Just two more weekends off until the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action at Kansas Speedway for the Playoffs Round of 8 finale, the Kansas Lottery 200 on Sept. 9 (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR). But before the engines fire back up, let’s take a look at how the competition has fared this season.
Zane Smith
Zane Smith Set for Future Growth with Front Row Motorsports in 2023
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 25, 2022) – Zane Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Regular Season Champion, will return to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in 2023 to compete in a dynamic schedule that will include defending his regular season championship with the No. 38 team in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Off Weekend For Trucks, Chandler Smith Rockets Out Front With Playoff Win at Richmond Last Week
Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Chandler Smith took the Playoff win at Richmond Raceway last weekend in dominant fashion, leading 176 of the scheduled 250 laps, and with the victory catapulted himself into the second round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. (more…)
For The Camping World Truck Series, It’s Time For A Saturday Night Showdown At Richmond Raceway
As the Round of 10 moves forward in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, the 0.75-mile D-shaped oval of Richmond Raceway awaits the drivers for some Saturday night short track racing with the Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation on August 13th at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Camping World Trucks: GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger Jumps Out Front With Victory In Playoff Opener
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 11 years did not disappoint. Tasked with opening the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, the 0.686-mile flat paved track located just outside Indianapolis, Indiana produced some stellar side-by-side racing that went into overtime ultimately naming Grant Enfinger of GMS Racing the victor.
Camping World Truck Series Playoffs begin at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
After Chandler Smith’s victory at Pocono Raceway this past weekend, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs are set to get underway at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the TSport 200 on July 29th at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Pocono Raceway Is All Set For The Camping World Truck Series Regular Season Finale
Following a thrilling race on the multi-elevational Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course two weeks ago, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took last weekend off to prepare for the regular season finale this weekend at Pocono Raceway – the CRC Brakleen 150 on Saturday, July 23 at noon ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – and is ready to crown the Regular Season Champion and set the 10-driver Playoff field.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Notes – Darlington Raceway
The Triple Truck Challenge was introduced in 2019, as a three-race program that provides drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series an opportunity to win up to $500,000 in bonus money. (more…)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Notes – Kansas Speedway
After the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took last weekend off, the series jumps back into action this week at Kansas Speedway for the Wise Power 200 (Saturday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). (more…)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Notes – Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt
While the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing on dirt this weekend for the first time in more than 50 years, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to the surface in 2013 at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. (more…)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Notes – Atlanta Motor Speedway
Of the six different race winners at Atlanta since the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to the 1.5-mile circuit in 2015 after a two-year break, five are in the field for Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 200 (2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Grant Enfinger (2020), Kyle Busch (2019), Brett Moffitt (2018), John Hunter Nemechek (2016) and Matt Crafton (2015) are all looking to capture the checkered flag once again in Georgia. The only winner from that span not in the race is Christopher Bell (2017 winner).
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News & Notes – Off Weekend
In the off-season, John Hunter Nemechek surprised many in NASCAR when he announced he was returning to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series following his first full-time year of NASCAR Cup Series competition. His reason for pairing up with Kyle Busch Motorsports for the 2021 season was clear – he wanted to win.
Mission accomplished. (more…)
All “Rhodes” Lead to Second Consecutive Daytona Triumph (full finishing order)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2021) – Ben Rhodes wrapped up a perfect pair of race outings at Daytona International Speedway answering his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory on the oval last week with a dramatic win Friday night on the infield road coursing the BrakeBest Select 159 Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. (more…)
Ben Rhodes Takes Dramatic Overtime Victory in NextEra Energy 250 At DAYTONA
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2021) – With a gaggle of trucks wrecking behind him as the field approached the finish line, Ben Rhodes shot past Cory Roper in the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway to win Friday night’s NextEra Energy 250, the 2021 season-opener for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. (more…)
Drivers Edge Development Unveils Class of 2021
MOORESVILLE / STATESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2021) – Coming off another successful year, the Drivers Edge Development Program, presented by Chevrolet, GMS Racing and JR Motorsports, announced the program’s 2021 driver class. The class includes five returning drivers – Zane Smith, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum, Noah Gragson and Sam Mayer, as well as newcomers Chase Purdy, Raphael Lessard, Jack Wood and Will Cox. (more…)
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Releases 2021 Schedule
Nashville, TN (Friday, January 15, 2021) – April 2021 marks the start of the 64th Season of Asphalt Racing at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (NFS). America’s Favorite Short Track is set to host over a dozen nights of racing from April through the end of October. (more…)
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series News & Notes – Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
Next Race: Vet Tix/Camping World 200
The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, June 6
The Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200.02 miles (130 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
2019 Winner: Kyle Busch
Bounty acquired
The bounty hunter, Chase Elliott, set out to capture the win on Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway and on the first try, he was successful.
In the closing laps of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, Elliott held off a hard-charging Kyle Busch to earn the victory and a $100,000 bounty, to be paid to a COVID-19 relief charity of his choice, offered to any full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver who could beat Busch in a Gander Trucks race.
Elliott, who hadn’t been behind the wheel of a truck since 2017, made it happen despite the fact that Busch had won each of his last seven races started in the Gander Trucks.
The idea of the bounty all started when Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and chairman and CEO of Gander RV & Outdoors, Marcus Lemonis, each put up $50,000 following the Las Vegas event for any Cup driver who could beat Busch in a Gander Trucks race. The money is being donated to coronavirus relief in Elliott’s name.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Zane Smith finished third in his first national series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brett Moffitt finished fourth and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top five. John Hunter Nemechek, who was also going after the bounty, finished sixth, Johnny Sauter finished seventh followed by Ty Majeski, Austin Hill and Ben Rhodes.
Tuesday’s race marked the return for the Gander Trucks, which had been off since Feb. 21 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
They enter another off weekend while the Xfinity Series and Cup Series head to Bristol Motor Speedway, but return on June 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Starting lineup, pit stall selection process updates
NASCAR recently announced how the lineup will be set for the two Gander Trucks races through mid-June (Atlanta, June 6; Miami, June 13).
• Positions 1-10: Random draw of teams in those positions in owner points
• Positions 11-21: Random draw of teams in those positions in owner points
• Positions 22-32: Random draw of teams in those positions in owner points
• Any vehicles that are eligible for the Event in position 33rd – 40th will be assigned starting positions based on their order of eligibility.
Like the other two series, pit stall selections will be ordered based on finishing positions from the series’ previous race, followed by new entries in order of points.
Here is a look at the Gander Trucks points standings:
DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | WINS |
Austin Hill | 120 | 0 | 0 |
Johnny Sauter | 103 | -17 | 0 |
Zane Smith | 103 | -17 | 0 |
Ben Rhodes | 99 | -21 | 0 |
Brett Moffitt | 98 | -22 | 1 |
Sheldon Creed | 90 | -30 | 0 |
Grand Enfinger | 81 | -39 | 1 |
Christian Eckes | 78 | -42 | 0 |
Tyler Ankrum | 76 | -44 | 0 |
Codie Rohrbaugh | 12 | -48 | 0 |
Christian Eckes – No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra Gander Trucks Charlotte Preview
- Nineteen-year-old Christian Eckes will make his first NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in Tuesday night’s N.C. Education Lottery 200. While he has no prior Gander Trucks experience at Charlotte, Eckes started fifth and finished seventh in last year’s ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.5-mile quad-oval.
- Eckes has proven to be fast in the first two events of the 2020 season, but accidents in the final stage at both Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway have relegated him to an average finish of 22.5. While the first two events haven’t ended the way Eckes would like, the talented teenager has posted an average finish of 5.0 across the opening two stages of the first two events, including runner-up finishes to KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch in the first two stages at Las Vegas.
- As part of being able to collect stage points in three of the six stages of the opening two events, Eckes currently sits eighth in the Gander Trucks driver point standings despite not having strong finishes. He currently sits second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, two points behind Zane Smith.
- Across 14 career Gander Trucks starts, the New York native has produced three poles, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.1. Eckes earned a career-best third-place finish twice last season, at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in Sept. and again at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in Nov., where he clinched KBM’s record-extending seventh owner’s championship.
- The talented teenager captured the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship after recording four wins, two poles, 400 laps led, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, resulting in an average finish of 4.8 across 19 starts. Across 46 career ARCA Menards Series starts overall, Eckes has collected seven wins, four poles, 1094 laps led, 23 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 6.9.
- Eckes is paired with champion crew chief Ryan “Rudy” Fugle. Fugle has guided his team to five owner’s championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019) as a crew chief at KBM, including combined owner’s/driver’s championships with Erik Jones in 2015 and Christopher Bell in 2017. The New York native’s drivers have combined for 28 wins, 24 poles, 71 top-five and 107 top-10 finishes across his 138 races calling the shots for the organization.
- Fugle’s drivers have two wins, one pole, four top-five and six top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 5.4 at Charlotte. Owner-driver Kyle Busch led a race-high 102 laps en route to victory in last year’s event and was also victorious with Fugle calling the shots in 2013. The 2013 victory was Fugle’s first of 28 career victories as a Gander Trucks crew chief.
- Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, will adorn the hood of Eckes’ No. 18 Tundra for all 23 events on NASCAR Gander RV& Outdoors schedule in 2020.
- Across 14 career Truck Series starts has produced three poles, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.1. Earned a career-best third-place finish twice last season, at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in Sept. and again at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in Nov., where he clinched KBM’s record-extending seventh owner’s championship.
- Captured the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship after recording four wins, two poles, 400 laps led, 13 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, resulting in an average finish of 4.8 across 19 starts. Has seven career ARCA Racing Series victories across 46 starts to go along with four poles, 1094 laps led, 23 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes.
- Eckes put his name on the motorsports map when he won the prestigious Snowball Derby Super Late Model race in 2016 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The then 15-year-old battled side-by-side with John Hunter Nemechek for the final two laps before narrowly edging him to the finish line.
Starts | Wins | Average Start | Average Finish | Laps Led |
5 | 1 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 152 |
- Across 27 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, KBM drivers have earned six wins, three poles, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 8.6 and an average finish of 8.8.
- Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected all six of his organization’s wins (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018).
- KBM holds the NGROTS records for most career wins (76) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers; Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
- The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 21 career victories.
Date | Site | Driver | Start | Finish | Laps | Laps Led | Status | Driver Pts. /Pos. |
14-Feb | Daytona | Eckes | 3 | 22 | 106/107 | 0 | Running | 23/16th |
21-Feb | Las Vegas | Eckes | 4 | 23 | 130/134 | 10 | Running | 55/8th |
25-May | Charlotte | Eckes | ||||||
6-June | Atlanta | Eckes | ||||||
13-June | Homestead | Eckes |
Christian Eckes – No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra Gander Trucks Atlanta Preview
Nineteen-year-old Christian Eckes will make his first career start in any series at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., driving the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in Saturday’s Vet Tix Camping World 200.
NASCAR NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series News & Notes – Atlanta Motor Speedway
Next Race: Georgia 200
The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, March 14
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200.02 miles (130 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 130)
2019 Winner: Kyle Busch (more…)