After a wild weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series teams are headed to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Fr8 208 to kick off a doubleheader Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Fr8 208
The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, February 24
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
The Purse: $705,481
TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 207.9 miles (135 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 135)
There have been 22 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, producing 16 different winners and 12 different pole winners. Only five races have been won from the pole or first starting position – most recently by seven-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner Christopher Bell in 2017.
Here’s a look at who currently holds records at the 1.54-mile track:
Race record: Ron Hornaday Jr 142.424mph (03/18/2005)
Qualifying record: Rick Crawford 182.735mph (03/18/2005)
Most races: Matt Crafton – 22
Most poles: Ron Hornaday Jr. / Mike Skinner – 3
Most wins: Kyle Busch – 6
Most top fives: Kyle Busch – 9
Most top 10s: Matt Crafton – 12
Laps led: Kyle Busch – 618
Saturday’s Fr8 208 will be broken up into three stages. The first two stages will be 30 laps each and the final stage will be 75 laps for a race total of 135 laps (207.9 miles). Qualifying will begin Friday, February 23 at 3:05 p.m. ET on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s super six
Six previous winners who have each made a name for themselves in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series are entered in this weekend’ Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch: The winningest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will be making a run at Atlanta this weekend. In Busch’s 13 starts at the 1.54-mile track, he’s posted six wins (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2021), two poles, nine top fives, and 10 top 10s. He also currently holds the series-most led laps (618). If the driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet wins the pole this weekend, he could tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner for most poles at the track (three each).
Matt Crafton: The veteran driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford has the most starts at Atlanta with 22. In those 22 starts he has posted one win (2015), one pole, six top fives, 12 top 10s, and has led 217 laps led.
Ty Dillon: The 2012 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Rookie of the Year has returned to the series behind the wheel of the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet. In just two starts at the 1.54-mile track, he’s posted one win (2012), one pole, two top fives, two top 10s, and has led 40 laps led.
Christian Eckes: The driver of the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet is the most recent winner at the track. In just three starts, he’s posted one win (2023), one pole, two top fives, two top 10s, and has led 56 laps. If Eckes goes back-to-back, he will become the second driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series history to post consecutive wins at Atlanta after Kyle Busch (2007-2008).
Grant Enfinger: The veteran driver is heading to Atlanta with a new team. The driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet has made eight starts at Atlanta and posted one win (2020), three top fives, and five top 10s. In addition, he’s led 29 laps.
Corey Heim: After a breakout year in 2023, Corey Heim is back for more. The driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota has made two starts at Atlanta posting one win (2022), one top five, one top 10, and has led 22 laps.
Nick Sanchez earns first win at Daytona, now sets sights on back-to-back victories
Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez made a name for himself after several dominating performances during his rookie season last year with five poles, two top fives, 12 top 10s, and 309 laps led. And the 2023 Sunoco Rookie of the Year made sure to ride that momentum into the 2024 season pulling off his first career win at Daytona International Speedway last weekend. Now, the 22-year-old has the chance to become the fourth different driver to win the first two rases of a season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series; joining NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin (2006), Johnny Sauter (2013) and Ben Rhodes (2021).
Now as the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series gears up for this weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway,
Sanchez can be sure that his name is on everyone’s minds as a possible winner. Although he’s only made one start at the 1.54-mile track, he posted a second-place finish last season after starting 20th in his series track debut.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
Kyle Busch to run select races for Spire Motorsports – Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will pilot the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet in five NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, beginning this Saturday, February 24 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Prior to the 2024 season, Spire Motorsports purchased the assets of Kyle Busch Motorsports, including its race shop and chassis business Rowdy Manufacturing. In addition to this weekend, Busch will make runs at Las Vegas (March 1), Bristol (March 16), Texas (April 12), and Darlington (May 10).
“Even before I was an owner, I always enjoyed racing in the Truck Series, so I’m thankful to Jeff (Dickerson), T.J. (Puchyr) and everyone at Spire Motorsports for the opportunity to compete in the five races that I’m allowed to do each season,” said Busch.
“Kyle Busch is a generational talent and I’ve been fortunate enough to witness so many of his accomplishments first-hand. It means a lot to everyone at Spire Motorsports, including everyone who stayed after the sale, to have Kyle in our truck this season. And, it means a great deal to me personally, for us to make this happen,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson.
Darlington Raceway and South Carolina Department of Safety continue to spread awareness with NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Entitlement – Darlington Raceway announced today that the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) will be partnering with the track Too Tough to Tame once again for the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race on Friday, May 10. In addition, the SCDPS will further promote safe and sober driving on Palmetto State roads through a run of public service announcements by NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our relationship with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and keep promoting the significance of highway safety,” said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. “The SCDPS rightfully places safety on our roads as a key priority, and we’re honored to help spread that message with the Buckle Up South Carolina 200.”
This is the third year of the SCDPS’ partnership with Darlington Raceway and the second year it has come on board as an entitlement partner for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at the track Too Tough to Tame.