though. Ross Chastain, who will be piloting the No. 41 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet has made four previous starts (2012, 2013, 2019, and 2020), and took the checkered flag in 2019. In his last start at Pocono Raceway, the 30-year-old finished sixth.
Kaz Grala to attempt third NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of 2023 – Full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Kaz Grala will return to the seat of the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Pocono Raceway. This will be Grala’s third NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event of 2023.
Earlier this season, the 24-year-old finished 17th in Las Vegas and ninth at COTA. Grala has two previous CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the Tricky Triangle (2017, 2022), where he finished 23rd both times.
“I am looking forward to making another start with TRICON at Pocono,” said Grala. “We showed speed in the races we ran together earlier this year, so I am optimistic that we can put together a great showing. I need to thank Carl Ruedebusch, Dion Reif, and the Serial 1 Dealer Network for coming on board and giving me the opportunity to drive the No. 1 again.”
