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Timothy Peters captured the checkered flag in the Camping World Truck Series' Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday. It's his second consecutive victory in the event, which featured 15 lead changes and nine different leaders.
Erik Jones remains atop the Truck Series standings following his fourth-place finish. For an extended stretch in the middle of the race, it appeared as though Matt Crafton, who was just four points behind the lead, was set for a fruitful afternoon. Instead, he caught some bad breaks, allowing Jones to cushion his edge.
Here's a look at the top finishers from the 19th race of the season, per NASCAR.com:
| Finish | Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 2 | 33 | Brandon Jones |
| 3 | 15 | Mason Mingus |
| 4 | 4 | Erik Jones |
| 5 | 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 6 | 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 7 | 98 | Johnny Sauter |
| 8 | 45 | Chris Fontaine |
| 9 | 16 | Chad Boat |
| 10 | 2 | Tyler Young |
Now let's check out how the updated standings shape up with four events to go:
| Rank | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Jones | 742 |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | -18 |
| 3 | Matt Crafton | -23 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | -55 |
| 5 | Timothy Peters | -100 |
| 6 | Cameron Hayley | -120 |
| 7 | Daniel Hemric | -130 |
| 8 | John Wes Townley | -148 |
| 9 | Ben Kennedy | -177 |
| 10 | Spencer Gallagher | -183 |
Talladega represented perhaps the toughest test left on the schedule for the championship contenders. It's a track known for massive wrecks that can cause a lot of frustration. Avoiding the Big One was certainly atop the to-do list throughout the afternoon, which led to some cautious early on.
Crafton, the reigning series champion, admitted beforehand that there are times where drivers are simply at the mercy of their surroundings, per Pete Pistone of the Motor Racing Network.
"You're stuck, three-wide, even four-wide, and you can't do anything about it," he said. "Your fate is in everyone else's hands and that's a helpless feeling for a driver. It puts on a good show though."
Most of the action during the opening portion of the race came at the front of the field. There were five different leaders within the first 20 laps, a group that included Crafton.
Just as the No. 88 started to establish a firm grip on the lead, an accident involving Terry Jones brought the field back together. Shortly after the caution, an interesting scenario developed as the defending champion and Jones, the points leader, worked with each other to control the top two spots.
Kelly Crandall of Popular Speed discussed the tricky situation:
Furthermore, they needed to battle with some passiveness because they didn't want to wreck each other and open the door for fellow title hopefuls like Tyler Reddick and Johnny Sauter to take advantage. It's an example of the various facets of strategy at this stage of a season.
Then, with about 30 laps to go, a bit of misfortune caused Crafton to hand the lead over to Jones. He got some debris on his grille, which caused it to overheat and start losing water, and it left him no choice but to drop back in order to rectify the situation.
Jay W. Pennell of Fox Sports pointed out the major change of events:
Brian Keselowski surged toward the front and took control of the lead in his first career Truck Series start following the first of a few late cautions that caused some white-knuckle driving throughout the crowded pack.
He couldn't hold that position, however, as Brandon Jones grabbed first place just before a wreck that collected multiple cars in the middle of the pack. One of them was Crafton, who went from a potential winner to a disappointing finish.
NASCAR Trucks showcased the chaos behind the leaders with three to go:
The red flag waved to clean up the track ahead of a single attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.
It didn't take long after the green flag flew again for the race to end under caution. Peters used a nice draft to take over the lead, and the yellow came out after less than a lap due to another crash in the middle of the pack.
NASCAR Trucks highlighted the final moments of the race:
Ultimately, Jones did a nice job of keeping himself out of danger throughout the race. It's going to take a similar effort over the next four events in order to maintain his place atop the standings, especially as his main competition starts taking more chances with hopes of making up ground.
Peters has been competitive all season, so he deserved to finally make a trip into Victory Lane. Though it wasn't a typical victory from a pole-sitter, he navigated the field well all day and will look to build off the performance to finish the 2015 campaign on a high note.
The Truck Series returns to action next Saturday for the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway.
NASCAR.com provided comments from the main championship contenders after the race:
Sprint Cup star and team owner Brad Keselowski applauded the effort of his drivers:
All told, it's been an exciting, competitive season in the Truck Series and that trend continued Saturday. Now that Jones has opened up a little gap between himself and everybody else, the pressure is on Reddick and Crafton to finish strong if they want to add some drama to the remaining races.
On Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Austin Dillon won the NASCAR Camping World Truck series UNOH 175 in dominating fashion. The 25-year-old, who is also a stock car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, led for 78 of the 175 laps in the race.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway congratulated Dillon on his win:
Dillon's win came as no surprise, as he led both weekend practice sessions and won the Keystone Light Pole Award before Saturday's race. This was an especially impressive performance considering he's just two months removed from a scary crash at Daytona back in July at the Coke Zero 400.
Dillon missed out on a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup this year, finishing 21st in the Sprint Cup regular-season standings, but he may now have more time and energy to devote to the Truck Series. He certainly performed well Saturday—and he's no stranger to the trucks.
Dillon won the 2011 Camping World Truck Series title, and Saturday's win was his seventh career victory in the series. Two-time champion Matt Crafton had to settle for second place, though he never led a lap. Here's a look at the top-five finishers in the race:
| Pos/ | Car No. | Driver | Starting Pos. | Laps Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Austin Dillon | 1 | 80 |
| 2 | 88 | Matt Crafton | 10 | 0 |
| 3 | 98 | Johnny Sauter | 23 | 0 |
| 4 | 17 | Timothy Peters | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | 12 | 0 |
| 6 | 14 | Daniel Hemric | 11 | 14 |
| 7 | 4 | Erik Jones | 4 | 5 |
| 8 | 29 | Austin Theriault | 9 | 9 |
| 9 | 5 | Dalton Sargeant | 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 54 | Gray Gaulding | 8 | 0 |
Despite his seventh-place finish, Erik Jones maintained his points lead over Crafton—but not by much. Crafton's second-place finish shaved three points off the 19-year-old's lead with just six races remaining in the season. Jones is reeling a bit, as he has just one top-five finish since he finished fourth at the 1-800-CarCash Mud Summer Classic on July 22 at Eldora Speedway. It was a win on August 30 in the Chevrolet Silverado 250.
Jones led briefly early in the race, and per NASCAR Trucks' Twitter account, he sounded confident:
Unfortunately, his lead wouldn't last long. He ran first for just five laps before Dillon took control.
During Jones' up-and-down stretch, no other Truck Series driver has been able to mount enough consistency to overtake him. Crafton has the most wins in the series with four and the most top-fives with 10, but he's also fallen way off the pace in other events.
Things are getting interesting as the race for the lead in the standings heats up. Chase contender and Jones' team owner Kyle Busch appeared to slow down to allow his driver to take the lead and earn what could be a valuable bonus point in the standings.
Per Motorsport.com editor Nick DeGroot, Crafton didn't seem to take too kindly to those tactics:
Because of how close they are in the standings, it could be a wild finish the rest of the way. Here's a look at the updated standings after Saturday's race:
| Pos | Driver | Car No. | Points | Behind | Wins | Top 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Jones | 4 | 666 | Leader | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Matt Crafton | 88 | 659 | -7 | 4 | 10 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 19 | 647 | -19 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 98 | 617 | -49 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | Daniel Hemric | 14 | 558 | -108 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Timothy Peters | 17 | 552 | -114 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Cameron Hayley | 13 | 549 | -117 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | John Wes Townley | 5 | 518 | -148 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Spencer Gallagher | 23 | 504 | -162 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Ben Kennedy | 11 | 504 | -162 | 0 | 2 |
Next up is the Rhino Linings 350 on Saturday, October 3, from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jones won this race last year, as he edged out Darrell Wallace Jr. and Crafton. If there was ever a time when he needed a repeat performance on a track, it's now.
Can Jones get himself some breathing room? See you Saturday to find out.
Kyle Busch earned the victory in Saturday's Careers for Veterans 200 at Michigan International Speedway as part of the Camping World Truck Series. Ryan Blaney finished second after holding the lead several times during the wild final laps.
There's no doubt the intensity is beginning to rise as the season heads into its final stretch, with plenty of championship contenders in the mix. That simply added to the drama as the drivers raced around MIS, where extremely high speeds, even by NASCAR standards, are always the name of the game.
So let's check out the top finishers from the 13th event of the 2015 campaign. For a complete list of race results, visit NASCAR's official site.
| Finish | Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 | Kyle Busch |
| 2 | 29 | Ryan Blaney |
| 3 | 4 | Erik Jones |
| 4 | 98 | Johnny Sauter |
| 5 | 33 | Austin Dillon |
| 6 | 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 7 | 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 8 | 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 9 | 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 10 | 13 | Cameron Hayley |
And here's how the top of the standings shapes up following Saturday's action, also via NASCAR.com:
| Rank | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Reddick | 514 |
| 2 | Matt Crafton | -8 |
| 3 | Erik Jones | -9 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | -53 |
| 5 | Cameron Hayley | -89 |
| 6 | Daniel Hemric | -94 |
| 7 | Timothy Peters | -98 |
| 8 | John Wes Townley | -100 |
| 9 | Spencer Gallagher | -120 |
| 10 | Ben Kennedy | -133 |
Tyler Reddick took over the Truck Series points lead after the race at Pocono two weeks ago thanks to his 10th top-10 finish in 12 starts. While it put a little extra pressure on him heading into Michigan, he didn't plan to change his approach, per Rachel Lenzi of the Toledo Blade.
"We go into each race trying to get a top-five finish, and if not, then win," Reddick said. "It's what we're going to do for the rest of the year, and it's what we've done all year. It's gotten us two wins this far. And we're going to just keep going the way we have been and going to try to win as many races as I can."
He started the race outside the top 10 and didn't gain much early traction amid a herky-jerky opening stretch, which featured a quick caution. He did end up tallying another strong finish, though.
Ray Black Jr. spun out on the first lap—he would later bring out a second caution for the same reason—leading to the yellow flag, as Fox Sports 1 highlighted:
Busch didn't let the sluggish start impact him. After beginning the race in the fifth row, he passed trucks with the greatest of ease. It took him just seven laps to assume the lead, though fellow Sprint Cup Series driver Austin Dillon remained close.
Perhaps Busch was driving with a little extra frustration to vent after a potentially crucial practice crash for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400, which ESPN Stats & Info noted:
Busch must finish inside the top 30 in order to qualify for the Chase.
The second caution of the afternoon led to the first scheduled pit stops. Busch got nabbed for entering pit road too fast, which allowed Erik Jones to take over the top spot. Reddick also benefited from great work on pit road, moving into the top five.
Jones' Twitter feed showcased the stop that helped him take over first place:
He didn't hold the lead for long, however, as Johnny Sauter, who captured the checkered flag in this race one year ago, surged to the front. The entire time the other cars were battling at the front, though, Busch was making his way back through the field after getting pushed to the back of the lead lap.
The No. 51 machine raced back into the top three by the time green-flag pit stops began with around 35 laps to go. By the time the field cycled through pit stops, Busch had emerged with a lead of more than three seconds.
While his crew does deserve credit for a clean stop, trouble with the front right tire cost Sauter around six seconds. The only silver lining came a couple of laps later when the caution flag flew for debris on the track, as Kelly Crandall of Popular Speed pointed out:
It began a stretch of four cautions in quick succession that led to some outstanding battles between Busch and Blaney for the lead.
The third attempt brought pure chaos, including a dual spinout that eventually led to another caution, but only because of debris. Fox Sports NASCAR showed the great driving on the initial save:
Busch finally established firm control after the final restart with a handful of laps to go and held on for the victory. It's his second straight Truck Series triumph and the 44th of his career.
Kyle Busch Motorsports spotlighted the finish:
Busch should benefit from being forced to work his way through a crowded field twice as he looks ahead to Sunday's Sprint Cup race. He's going to need a similar performance in order to secure another strong finish and help further solidify his top-30 standing.
As for the Truck Series, this week further confirmed that the rest of the season should be great theater. Each of the last two races came right down to the wire, and it's a trend likely to continue until a champion finally emerges from the crowded title chase.
It's a quick turnaround for the drivers, as they return to action Wednesday night for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch captured the checkered flag Saturday in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' Pocono Mountains 150 at Pocono Raceway. Kevin Harvick finished second in a race that included no shortage of late drama.
The race featured one of the most star-studded groups of the season for the Truck Series. Four Sprint Cup Series regulars—Busch, Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon—joined the field for a little extra work on the Tricky Triangle before the Sprint Cup race Sunday.
Let's check out the top 10 finishers from the 12th race of the 2015 campaign. For a complete list of results, visit NASCAR's official site.
| Finish | Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 | Kyle Busch |
| 2 | 00 | Kevin Harvick |
| 3 | 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 4 | 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 5 | 33 | Austin Dillon |
| 6 | 98 | Johnny Sauter |
| 7 | 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 8 | 54 | Matt Tifft |
| 9 | 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 10 | 4 | Erik Jones |
And here's a look at the updated standings as the season passes the halfway mark:
| Rank | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Reddick | 479 |
| 2 | Matt Crafton | -11 |
| 3 | Erik Jones | -16 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | -59 |
| 5 | Cameron Hayley | -88 |
| 6 | John Wes Townley | -92 |
| 7 | Daniel Hemric | -97 |
| 8 | Timothy Peters | -99 |
| 9 | Gallagher | -113 |
| 10 | Ben Kennedy | -117 |
Pole-sitter Erik Jones surged away from the field almost immediately, quickly building his lead to over a second. Perhaps that shouldn't have been a surprise given his affection for the Pennsylvania track, as Scott Walsh of the Republican Herald noted.
"It's always been a fun place for me," Jones said. "The ARCA cars were a blast, and the truck race last year we ran pretty well. It's a fun track, but a pretty unique challenge."
It didn't take long for one of the Sprint Cup stars to make his presence felt. Keselowski and Matt Crafton crashed after just five laps, as it got tight going three-wide around the turn and they couldn't make it work.
Fox Sports 1 highlighted the damage to both trucks as they headed for the garage:
Crafton had some harsh words for the 2012 Sprint Cup champion, as Zach Sturniolo of the Pocono Record pointed out:
Keselowski downplayed any criticism directed his way:
Busch took the lead from Jones after the race returned to green. The polarizing veteran, who's scored 42 wins in the Truck Series despite being a mostly part-time driver, pulled away from the field as the clean air served as a major advantage.
As a one-stop race, most drivers came down pit road right after the midway point of the 60 laps. Jones made up a little time, as the No. 51 team had a little trouble with the right-side tires, but it wasn't enough to change the leader once the field cycled through their stops.
Just as it looked like Busch might cruise to the finish line, the caution flag waved with 12 laps to go due to debris on the track. The leader still set a new personal record while under yellow, as NASCAR Trucks spotlighted:
A second caution in quick succession was followed by a wild restart that saw a four-wide battle into a corner, and that led to another crash. Jones got tapped by Dillon and spun around as Timothy Peters tried to slip past him on the bottom of the track.
The wreck could have easily collected most of the field if not for a terrific piece of damage control from Jones and Peters, which Fox Sports 1 highlighted:
Busch finally pulled away from the field on the third attempt at a green-white-checkered finish to secure the victory. He did extremely well to maintain the top spot, despite some serious runs at him during the several restarts late in the race, and conserved enough fuel to cross the finish line first.
His latest celebration—and there have been plenty in recent weeks—was passed along by the Motor Racing Network:
Looking ahead, the crash is going to put extra pressure on Crafton to have a bounce-back performance at Michigan International Speedway in two weeks. One bad result doesn't ruin his season, but it decreases his margin for error moving forward.
Busch should receive a boost of confidence for the Sprint Cup race thanks to the win. He's been on an absolute tear at the higher level, with three wins in the past four races. But he must still gain two more spots in the standings (30th) to qualify for the Chase after missing time due to injury.
He's clearly got a good feel for Pocono, giving him a solid chance to make more progress toward that goal Sunday afternoon.
The NASCAR Truck Series next takes to Iowa, where series leader Matt Crafton and others will look to bounce back from an odd performance by top contenders last week in St. Louis.
There, Cole Custer stormed to a victory on a tricky course, although little changed on the leaderboard—Crafton sees just Tyler Reddick, Johnny Sauter and Erik Jones in his rear-view mirror for now.
Jones won this event last year, a 175-mile trek drivers seem to enjoy for its brevity as well as its propensity for shuffling the leaderboard.
Before things get underway at Iowa Speedway, here's a look at the details to know for the American Ethanol 200.
American Ethanol 200 Weekend Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 19 | 11 a.m.-1:25 p.m | Final Practice | FOX Sports 2 |
| Friday, June 19 | 5:45 p.m. | Qualifying | FOX Sports 2 |
| Friday, June 19 | 8:30 p.m | The Drivin' For Linemen 200 | FOX Sports 1 |
Entry List
| Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|
| 00 | Cole Custer |
| 1 | Ryan Ellis |
| 02 | Tyler Young |
| 03 | Michael Affarano |
| 4 | Erik Jones |
| 05 | John Wes Townley |
| 6 | Norm Benning |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr |
| 08 | Korbin Forrister |
| 8 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb |
| 11 | Ben Kennedy |
| 12 | Ted Minor |
| 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 15 | Mason Mingus |
| 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher |
| 29 | Austin Theriault |
| 33 | Brandon Jones |
| 36 | Justin Jennings |
| 45 | B J McLeod |
| 50 | Travis Kvapil |
| 51 | Christopher Bell |
| 54 | Justin Boston |
| 63 | Jake Griffin |
| 74 | Jordan Anderson |
| 75 | Caleb Holman |
| 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 94 | Timmy Hill |
| 98 | Johnny Sauter |
Truck Series Standings
| RK | DRIVER | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Crafton | 329 |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 317 |
| 3 | Johnny Sauter | 299 |
| 4 | Erik Jones | 296 |
| 5 | John Wes Townley | 260 |
| 6 | Cameron Hayley | 254 |
| 7 | Spencer Gallagher | 251 |
| 8 | Daniel Hemric | 246 |
| 9 | Timothy Peters | 245 |
| 10 | Ben Kennedy | 238 |
Drivers to Watch
Matt Crafton
Were this a normal week, it would be easy to swap out the series leader for a more interesting storyline.
Crafton is the interesting storyline, though.
Last week, Crafton posted his first finish outside of the top 10 of the season, claiming 21st place and securing just enough points to keep his spot atop the leaderboard. Fox Sports 1 captures the crash that ruined Crafton's night:
It's redemption time for Crafton, who finished third in this event a year ago and needs a similar performance, if not better, to regain his comfort zone atop the series he so routinely runs.
Odds are Crafton puts on yet another elite performance, but keep an eye out just in case.
Johnny Sauter
The driver of the No. 98 Toyota was one of the rare contenders to make the most of an odd race last week, finishing third and helping himself in the leaderboard outlook.
Now Sauter will look to continue his climb at an event he finished 18th at one year ago. Sauter owns six top-10 finishes this year, and last week's third tied with his season best.
In a statement released by ThorSport Racing, Sauter says there are simple adjustments his team needs to make to improve (via CatchFence.com): "We had some trouble on pit road that cost us valuable track position, but we were able to fight back and get another top-five finish. With that being said, we are making gains each week, moving in the right direction, and that says a lot about this team.”
Now third in the standings, there might be a big jump in store for Sauter if his words ring true, his team improves and he trumps an event that gave him serious issues last season.
Erik Jones
Now would be the time for Jones to strike.
Like Crafton, Jones crashed out of last week's event, finishing 23rd. He still sits fourth in the standings, though, and can make a big leap with a strong performance, something he should be able to do after winning this event last year.
On the surface it looks like Jones sits in a dangerous position with his last two starts producing finishes of 15th place or worse. But keep in mind he led 84 laps last weekend before the crash, so it's hard to discredit his current form.
Jones features five top-10 finishes on his resume this year for good reason. Were it not for a stroke of bad luck, he might rest even higher in the standings considering Crafton suffered the same fate.
There's no better time for Crafton to make his move. He didn't just win this event last year—he led 131 laps in the process. Back in a comfort zone, Jones is the driver to watch.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
The rest of the NASCAR Truck Series continues to chase leader Matt Crafton as things next shift to Gateway Motorsports Park just outside of St. Louis for the Drivin' for Linemen 200.
After a brief hiatus, this particular race re-entered the series last year, when Darrell Wallace Jr. took home the top spot.
This year, a field of around 30 drivers looks to mimic his success on the tricky course. Crafton seems unstoppable, but this race presents a chance for the rest of the field to close the gap after some of the biggest contenders on the leaderboard suffered setbacks at last week's Winstar World Casino & Resort 400.
Here's a look at how and what to watch for at the event.
Drivin' for Linemen 200
Where: Gateway Motorsports Park
When: Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
Drivin' for Linemen 200 Weekend Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, June 13 | 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Final Practice | N/A |
| Saturday, June 13 | 5:45 p.m. | Qualifying | FOX Sports 2 |
| Saturday, June 13 | 8:30 p.m | The Drivin' For Linemen 200 | FOX Sports 1 |
Entry List
| Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|
| 00 | Cole Custer |
| 0 | Adam Edwards |
| 1 | Ryan Ellis |
| 02 | Tyler Young |
| 4 | Erik Jones |
| 05 | John Wes Townley |
| 6 | Norm Benning |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr |
| 08 | Korbin Forrister |
| 8 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb |
| 11 | Ben Kennedy |
| 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 15 | Mason Mingus |
| 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher |
| 29 | Austin Theriault |
| 33 | Brandon Jones |
| 36 | Justin Jennings |
| 45 | Tommy Regan |
| 50 | Travis Kvapil |
| 51 | Matt Tifft |
| 54 | Justin Boston |
| 63 | Tyler Tanner |
| 74 | Jordan Anderson |
| 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 94 | Timmy Hill |
| 98 | Johnny Sauter |
Truck Series Standings
| RK | DRIVER | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Crafton | 305 |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 280 |
| 3 | Erik Jones | 273 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 257 |
| 5 | John Wes Townley | 227 |
| 6 | Cameron Hayley | 215 |
| 7 | Daniel Hemric | 211 |
| 8 | Spencer Gallagher | 209 |
| 9 | Timothy Peters | 207 |
| 10 | Justin Boston | 205 |
Drivers to Watch
Erik Jones
One of the leaderboard contenders who suffered last week, Erik Jones has much to prove going into Saturday's event if he's to keep those behind him, well, behind him.
Thanks to a splash of alternator trouble and other bad luck, Jones finished 15th despite leading 68 laps. Now he seems intent on making a comeback story out of his bad luck, as Kyle Busch Motorsports captures:
Even with last week's hiccup, Jones remains near the top, which is what happens when a driver can pull off five top-10 finishes in seven starts, although it's interesting to note both placements outside of the top 10 came with his lone pair of pole wins this season.
Regardless, Jones remains in good form. Sprinkle in a dash of good fortune this time around, and he figures to at least secure another placement in the top 10.
Tyler Reddick
Last week wasn't too kind to Tyler Reddick, either.
Reddick now has contenders breathing right down his neck instead of his doing the same to Crafton thanks to an 11th-place finish last week. Unlike Jones, though, Reddick owns two victories, one at the NextEra Energy Resources 250 in February and at the Lucas Oil 200 at the end of May.
Bad luck also struck Reddick, as truck problems on pit road caused some issues and knocked him out of contention.
As for this weekend's event, Reddick himself hopes experience gained last year helps him secure a strong placement, as a release from Brad Keselowski Racing captures (via CatchFence.com):
Gateway is a very unique racetrack. There are two very different corners and you’ve got to have a compromise from one corner to the next. You have to decide which corner you want to be better at. We learned some things last year at Gateway with the Broken Bow Records Ford F-150 that are definitely going to help us this time around.
If one has to guess based on recent performances, last week's mishap won't translate much to Saturday's event.
Provided he shows in a strong manner, the leaderboard situation will only become more interesting.
Matt Crafton
The two-time defending series champion and current points leader, Crafton needs to just keep doing what he does best to extend his lead.
Crafton led 77 laps last week en route to the victory, his third of the year and seventh top-10 finish in as many starts. As ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass noted after the victory, Crafton put on a show after a late restart, holding off the competition in expert fashion:
Which is what folks should expect from Crafton by now.
If there's something negative to say, it's that he finished a season-worst 26th at Gateway last June, a rather minor blip considering the success of the season.
What better time than the present to improve? Last week gifted Crafton with a bit of wiggle room at the top, and if he can put past struggles behind him, increasing the gap between him and the rest of the field is a likely outcome.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
Matt Crafton extended his lead in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings with his third win of the season on Friday night. The two-time and defending CWTS champion conquered the field at Texas Motor Speedway en route to a stellar performance in the WinStar World Casino 400.
NASCAR Trucks' Twitter account congratulated the winner and acknowledged his "dominant performance":
VP of Media Relations for Texas Motor Speedway Mike Zizzo added perspective to Crafton's win:
Crafton had to hold off a late and spirited charge from Daniel Suarez, but he ultimately got it done. It was the second straight runner-up performance for Suarez, who also finished second behind Tyler Reddick at the Lucas Oil 200 on May 29.
Reddick came into the race just 11 points behind Crafton in the standings, but his 11th-place finish in Texas widened the gap.
Here's a look at the updated standings:
| Place | Driver | Points | Points Behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Crafton | 305 | --- |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 280 | -25 |
| 3 | Erik Jones | 273 | -32 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 257 | -48 |
| 5 | John Wes Townley | 227 | -78 |
| 6 | Cameron Hayley | 215 | -90 |
| 7 | Daniel Hemric | 211 | -94 |
| 8 | Spencer Gallagher | 209 | -96 |
| 9 | Timothy Peters | 207 | -98 |
| 10 | Justin Boston | 205 | -100 |
You can see the full standings at NASCAR.com.
The Furious Finish
Crafton's win wound up being delayed by the fifth caution flag of the race when Daniel Hemric's No. 14 truck spun out on the 160th lap. Fox Sports 1's official Twitter account captured the mishap:
The restart gave a small window for Suarez and others to steal away the win from Crafton. However, like a determined champion, Crafton was able to turn away the final push from the contenders to secure the victory.
Crafton led 77 laps of a race that featured an event-record 19 lead changes, per Zizzo:
When the race was over, Crafton talked about the restarts and his relentless pursuit for perfection. Per John Sturbin of NASCAR Wire Service, Crafton said: "The restarts were hairy. We got a pretty good start on that last one and ran side-by-side-by-side. We're happy for sure, but not satisfied."
That's why he's a two-time champion.
The Other Contenders
With another strong performance from Suarez, the 23-year-old from Mexico is making an impact in the world of NASCAR Trucks, despite not having enough appearances to qualify for points in the standings. With his last two showings, it's hard not to wonder where he might be if he spent more time in this series rather than in Xfinity. Popular Speed noted Suarez and John Wes Townley's efforts:
Reddick remains the most formidable challenger to Crafton's quest for a three-peat, despite the disappointing finish in Friday night's race. He's still just 25 points behind, and he actually widened his lead over Erik Jones, who finished 15th.
Looking Ahead
The next race on the schedule is the American Ethanol presents the Drivin' for Linemen 200 from Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois. Crafton has never won at this venue in five appearances and has just one top-five finish, per Racing-Reference.
We'll see if he remains mediocre in Madison or if he can crank out another win.
As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series transitions to Texas Motor Speedway for the Winstar World Casino & Resort 400 and the first foray into a standalone event, all eyes fall on leader Matt Crafton.
Crafton won the event last year and loops back this year both to defend the triumph and his series lead, with an upstart Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones tailgating close behind in the standings.
With more than 25 trucks entered in the fray before Thursday practices, most of them jockeying for position on the leaderboards, the weekend's event figures to be a can't-miss affair in one of the sport's bigger markets.
Here's a look at the pertinent info surrounding the race.
Winstar World Casino & Resort 400
Where: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
When: Friday, June 5 at 9 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
Winstar World Casino & Resort 400 Weekend Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, June 4 | 5:30-6:25 p.m | Practice | N/A |
| Thursday, June 4 | 7:30-8:55 p.m | Final Practice | N/A |
| Friday, June 5 | 6:15 p.m. | Qualifying | FOX Sports 1 |
| Friday, June 5 | 9 p.m | Winstar World Casino & Resort 400 | FOX Sports 1 |
Full weekend schedule available at NASCAR.com.
Entry List
| Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|
| 0 | Adam Edwards |
| 1 | Donnie Neuenberger |
| 02 | Tyler Young |
| 4 | Erik Jones |
| 05 | John Wes Townley |
| 6 | Norm Benning |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr |
| 8 | Joe Nemechek |
| 08 | Korbin Forrister |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb |
| 11 | Ben Kennedy |
| 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 15 | Mason Mingus |
| 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher |
| 29 | Austin Theriault |
| 33 | Brandon Jones |
| 36 | Justin Jennings |
| 50 | Ryan Ellis |
| 51 | Daniel Suarez |
| 54 | Justin Boston |
| 63 | Tyler Tanner |
| 74 | Jordan Anderson |
| 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 94 | Timmy Hill |
| 98 | Johnny Sauter |
Truck Series Standings
| RK | DRIVER | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Crafton | 257 |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 246 |
| 3 | Erik Jones | 243 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 217 |
| 5 | John Wes Townley | 186 |
| 6 | Timothy Peters | 183 |
| 7 | Cameron Hayley | 177 |
| Spencer Gallagher | 177 | |
| 9 | Daniel Hemric | 176 |
| 10 | Ray Black Jr. | 168 |
Drivers to Watch
Johnny Sauter
Now seems to be Johnny Sauter's chance to strike.
Just 40 points off of the lead and in fourth place, the 37-year-old driver returns to comfortable territory Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, where last year, in the same event, he recorded a top-10 finish, winding up seventh.
Sauter said in a press release from ThorSport Racing that he's quite comfortable with the weekend's locale (via CatchFence.com):
The track has gotten older, has a lot of character and you can run the whole track, but I prefer the bottom groove. If the balance is right, you can run wide open – when it’s right it’s the best place to race. Texas is just a place we’ve run so well at – won races, have numerous top-five finishes, so it’s a good track for us.
The owner of two top-five finishes already this season, Sauter put on a strong showing in Dover last week at the Lucas Oil 200, finishing ninth for a smooth 35 points.
This weekend promises a smaller field at a location Sauter excels at, so keep an eye on the veteran.
Tyler Reddick
One of the sport's fastest-growing sensations, the 19-year-old Reddick finds himself sitting pretty ahead of the showdown in Fort Worth.
Reddick rests second in points behind Crafton thanks to five top-five finishes, including a win at the NextEra Energy Resources 250 in February and last week's Lucas Oil 200.
The scary part? He only seems to keep improving.
Reddick’s crew chief, Doug Randolph, notes Reddick's continued strong development, as captured by Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram: "And I give Tyler credit because he’s learned how to win a race and he’s learned what our racing is all about. You’re starting to see that killer instinct in him, and he’s definitely shown some maturity beyond his age."
Last year, Reddick mustered a 21st-place finish in this same event, which feels like more than one year ago with the way he continues to improve. It's not unreasonable to think he can secure his second win in a row Friday, which would perhaps plant him atop the standings with some breathing room to boot.
Matt Crafton
If someone can bring Reddick's impressive momentum to a screeching halt, it's Crafton.
A year ago, Crafton led an impressive 118 of the 167 laps at the event after starting second, besting contenders such as Justin Lofton and Joe Nemechek, who finished second and third, respectively.
A repeat isn't out of the question, especially when one considers Crafton is one of the series' absolute best at Texas Motor Speedway.
A press release from ThorSport Racing compiles the impressive data (via CatchFence.com):
With 28 career starts at Texas, Crafton has more starts at the Fort Worth track than any other active series driver entered in the 35th annual event. Furthermore, the ThorSport Racing driver has one win (June, 2014), two poles, 166 laps led, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Additionally, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Crafton leads the field in Fastest Laps Run (209), and Laps in the Top-15 (2563) at TMS.
Crafton has yet to finish outside of the top 10 in six starts this year and won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Atlanta in February and the Kansas 250 in early May.
Pair such strong form with historical dominance at Friday's venue, and it seems quite obvious who will be in contention to cross the finish line first.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
Dover International Speedway is one of the trickiest tracks in NASCAR, and the best drivers on the Camping World Truck Series circuit will attempt to tame the Monster Mile Friday in the Lucas Oil 200.
While superspeedways often receive much of the attention in NASCAR, short tracks like Dover often lead to the best and most exciting racing. With so little room to operate, there is usually no shortage of bumping and paint trading throughout the race.
With the majority of Friday's field being made up of drivers who are racing for points in the Truck Series, there could be some fireworks as they attempt to position themselves for a run at the championship.
Here is a look at everything you need to know about the Lucas Oil 200, including further analysis regarding the drivers most likely to take the checkered flag.
Where: Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware
When: Friday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
NASCAR Truck Series at Dover Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, May 28 | 2 p.m. | Final Practice | N/A |
| Friday, May 29 | 12:45 p.m. | Qualifying | Fox Sports 1 |
| Friday, May 29 | 5:30 p.m. | Lucas Oil 200 | Fox Sports 1 |
Entry List
| Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|
| 00 | Cole Custer |
| 0 | Caleb Roark |
| 1 | Ryan Ellis |
| 02 | Tyler Young |
| 03 | Michael Affarano |
| 4 | Erik Jones |
| 05 | John Wes Townley |
| 6 | Norm Benning |
| 07 | Ray Black Jr. |
| 08 | Korbin Forrister |
| 8 | John Hunter Nemecheck |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb |
| 11 | Ben Kennedy |
| 13 | Cameron Hayley |
| 14 | Daniel Hemric |
| 15 | Mason Mingus |
| 17 | Timothy Peters |
| 19 | Tyler Reddick |
| 23 | Spencer Gallagher |
| 29 | Ryan Blaney |
| 31 | James Buescher |
| 33 | Brandon Jones |
| 36 | Tyler Tanner |
| 45 | BJ McLeod |
| 50 | Travis Kvapil |
| 51 | Daniel Suarez |
| 54 | Justin Boston |
| 59 | Kyle Martel |
| 63 | Justin Jennings |
| 74 | Timothy Viens |
| 82 | Austin Hill |
| 86 | Brandon Brown |
| 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 94 | Timmy Hill |
| 97 | Jesse Little |
| 98 | Johnny Sauter |
Truck Series Standings
| Position | Driver | Behind Leader | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Crafton | Leader | 2 |
| 2 | Erik Jones | -16 | 0 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | -18 | 1 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | -35 | 0 |
| 5 | John Wes Townley | -57 | 0 |
| 6 | Timothy Peters | -59 | 0 |
| 7 | Cameron Hayley | -64 | 0 |
| 8 | Justin Boston | -68 | 0 |
| 9 | Spencer Gallagher | -72 | 0 |
| 10 | Daniel Hemric | -81 | 0 |
Drivers to Watch
Ryan Blaney
Youngster Ryan Blaney has already made his mark on the Xfinity and Sprint Cup Series this season, but Friday will mark his first Truck Series foray of 2015, as he will look to guide a Brad Keselowski-owned truck to Victory Lane at Dover.
The 21-year-old son of former Cup driver Dave Blaney is viewed as one of the fastest-rising stars in NASCAR with five career victories to his credit already in the Xfinity and Truck Series. He is still searching for his first win this year, though, as some unfortunate luck has held him back.
That was the case in the Sprint Cup's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as he blew an engine while running well. Despite the less-than-ideal finish, Blaney believes he is making strides:
Perhaps that will translate to the Truck Series as he continues to search for a positive result. Dover may be the right place for him to get it, as he has enjoyed success on short tracks in the past.
He won an Xfinity Series race at Bristol last year, and while Dover is roughly twice the size, Blaney has proven that he can thrive in tight quarters.
Assuming Blaney can avoid the misfortune that has plagued him throughout 2015, he is a definite contender to win the Lucas Oil 200.
Erik Jones
No driver has risen to prominence more quickly this season than Erik Jones. Although he is only 18 years old, the Michigan native has competed in all three of NASCAR's top series this year and produced some fine performances along the way as well.
Jones has an Xfinity Series win to his credit, and while he has yet to win a Truck Series race in 2015, he does have four truck wins already in his young career. He is currently second in the standings behind leader Matt Crafton, and a win Friday could potentially vault him to the top.
Jones nearly won the May 15 Truck Series race at Charlotte, but a late caution gave Kasey Kahne new life and allowed him to narrowly beat out the young gun.
Following that race, Jones was extremely disappointed by the way things played out, according to FoxSports.com:
I can't believe that NASCAR can't let us just finish the race. Second week in a row the fastest truck didn't win the race. It just sucks. I just can't believe we lost. I don't know what to say. It really, really hurts. …
I really, really wanted this one -- and so it's hard to come home in second.
While Jones may still be recovering from that letdown, he has a golden opportunity to put it behind him in the Lucas Oil 200 by finishing the job and taking the checkered flag.
Jones consistently has one of the best trucks on a weekly basis, and as long as he continues to grind and remain focused, it is only a matter of time before he comes away with a win.
Travis Kvapil
While most fans will likely be keeping an eye on the up-and-comers like Blaney and Jones in the Lucas Oil 200, there are plenty of veterans in the field with the ability to steal a win. Former Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil is among them.
The 39-year-old veteran has been running a limited schedule across the board, but he has enjoyed a great deal of success at Dover International Speedway over the years. Although he has never won a truck race at that track, he has come close on numerous occasions.
Kvapil has had three top-five finishes in seven Dover Truck Series races, which is a total that only Crafton can match, although he has had 14 tries.
While Kvapil hasn't won a truck race since 2007, he is an experienced driver who has nine victories on the circuit during his career.
If the likes of Blaney and Jones stumble, then Kvapil is among the likeliest candidates to take advantage.
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