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CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs Head to South Florida For Penultimate Race

After two weeks to regroup and go over strategy, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competitors are headed to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health Cancer Care 200, the Playoffs’ Round of 8 finale (Saturday, October 21 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio) to decide who will make the Championship 4 Round and race for the title in Phoenix.

Homestead-Miami Speedway was built as a key part of plans to help the city of Homestead rebound after devastation caused by Hurricane Andrew. Groundbreaking began August 24, 1993, exactly one year after the hurricane. The track soon opened in November of 1995. This 650-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and features both a 1.5-mile oval and a 2.21-mile road course.

The 1.5-mile oval has hosted 26 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event on March 17, 1996 – a race won by Dave Rezendes piloting the No. 7 Geoffrey Bodine Motorsports Ford. Notably, there have been 23 different race winners. Kyle Busch leads the series with three wins at the track, while Playoff driver Ty Majeski is the most recent winner (2022).

The 2023 season marks the second time the speedway has hosted the Round of 8 finale in the Playoffs (2022 and 2023). The track was home to the championship race in the Playoffs from 2016-2019 before landing a spot on the regular season schedule for 2020-2021 season.

Only one race during the Round of 8 finale has been won by a non-Playoff driver – Daniel Suárez at Phoenix in 2016.

NCTS Round of 8 Finale Race Winners (2016-2022)
DateTrackRace WinnerSeasonRace No.
Friday, November 11, 2016PhoenixDaniel Suarez (Non-Playoff Driver)201622
Friday, November 10, 2017PhoenixJohnny Sauter201722
Friday, November 9, 2018PhoenixBrett Moffitt201822
Friday, November 8, 2019PhoenixStewart Friesen201922
Friday, October 30, 2020MartinsvilleGrant Enfinger202022
Saturday, October 30, 2021MartinsvilleZane Smith202121
Saturday, October 22, 2022Homestead-MiamiTy Majeski202222

 Three previous Round of 8 finale winners who are current Championship 4 Playoff hopefuls – Grant Enfinger, Zane Smith, and Ty Majeski – all will head to South Florida with one goal in mind: “Win and we’re in.”

Practice and qualifying for the Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 will begin on Friday, October 20 at 4:05 p.m. ET.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: Baptist Health Cancer Care 200

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

The Date: Saturday, October 21

The Time: 12 p.m. ET

The Purse: $689,963

TV: FS1, 11 a.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook
Following Talladega Superspeedway – Sept. 30, 2023
RankDriverStartsPointsRace WinsPlayoff Pts+ /- Cutoff
1Corey Heim (P)203,121335In On Win
2Carson Hocevar (P)213,11132223
3Christian Eckes (P)213,0973269
4Nick Sanchez # (P)213,091073
5Grant Enfinger (P)213,088324-3
6Ben Rhodes (P)213,086113-5
7Ty Majeski (P)213,072116-19
8Zane Smith (P)213,055222-36

 Playoff Clinch Scenarios: Miami offers last chance to make the Championship 4

With a win at Talladega by non-Playoff driver Brett Moffitt, only one driver has secured their spot in the Championship 4 Round at Phoenix Raceway – Corey Heim, who earned his spot with his win at Bristol. The remaining seven drivers will have to give it their all if they want a chance to move on to the Championship 4 Round. Here is a look at the clinch scenarios for the 8-driver field:

Already Clinched

The following driver has clinched a spot in the 4-driver field of the next round: Corey Heim.

Can Clinch Via Points

If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 4th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes or Nicholas Sanchez.

  • Carson Hocevar: Would clinch with 33 points
  • Christian Eckes: Would clinch with 46 points (47 points if Sanchez wins)
  • Nicholas Sanchez: Would clinch with 53 points
  • Grant Enfinger: Would clinch with 55 points (would need help if Sanchez wins)
  • Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with help
  • Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
  • Zane Smith: Could only clinch with help

If there is a new winner from Grant Enfinger or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 3rd winless driver in the standings.

  • Carson Hocevar: Would clinch with 36 points
  • Christian Eckes: Would clinch with 49 points
  • Nicholas Sanchez: Could only clinch with help
  • Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
  • Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with help
  • Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
  • Zane Smith: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Carson Hocevar, Christian Eckes, Nicholas Sanchez, Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, Zane Smith

Playoff Bubble Shuffle: Enfinger, Rhodes, Majeski, and Smith outside Championship 4 cutline

Following the Round of 8 opener at Bristol Motor Speedway, Corey Heim was the first to punch his ticket to the Championship 4 Round at Phoenix Raceway. With just one race left in the Round of 8, the competitors are starting to feel the heat, especially with the cutline sitting tight heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway. As the Round of 8 finale looms closer, the drivers sitting below the cutline are Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski and Zane Smith.

Driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet, Zane Smith, has gone on to the title round the last three years. Last season, the reigning CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion advanced to the Championship 4 Round by scoring two runner-up finishes in the Round of 8, in addition to a 17th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway. Smith has experienced both highs and lows this postseason – finishing fifth at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 12th at the Milwaukee Mile, fifth at Kansas Speedway, and 24th at Bristol Motor Speedway. Talladega unfortunately did not pan out well for Smith, spending nearly half of Saturday’s race sitting idle in the garage for a slipping clutch while the field whisked by. Although the 24-year-old could conceivably advance based on points, realistically Smith is likely facing a must-win situation. He sits -36 points back from the final transfer spot currently being held by rookie Nick Sanchez.

Ty Majeski completely dominated the Round of 8 last season, winning both Bristol and Homestead – besting Zane Smith both times. The Seymour, Wisconsin native is currently -19 points back from the final transfer spot. Although the deficit is significant, Majeski and the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford team will need to maximize the next 3 stages if they want to compete for the title again. The 29-year-old burst into the Playoffs with momentum after leading 168 laps at Richmond in the regular season finale before finishing second. Majeski completely dominated the field at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, taking the checkered flag after leading 179 of 200 laps. But following Indianapolis, the No. 98 team has lost some steam – finishing seventh in Milwaukee, 18th at Kansas, 19th at Bristol, and now 21st at Talladega.

Driver of the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Grant Enfinger is three points back from the final transfer position. This is his first time below the cutline since the Playoffs began. The Fairhope, Alabama native has done decently well this postseason – finishing 12th at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, first at the Milwaukee Mile, 17th at Kansas Speedway, third at Bristol Motor Speedway, and now 13th at Talladega. Although the 38-year-old has never secured a victory at Homestead, he has secured the pole position and a second-place finish before.

Ben Rhodes scraped his way into the Round of 8 by five points. The 2021 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion will head to Homestead ranked sixth in the Playoff standings, five points from the fourth and final spot in the championship round. In sixth starts at Homestead, the Louisville, Kentucky native has an average finish of 14.2. Last year, the driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford managed a sixth-place finish at the 1.5-mile oval. Unfortunately for the 26-year-old, the Playoffs haven’t been off to the best start – finishing 16th at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 16th at Milwaukee, 25th at Kansas, seventh at Bristol, and second at Talladega. Like his competitors, he will need to maximize these next 3 stages if he wants a chance to compete for the title in Phoenix.

NCTS Playoffs Contender’s Career Performances at Homestead-Miami Speedway

RankDriverRacesPolesWinsTop FivesTop 10sDNFsAverage Finish 
 
1Corey Heim1001105.0 
2Carson Hocevar10000012.0 
3Christian Eckes3001306.0 
4Nick Sanchez0010000.0 
5Grant Enfinger61013011.8 
6Ben Rhodes60002014.2 
7Ty Majeski2011205.5 
8Zane Smith20011119.5 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Corey Heim set to return to TRICON Garage in 2024 – TRICON Garage announced this week that 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Champion Corey Heim will return to the organization for a second consecutive full-time campaign aboard the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.

The 21-year-old is currently amid a deep Playoff run, clinching his first career berth in the Championship 4 with a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 14. The Georgia native has had a landmark season with three victories, three poles, 11 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes, and a series-leading 507 laps led.

“I am super grateful to have the opportunity to return to TRICON in 2024,” said Heim. “We still have unfinished business this season, but I am excited to have my plans set for next year. We have continued to improve from top to bottom throughout this season, and I can’t wait to keep building this program with my No.11 team and the entire organization.”

Matt Mills will join Niece Motorsports full-time in 2024 – Last Thursday, Niece Motorsports revealed that Matt Mills will join the organization full time in 2024, taking over the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet from Carson Hocevar who is transition to a full-time NASCAR Cup Series with Spire Motorsports next season.

Since 2016, Mills has made 23 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts. He has also made 123 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and has made one Cup appearance. Fast forward to 2023, Mills has made two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts (Richmond and Milwaukee). The 26-year-old recorded a career-best finish of fifth at Richmond.

“I think a lot of people took notice of Matt this year at Richmond and Milwaukee,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “He’ll be a great addition to our organization as we look to continue the success the 42 team had this season. Matt has a lot of laps under his belt in both the Truck and Xfinity Series. It’s tough to get in these trucks just a few times a year and show speed like Matt did, so I think there will be a lot of growth next season as he’s able to race week after week.”

Marco Andretti returns to NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for final two races – Marco Andretti will be returning behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports for the final two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races of the 2023 season. Andretti made his first career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start for Spire Motorsports earlier this season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, starting seventh and finishing with a respectable 19th-place finish.

The third generation NTT IndyCar Series racer has made 251 IndyCar starts with two victories, six pole positions, and 20 podium finishes. He’s also started 18 consecutive Indianapolis 500s. Additionally, Andretti is the reigning Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) Series champion, beating Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte to the title.

“I had a lot of fun driving for Spire Motorsports at Mid-Ohio [Sports Car Course], the end result wasn’t reflective of the pace we had out of the gate, but I learned a lot about how these trucks handle and what to expect,” Andretti said. “I want to expand my limited stock car experience and get some laps in on the bigger ovals. Homestead and Phoenix are going to be very different from the ovals I raced with the SRX Series and, obviously, much different from Mid-Ohio, which is what I want.”

More of our CRAFTSMAN Truck Series news and information can be found here.