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NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs Are Set For Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

After a week off, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs are set to get underway this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the TSport 200 (Friday, August 11 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio).

The 2023 season will mark the eighth running of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs (2016-2023). Since the inception of the new format in 2016, seven different drivers have hoisted the championship trophy – Johnny Sauter (2016), Christopher Bell (2017), Brett Moffitt (2018), Matt Crafton (2019), Sheldon Creed (2020), Ben Rhodes (2021), and Zane Smith (2022).

The structure of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs will remain the same as years past: a seven-race, three round elimination format. The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will cap off their season in conjunction with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway for the Championship 4 Finale.

Characteristics of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff format include:

  • The number of championship drivers in contention for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship will decrease after every three Playoff races, from 10 to start in the Playoffs; eight after race No. 3; and four after race No. 6.
  • The first three races of the Playoffs (17-19) will be known as the Round of 10; races 20-22 will be known as the Round of 8; and race No. 23 will be the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship (Championship 4 Round).
  • A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Playoff race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next round.
  • Four drivers will enter the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship with a chance at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the championship.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Structure:

  • Round of 10: Races 17-19 will be at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Milwaukee Mile, and Kansas Speedway. If a driver in the Playoffs wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the Round of 8. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points. Each advancing Playoff contender will then have their points reset to 3,000, plus any Playoff points awarded to that point are added.
  • Round of 8: Races 20-22 will be at Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Likewise, if a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the Championship 4. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points. Each advancing Playoff contender will then have their points reset to 4,000.
  • Each eliminated driver will return to the Playoff-start base of 2,000 (plus any awarded Playoff points), with their accumulated points starting with race No. 17 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-10th still up for grabs.

The 2023 10-driver NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Field:

  1. Corey Heim – TRICON Garage – No. 11 Toyota – 2,030 points
  2. Zane Smith – Front Row Motorsports – No. 38 Ford – 2,022 points
  3. Carson Hocevar – Niece Motorsports – No. 42 Chevrolet – 2,021 points
  4. Christian Eckes – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing – No. 19 Chevrolet – 2,019 points
  5. Grant Enfinger – GMS Racing – No. 23 Chevrolet – 2,017 points
  6. Ty Majeski – ThorSport Racing – No. 98 Ford – 2,014 points
  7. Ben Rhodes – ThorSport Racing – No. 99 Ford – 2,013 points
  8. Nick Sanchez – Rev Racing – No. 2 Chevrolet – 2,005 points
  9. Matt DiBenedetto – Rackley W.A.R. – No. 25 Chevrolet – 2,002 points
  10. Matt Crafton – ThorSport Racing – No. 88 Ford – 2,002 points

The return to historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

For the second time since 2011, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is returning to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park next weekend. The track will play host to a Playoff race for only the second time in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series history. Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is the fifth track to open the Playoffs, along with New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2016, 2017), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (2018), Bristol Motor Speedway (2019, 2020), and World Wide Technology Raceway (2021).

This historic track houses a 0.68-mile paved oval located in Clermont, Indiana, but the original intent was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. In 1995, the inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park was won by Mike Skinner, piloting the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Skinner went on to win the series championship that same year.

Since the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ inception in 1995, the famed oval has hosted 18 series races. In that span, there have been 13 different pole winners and 13 different race winners. NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in wins with four victories (1997, 2007, 2009, 2010).

Through the 18 previous events at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, only twice has the winner come from a starting position outside of the top-five. In 2011, Timothy Peters started in 16th and Johnny Benson Jr. started eighth in 2008. The pole winner has gone on to win five of the eighteen races. In addition, the winner has started on the front row eight separate times. Pole Qualifying will surely be key for the 10 drivers who will begin their Playoff run for the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship this weekend.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: TSport 200

The Place: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

The Date: Friday, August 11

The Time: 9 p.m. ET

The Purse: $699,222

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

Scouting the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Roster

The field for the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs is packed with both postseason veterans and several new ones. Eight different teams are represented along with all three of NASCAR’s OEMs (Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota). Below is a quick look at the contenders in this year’s Playoff grid as the drivers prepare for the first race of the Round of 10 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Champion Corey Heim enters the Playoffs at the No. 1 seed with 2,030 points. The driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota’s first year with his new team has gone without a significant hitch securing two wins (Martinsville, Mid-Ohio) to lock him into the playoffs. Despite missing Gateway due to illness, the Marietta, Georgia native leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series field with 408 laps led, 13 top- 10 finishes, and five stage wins. This is Heim’s first playoff appearance.

“Our consistency over the past two or three months has been really good,” Heim stated during the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Media Day. “Just being able to collect a lot of stage points, top fives and wins along the way. You know, I think as long as we are able to continue that and keep the momentum heading into the playoffs, we’ll be in really good shape.”

Heading into the Playoffs as the No. 2 seed is the reigning NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Zane Smith with 2,022 points. The 24-year-old swept both the regular and postseason titles last year. Like Heim, Smith reached the Playoffs with two wins (Daytona, COTA). The driver of No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford became the first repeat NASCAR winner at COTA and made the Front Row Motorsports team a perfect 3-for-3 in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at the famed road course, after taking the reins from Todd Gilliland. With eight top-five finishes, Smith leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series field.

“I feel like our race team is there and our speed is there, but I just feel like we need a little bit of luck on our side, which recently we’ve put together some good runs,” Smith said. “I feel like these races in the Playoffs are some great races for us, especially if we are able to get to Phoenix.”

With 2,021 points, Carson Hocevar of Niece Motorsports enters as the No. 3 seed. The third-year driver has been in the Playoffs since his rookie season in 2020. Piloting the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet, Hocevar leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with three wins (Texas, Nashville, Richmond). The Michigan native held an impressive streak of five consecutive top-five finishes – the longest of his career – during the stint from Darlington to Nashville.

“I think our season has been really good – most wins of anybody – but also too, I don’t think it’s anything to get all high and mighty about,” Hocevar said. “There’s still areas to improve.”

The driver of the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgermann Racing Chevrolet Christian Eckes heads into the Playoffs at the No. 4 seed with 2,019 points. It didn’t take Eckes long to mesh well with his new team. The 22-year-old raced his way into his third Playoffs after securing two wins (Atlanta, Darlington). The New York native’s four stage wins are tied for second among the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series field.

“I feel like the ceiling is way higher than our regular season,” Eckes said. “I feel like this team can contend. You know obviously, we can win races, but the next big test will be the Playoffs. I’m looking forward to it. I feel like this team has the capability to go do it – like I said – but it’s all just putting it together.”

Postseason veteran and the No. 5 seed, Grant Enfinger, enters the Playoffs two points behind Eckes with 2,017 points. With steady performances week in and week out, the driver of the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet has only failed to crack the top 15 twice – both before May. With two wins (Kansas, St. Louis) securing his Playoff spot, Enfinger will look to continue his consistency in the postseason and lock into the Playoffs early. He is the only driver in the field that has won at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (2022).

“I feel like there’s some small mistakes that I’ve been making,” Enfinger said. “But overall, as a team, we’ve made some small mistakes and we’ve got to clean that up – it’s Playoff time. I’m proud of where we’ve been this year and what’s gotten us here, but I do think we’ve got to make some things better for these remaining seven races.”

The No. 6 seed Ty Majeski follows Enfinger into the Playoffs with 2,014 points – three behind the veteran. The driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford was the first driver to lock himself into the Playoffs via points. The Wisconsin native has had a knack for high finishes this season. His seven top-five finishes are tied for second among the entire CRAFTSMAN Truck Series field, while his 11 top- 10 finishes rank second.

“I’m excited to be back,” Majeski said. “I think that’s everybody’s goal when we first start the season – first up is making the Playoffs, so I’m just excited to be back with this 98 group. You know, we made a good run last year. I think we’re in a similar position as a race team to make another run and obviously the goal at this point is to make it to Phoenix.”

2021 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes enters the Playoffs as the No. 7 seed with 2,013 points. Rhodes is no stranger to the postseason as this is his sixth Playoff appearance. The 26-year-old secured his spot with one win (Charlotte). In sixteen starts this season, the driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford has 10 top-10 finishes and 88 laps led.

“Our focus now is simply just advancing in the next round, top-five,” Rhodes said. “My crew chief Brian Ross came up with basically a stat sheet that shows on average where you have to finish in order to make it to the next round. He’s really good at mapping out an overall game plan and living by some math and some stats which is good. I think there’s a lot of stuff that we can do and abide by, but a lot of it is common sense too. A lot of it happens so fast because it’s racing. We all know what the right thing to do is, but can you do it when the time comes down to it?”

Entering as the No. 8 seed with 2,005 points is Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Sanchez. The 2022 ARCA Menards Series Champion has taken the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series by storm as he leads the field with four poles. Although the rookie has not seen Victory Lane yet, there is no doubt about the speed he possesses. The 22-year-old finished inside the top-10 in five of the final six regular season races.

“I think the area that I need to improve on is just execution from start to finish in a race. Usually we qualify amazing – top three most of the time – but I feel like you kind of have to keep that up regardless of how the race plays out or strategy, you have to find a way to be there at the end. I think that’s the emphasis I’m going to put on the next seven races, honestly just hopefully inverting my race, finishing where I started.”

Following closely behind by three points as the No. 9 seed is Matt DiBenedetto (2,002 points). After a rough start to the season, the driver of the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet raced his way into the Playoffs via points. The California native concluded the 2023 regular season by finishing inside the top-10 in six of his last seven events.

“It’s been so neat to see the progress of the team and I’m proud of it,” DiBenedetto said. “I know we had a little bit of a bumpy start to the season, and we really had to regroup and get together and focus on consistency. Man did our team execute on that. We had six top 10s in a row and dug ourselves out of a little bit of a hole from some mishaps and some failures and little things early in the season, but gosh it’s been nothing but upward trajectory from there at the right time too, coming into the Playoffs.”

Rounding out the 10 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff contenders is veteran Matt Crafton, who also has 2,002 points. A seventh-place finish in the regular-season finale at Richmond helped the driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford sneak his way into the postseason field. With the experience of three prior titles (2013, 2014, 2019), Crafton is very familiar with the high adrenaline that the Playoffs bring.

“It’s always good to have won championships and races before,” Crafton said. “It’s definitely a different pressure when you’re racing for a championship. There’s a lot on your shoulders and a lot on your mind each and every week that we could essentially mess it up and knock ourselves out of the deal. It’s only three races so you have to be very good and very precise with every move you make.”

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Shane van Gisbergen to attempt first NASCAR oval debut in Indianapolis – Three-time Australian V8 Supercar champion and winner of the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race, Shane van Gisbergen plans to pilot the No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday.

The 200-lap truck race would be the Auckland, New Zealander’s first NASCAR oval experience and will kick off his busy double-duty weekend. After the TSport 200, van Gisbergen will make his return to the Cup Series down the road at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. In July, the 34-year-old became one of six foreign born drivers to win a NASCAR Cup Series race and the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start.

“The weekend will certainly be a challenge,” said van Gisbergen. “I’ve seen the Trucks race on television and know it’s very competitive and that I’ll have a lot to learn on a short track at IRP. I’m used to doing doubleheaders in Supercars, but this will be a little bit different. I’m honored to join Niece Motorsports and thrilled at getting a chance to climb in a truck.