For the second time in 28 years, the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is returning to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for the Wright Brand 250 this Saturday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio.
Deep in the heart of North Carolina moonshine country, the 0.625-mile track has hosted three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, producing three different winners and three different pole winners. None of the races have been won from the pole or first starting position.
Here’s a look at the drivers who have stamped their names in the North Wilkesboro Speedway record books for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series:
- Race record: Mike Bliss 96.126 mph (09/30/1995)
- Qualifying record: Johnny Benson 116.64 mph (09/28/1996)
- Most races: Mike Bliss, Tobey Butler, Rick Carelli, Rodney Combs, Michael Dokken, Walker Evans, Jimmy Hensley, Ron Hornaday Jr., Bob Keselowski, Butch Miller, John Nemechek, Joe Ruttman, Bill Sedgwick, Mike Skinner, Jack Sprague, Kenny Wallace, and Darrell Waltrip (2)
- Most poles: Johnny Benson, Mike Skinner, and Corey Heim (1)
- Most wins: Mike Bliss, Mark Martin, and Kyle Larson (1)
- Most top fives: Butch Miller and Jack Sprague (2)
- Most top 10s: Butch Miller, Joe Ruttman, Mike Skinner, Jack Sprague, and Kenny Wallace (2)
- Laps led: Kyle Larson (138)
The Wright Brand 250 will be broken up into three stages. The first two stages will be 70 laps each and the final stage will be 80 laps for a race total of 250 laps (156.25 miles).
Practice will begin Friday, May 17 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying on Saturday, May 18 at 10:35 a.m. ET.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Wright Brand 250
The Place: North Wilkesboro Speedway
Track Length: 0.625 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, May 18
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $730,651
TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 156.25 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 140), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
Surplus of talent to keep an eye on at North Wilkesboro
No previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winners are entered in this weekend’s Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but there is a plethora of talent hoping to get their shot at visiting this famous Victory Lane for the first time.
Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen: The CARS Tour late model stock car standout will be joining forces with TRICON Garage in his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut to pilot the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota.
The Chesapeake, Virginia driver had a breakout campaign in 2023 earning four victories, 13 top fives and 15 top 10s in CARS Tour competition enroute to a second-place finish in the series points standings.
Although this weekend will be his first time in a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event, Queen has a lot of experience at the 0.625-mile track. He won the CARS Tour late model stock car race at North Wilkesboro last year.
Sammy Smith: – The NASCAR Xfinity Series regular will make his second CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of the 2024 season behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. The Johnston, Iowa native is another very experienced short-track racer with knowledge of the historic 0.625-mile track. The 19-year-old won a Super Late Models event at North Wilkesboro in 2022.
Aric Almirola: For the first time since 2012, the Tampa, Florida native will attempt to make his comeback into the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Almirola has been tapped to drive the flagship No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota.
The 40-year old participated in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open race last year, posting a third-place finish – missing the final transfer spot into the All-Star Race by one position.
Qualifying for the Wright Brand 250 will be extremely important for Almirola as he will have to race his way into the field.
Ross Chastain: The most recent NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner is back again for another weekend of double duty competition. The Alva, Florida native will be back behind the wheel of the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.
Last year, the 32-year old finished ninth in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro.
Dawson Sutton: The 2023 Pro Late Model Rookie of the Year is set to pilot the No. 26 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet, attempting his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut.
The 18-year-old stepped into a race car for the first time in 2022 during the U.S. Legends Cars Series to compete nationally on asphalt and dirt under the direction of Joe Ryan and Ron Hornaday Jr.’s driver development program.
Ty Majeski: After heartbreak last week, the driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford is all-in headed to North Wilkesboro. Another extremely experienced short track racer, the Seymour, Wisconsin native finished second at the historic 0.625-mile track last season.
Christian Eckes: The series’ current points leader, who pilots the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet, is one of only two drivers who have consistently ran in the top-10 each week – the only exception being at Atlanta (32nd) due to brake failure. Although the 23-year old finished 25th at North Wilkesboro last year, he has become the 2024 ‘Short Track King’ after winning both Bristol and Martinsville this season.
Six spots in the Playoffs still up for grabs
Through nine races this season, four drivers have earned their spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs by virtue of their wins – Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez and Rajah Caruth – leaving six spots still up for grabs heading into North Wilkesboro.
Following Darlington, Grant Enfinger is ranked 11th in the Playoff outlook, five points back from two-time series champion Ben Rhodes in the 10th and final postseason transfer spot on points. Just behind Enfinger is Daniel Dye, 20 points back from the postseason cutoff.
| NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Darlington Raceway (Race No. 9) | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Christian Eckes | 387 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 13 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Corey Heim | 373 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 14 | |
| 3 | Nick Sanchez | 330 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 4 | Rajah Caruth | 276 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5 | Ty Majeski | 326 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 106 |
| 6 | Taylor Gray | 297 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| 7 | Tyler Ankrum | 275 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 55 |
| 8 | Matt Crafton | 233 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 9 | Tanner Gray | 228 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Ben Rhodes | 225 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 11 | Grant Enfinger | 220 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 |
| 12 | Daniel Dye | 205 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -20 |
| 13 | Stewart Friesen | 187 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -38 |
| 14 | Bayley Currey | 184 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -41 |
| 15 | Chase Purdy | 183 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -42 |
| 16 | Jake Garcia | 181 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -44 |
| 17 | Bret Holmes | 174 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -51 |
| 18 | Dean Thompson | 163 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -62 |
| 19 | Ty Dillon | 160 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -65 |
| 20 | Timmy Hill | 158 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -67 |
| 21 | Layne Riggs # | 151 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -74 |
| 22 | Mason Massey | 137 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -88 |
| 25 | Lawless Alan | 126 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -99 |
| 26 | Spencer Boyd | 115 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -110 |
| 28 | Matt Mills | 111 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -114 |
| 30 | Thad Moffitt # | 87 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -138 |
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year breakdown – Layne Riggs continues his heavy lead in Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings following nine races in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
The driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford now sits 64 points over Thad Moffitt and 70 points over Connor Jones.
Moffitt, driver of the No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet, was the highest finish rookie at Darlington (18th).
| Rookies | Points | Awards |
| Layne Riggs | 151 | 5 |
| Thad Moffitt | 87 | 2 |
| Connor Jones | 81 | 2 |