Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series is picking up steam as it enters the fourth race of the 2015 season, and some of the top dogs will look to separate themselves from the pack in the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway.

When NASCAR's top truck drivers converge on Kansas City, Kansas, there will be plenty on the line. Matt Crafton currently enjoys a narrow lead atop the standings, but with the likes of Tyler Reddick, Erik Jones and others in hot pursuit, the pecking order could look much different at the conclusion of Friday's race.

As the 2015 Truck Series campaign continues to take shape, here is a full preview of the Toyota Tundra 250, including the race schedule, standings and drivers to watch.

Toyota Tundra 250 Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Watch
Thursday, May 7	3 p.m.	Practice	N/A
Thursday, May 7	4:30 p.m.	Final Practice	N/A
Friday, May 8	4:45 p.m.	Qualifying	Fox Sports 1
Friday, May 8	8:30 p.m.	Toyota Tundra 250	Fox Sports 1

Truck Series Standings

Position	Driver	Car No.	Behind Leader	Wins
1	Matt Crafton	88	Leader	1
2	Tyler Reddick	19	-2	1
3	Erik Jones	4	-6	0
4	Johnny Sauter	98	-16	0
5	James Buescher	31	-28	0
6	John Wes Townley	05	-38	0
7	Ray Black Jr.	07	-39	0
8	Cameron Hayley	13	-44	0
9	Spencer Gallagher	23	-44	0
10	Ben Kennedy	11	-45	0

Drivers to Watch

Matt Crafton

Crafton is a true stalwart on the Truck Series, as he has been part of the circuit since 2000. He has truly come into his own over the past couple of years as a back-to-back champion, and he has a chance to make it a three-peat in 2015.

He currently has the points lead, and he may very well extend it Friday at Kansas. The 38-year-old veteran has had plenty of success at the track with one career victory and six top-10 finishes in 14 starts. He fell just short of his second Kansas win last year, but he is hoping to rectify the situation in 2015, according to Steven B. Wilson of SpeedwayDigest.com:

As the only driver entered that's competed in all 14 Truck Series races at Kansas, I feel old, at [38], crazy. Kansas is definitely a tricky race track - it's tough to get off Turn 4 and to get your stuff handling good in Turns 1 and 2 and then be that good in Turn 4, it's tough. Just getting balance overall is key. I expect the track to have lost some grip since the repave. We were really, really fast there last year; a contender all night. We were a little bit free-in and tight center and off, but we were scared to make any adjustments to hurt us on corner entry. I had to protect my entry and that’s how Kyle (Busch) got around us for the win.

Luckily for Crafton, he won't have to deal with Busch this time around due to injury. Crafton may very well be the favorite to win the Toyota Tundra 250, and there is no doubt that he has the experience and ability to make it happen.

There are plenty of exciting young guns making some noise in the Truck Series right now, and they want Crafton's spot at the top. If he wins Friday, though, he can make it clear that he isn't ready to give his position up quite yet.

James Buescher

Only three drivers in the field this week have won a Truck Series race at Kansas. Crafton and Johnny Sauter are the obvious answers, but James Buescher is also part of the group, and it wouldn't be especially surprising if he adds to that total Friday.

The older cousin of Xfinity Series driver Chris Buescher, James has done some great things in the Truck Series at just 25 years of age. He has six career victories to his credit as well as a points title in 2012. He focused on the Xfinity Series last year, but he is now back in the trucks and in search of another championship.

Buescher is currently fifth in the standings, but that could very well change. His average finish of just better than eighth place in five Truck Series races at Kansas is easily the best in the field, so a solid result is as close to guaranteed as possible.

He is almost always in the hunt at Kansas, which means another win could be in the cards. It would almost certainly help him close in significantly on Crafton at the top of the standings.

Erik Jones

There is no shortage of exciting prospects rising up through the ranks in NASCAR currently, but it can be argued that none of them have a higher ceiling than Erik Jones.

The 18-year-old star is quickly becoming a household name in NASCAR circles, as he has an Xfinity Series win to his credit this season after winning three times in the Truck Series last year. He is very much in the mix to win a title, and taking the checkered flag at Kansas would be a huge boost.

Jones has never run a truck race at Kansas, so there may be some trial and error on his part. He will take the wheel of Busch's No. 18 car in the Sprint Cup Series as well this weekend, and the up-and-comer believes that will be beneficial in terms of his success in the Truck Series, according to Adam Niemeyer of Fox 19:

Erik Jones is still running for a truck championship, FYI. "It's going to help me in the truck being in a Cup car [at Kansas]." #NASCAR

— Adam Niemeyer (@adamniemeyer) May 1, 2015

There is no question that Jones is a very busy man right now as he attempts to juggle the Sprint Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series at once. That could potentially hurt his focus when it comes to the trucks, but it also means that he is getting a ton of experience.

In terms of pure talent, it isn't a stretch to say that nobody in the Truck Series can touch Jones right now, and that is why he has a fighting chance to enter Victory Lane Friday.

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Exactly one month after the last race in Atlanta, the Camping World Truck Series is finally back. Martinsville will be the stage for some of the brightest young stars and veteran drivers to continue their journey toward a points championship.

Tyler Reddick still sits at the top of the leaderboard thanks to his win at Daytona to start the season. Matt Crafton, the two-time defending champion, is just two points behind him, with Erik Jones also hot on his heels.

Along with those three contenders, the field is also littered with part-time drivers and Sprint Cup regulars. Joey Logano will look to get a head start by winning on Saturday, while Cole Custer hopes to make a statement in his debut with JR Motorsports.

Here's a look at the schedule, updated standings and preview for the Kroger 250.

Race Information

Where: Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Virginia

When: Saturday, March 28

Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1	Tyler Reddick	87	1	2	2
2	Matt Crafton	85	1	1	2
3	Erik Jones	80	0	1	2
4	Johnny Sauter	72	0	0	2
5	James Buescher	63	0	0	1
6	Bryan Silas	60	0	0	1
7	Ben Kennedy	58	0	1	1
8	Ray Black Jr.	58	0	1	1
9	Joe Nemechek	58	0	0	1
10	Korbin Forrister	56	0	0	0

Preview

Cole Custer can drive. Though he's just 17 years old, that's been evident every time he's taken the track. In just nine races last season, the fresh-faced driver secured six top-10 finishes and even won at New Hampshire.

That victory made him the youngest driver to ever win a NASCAR race at just 16.

Now, Custer has signed on for 10 more races and has even more backing. Not only is he sponsored by Haas Automation, but his truck is owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. You know, the same team that won the Xfinity Series championship with Chase Elliott last year.

It took a really special driver for Earnhardt to give him a ride at the trucks level, a venture he's never explored during his NASCAR career. Custer knows just how blessed he is to have his equipment and owners, even if it's just for 10 races. He spoke about the opportunity prior to the season, via Jay Pennell of Fox Sports:

I'm so excited to get this season started. With all that JR Motorsports has accomplished over the past few years, we know we have everything needed to go win races and compete. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity with a better organization. I really want to thank Haas Automation, along with Kelley and Dale Jr. for putting this deal together.

While Custer is still fighting to prove he can be a consistent force in NASCAR's lower levels, Crafton has already done that. Not only did he win the title last year, but Crafton also took the Kroger 250 as his first victory.

Though Crafton had never won at Atlanta, he thoroughly annihilated the rest of the field en route to a victory. Christopher Estrada of NBC Sports offered his take on the massive win for Crafton:

The whipping is complete. Matt Crafton takes the win at Atlanta. @NASCAR_Trucks @NASCARTalkNBC

— Christopher Estrada (@estradawriting) February 28, 2015

Between 38-year-old Crafton and Custer, who isn't even legal to take a full-time ride, there should be a battle for supremacy on Saturday. Somewhere in between sits Logano, who'll be searching for his first win at the trucks level in his seventh start.

There will be several big names and even some emerging ones, making the Martinsville race one to watch over the weekend. Since the next race at this level will be ran more than a month after Saturday, expect plenty of tight racing and plenty of action at the first short-track race of the season.

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The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series usually steal the majority of headlines coming into a race weekend, but the Camping World Truck Series is making waves heading into the 2015 edition of the Atlanta Motor Speedway event.

The Xfinity Series race at Atlanta will take place earlier in the day, but the main event of Saturday’s racing is the Camping World Truck Series under the lights. With NASCAR fans ready for the action, Saturday night’s race will be a thrilling battle.

Here is the schedule for Saturday’s main event, the current truck series standings and a preview of the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 from Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia

When: Saturday, February 28

Start Time: 5:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Rank	Driver	Points
1	Tyler Reddick	48
2	Erik Jones	42
3	Austin Theriault	41
4	Ray Black Jr.	39
T-5	Bryan Silas	37
T-5	Matt Crafton	37
7	Johnny Sauter	34
T-8	Korbin Forrister	32
T-8	Tyler Young	32
10	Norm Benning	30
11	Travis Kvapil	29
12	James Buescher	27
13	Jennifer Cobb	26
14	Matt Tifft	25
15	Joe Nemechek	24
16	Spencer Gallagher	23
17	John Wes Townley	22
18	Cameron Hayley	21
19	Timothy Peters	20
20	Daniel Hemric	18
21	Todd Peck	17
22	Ben Kennedy	16
23	Justin Boston	15
24	Donnie Neuenberger	13

Breaking Down Truck Series Race at Atlanta

For the first time in three years, the Camping World Truck Series returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for its second race of the 2015 season. It is also the first time the truck series and Xfinity Series are racing on the same day since 2009.

Atlanta is one of the most interesting tracks on the NASCAR circuit due to its size and the elite racing that has taken place there. The track is long enough to build serious speed into the corners, but the width of the asphalt allows for multiple lanes and plenty of passing.

Add in the quad-oval design, and this is one of the most surprisingly fast tracks in the sport.

When the truck series last arrived at the 1.5-mile track, Ty Dillon won the race. He will be running the truck series and Xfinity Series this weekend, and he told the official website of Atlanta Motor Speedway about his experience and how it will help him Saturday:

Getting that first Cup start at Atlanta, a place that I really love racing, it's very helpful to me as far as going back this year. I have the knowledge of running a 500-mile race there, and when we go back with the XFINITY Series and the Truck Series, I'll have so much more experience and knowledge of the race track and the speed.

Dillon’s previous success in the Camping World Truck Series and his experience in the Sprint Cup Series should give him an edge in Saturday’s race, but there is a stacked field of contenders who will be looking to take home the victory.

As usual, there is a strong group of veterans in the field. Whether it’s Joe Nemechek, Brad Keselowski or Johnny Sauter, the younger racers trying to make a name for themselves will have to contend with some of the best drivers in the sport.

Tyler Reddick will leave Daytona the Truck Series point leader. He has a six point advantage over Erik Jones going to Atlanta next week

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) February 21, 2015

On the other hand, fresh faces like John Wes Townley and last week’s Daytona winner Tyler Reddick will be fighting hard to cement their place toward the top of the truck series point standings.

With such a stacked field, picking a winner is difficult. After Reddick took home the win at the season opener in Daytona, the 19-year-old driver should be able to continue building his momentum by taking the checkered flag in Atlanta.

Predicted Winner: Tyler Reddick

*Stats via NASCAR.com.

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The Daytona 500 may be the main focus for most NASCAR fans this week, but the Camping World Truck Series will provide an enthralling start to the season on Friday night.

Trucks will roll out onto Daytona for the first regular-season race for the top three series. It may not be the Great American Race, but the NextEra Energy Resources 250 will be a proving ground for some of the brightest young stars in the sport.

Young guns like Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez hope to emerge with a season-opening win on Friday. However, they'll have to take down two-time defending champion Matt Crafton for the Daytona crown.

Before the green flag waves, here's a look at the full schedule and preview for the NextEra Energy Resources 250.

Race Information

Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

When: Friday, Feb. 20

Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Race Preview

Every discussion about the Truck Series must begin with the aforementioned Crafton. At 38 years old, the ThorSport Racing driver has finally found the consistency it takes to win a title. Not only did he accomplish it in 2013, but he followed it up with a similarly dominant season last year.

He may have only won just two races the entire 2014 season, but his 13 top-five finishes led the entire series. Now, he has aspirations of winning for a third year in a row.

One track Crafton has yet to win at during his long career is Daytona. While he'll be looking to finally accomplish that on Friday night, he'll have to fend off some of the hottest young names in the sport.

During the offseason, Joe Gibbs Racing brought in two drivers to invigorate some youth for its lower-level teams. Suarez and Jones will drive trucks owned by Kyle Busch as he takes a step back after winning the Daytona trucks race last February.

Jones is the slightly more known commodity at this level, having won four races during just seventeen starts with Kyle Busch Motorsports over the last two years. Busch has high expectations for Jones this season in a full-time role, per a team release:

I expect a lot from Erik Jones and I think Erik Jones knows that, he sees that and sees the potential that he carries. I just hope he still fits in his helmet as people talk about him and to him over the course of this season -- how successful he can be and what his potential is. I think it's very high. … The experience he has gained from running a limited schedule the last few seasons has been really good for him, now I'm excited to watch this season and see if he can build on that experience and take it to the next level.

Even with his experience at the trucks level, Jones has never started a race at Daytona at this level. The 18-year-old driver will have a lot to learn at the superspeedway, but the curve for Jones has been slim throughout his career.

In order to earn a win, he'll also have to hold off an experienced Johnny Sauter. Prior to Busch winning it all, it was Sauter who took the checkered flag in 2013. Whether it's a veteran or young gun who pulls off the victory, Friday promises to be a great kickoff to the trucks season in Daytona.

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Twenty-five points. That's the distance that separates Ryan Blaney from Matt Crafton in the Camping World Truck Series. With only one race remaining, that's the distance that stands between Crafton and a second straight title, as well.

Much like the rest of the season, Crafton fell short of winning a race behind the No. 51 truck. Only this time, it was Erik Jones who dominated with 114 laps led before driving to Victory Lane.

brightcove.com/?flashVars='videoId=3881680144001

Blaney wasn't far behind Crafton, winding up fourth after starting 17th on the night. But even finishing slightly after the points leader means the distance grew even more, as he has a slim hope of winning it all in Homestead.

Before the final race gets underway, here's a look at the full schedule, standings and preview for the Ford Ecoboost 200.

Race Information

Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Florida

When: Friday, Nov. 14

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1	Matt Crafton	798	2	13	16
2	Ryan Blaney	773	1	11	16
3	Darrell Wallace Jr.	752	3	8	13
4	Johnny Sauter	739	1	8	15
5	Timothy Peters	705	1	8	12
6	Joey Coulter	659	0	3	10
7	German Quiroga Jr.	654	0	3	10
8	Ben Kennedy	652	0	1	7
9	Jeb Burton	648	0	2	7
10	Mason Mingus	530	0	0	1

Race Preview

brightcove.com/?flashVars='videoId=3881728988001

Unlike the Nationwide points chase, nothing is for certain right now in the trucks standings. Crafton might not have the title clinched, but he's definitely got a great shot at making history.

No trucks driver has ever won two consecutive titles, but Crafton can change all of that on Friday night. NASCAR Illustrated lined out exactly what the ThorSport driver needs to do to change the face of the sport:

Per @ThorSportRacing press release, if @Matt_Crafton finishes 21st or better at HMS, he’ll become @NASCAR_Trucks 1st back-to-back champ.

— NASCAR Illustrated (@NASCARIllustr8d) November 11, 2014

Crafton has top-five finishes in over half of the starts he's made this year. His ability to run near the front sets him apart from every other driver, but that won't be his focus during the season finale.

Crafton referenced his intentions heading into Homestead, per Zack Albert of NASCAR.com:

I'm going into Homestead and trying to win the race. Like I said, that's been our goal from Daytona. We haven't looked at the points, focused anything on points. We've just gone out and tried to win as many races as possible and we've only won two. We've had some bad luck leading the race, blew a right-front tire and we've finished second too many damn times, too.

Still technically alive in the points race, Blaney will need some help to catch the defending champion. Even if he wins while leading the most laps, the 20-year-old would need Crafton to finish 22nd or worse.

If there's anything he might have learned from his friend Chase Elliott, it's that anything is possible. Blaney congratulated Elliott after becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide title:

Congrats @chaseelliott ! From the first time we ran together in late models I knew you were gonna be great. Happy for ya bud!

— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 8, 2014

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Blaney's chances going in are quite as promising as Elliott's were. Strange things have happened in the final race across all national series in NASCAR, but Crafton keeping a clean truck might be all he needs.

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The Camping World Truck Series might not have a Chase like the Sprint Cup level, but that doesn't mean the points race is any less enthralling. However, it appears just two drivers remain with a realistic shot at a title.

Heading into the final two truck races of the season, Matt Crafton has yet again built a comfortable lead. The veteran collected another top-five finish in Texas and has his sights set on a championship again.

However, Ryan Blaney is still holding strong after finishing just four spots behind Crafton over the weekend. At just 20 years old, Blaney is hoping to mirror the success of Chase Elliott at the Nationwide level and make a run at a title.

Darrell Wallace is still a contender but has a lot of room to make up on both drivers. Before the trucks roll out in Phoenix, here's a look at the schedule, standings and preview for the Lucas Oil 150.

Race Information

Where: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona

When: Friday, Nov. 7

Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1	Matt Crafton	756	2	12	15
2	Ryan Blaney	733	1	10	15
3	Darrell Wallace Jr.	713	3	8	12
4	Johnny Sauter	704	1	8	14
5	Timothy Peters	680	1	8	12
6	Joey Coulter	645	0	3	10
7	German Quiroga Jr.	636	0	3	10
8	Jeb Burton	629	0	2	7
9	Ben Kennedy	619	0	1	7
10	Ron Hornaday Jr.	526	0	5	10

Race Preview

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In search of his second straight championship, Crafton has been surging at the right time. A strong start gave way to a few underwhelming starts in the summer, but he has been resurgent late in the year.

Sure, he hasn't won since June, but Crafton's been one of the most dominant drivers on the track. Over the last nine events, Crafton has collected a staggering seven top-five finishes and led 75 laps during that span.

Apparently, the ThorSport Racing driver doesn't just have his sights set on a driver title, as Chris Knight of Catchfence.com passes along:

.@Matt_Crafton makes it very clear that he's gunning for BOTH the driver's championship and owner's championship. Wants it for the owners.

— Chris Knight (@Knighter01) October 30, 2014

Heading to Phoenix, Crafton was able to finish inside the top five at the track last fall. If he can find a way to collect another checkered flag, this points race might not even be an afterthought heading into Miami.

The one man who truly has a shot is Blaney, who has been torching the Nationwide and CWTS this year. With five top-10 finishes since his first win of the year in the Chevrolet Silverado 250, Blaney has kept up pace with Crafton.

NASCAR Nationwide noted his recent tear at the higher level:

Runner-up @joeylogano posted his 7th T10 in 10 races @TXMotorSpeedway; @RyanBlaney22 (P3) with his 3rd T10 in 3 races at the track #NASCAR

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) November 1, 2014

Along with Wallace, Blaney will need to find a way to beat out Crafton and get some help on the track. Even with his success already this year, nothing is guaranteed for Blaney heading into the penultimate race.

Bringing home a checkered flag at Phoenix would help for either Blaney or Wallace, but they would both still need a poor finish from Crafton. Given his consistent results and history in Arizona, the defending champion might be able to lock up a second title on Friday night.

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Death, taxes and Darrell Wallace Jr. winning at Martinsville. Those are all three things NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to at this point.

In the last three races at the track, Wallace has won twice and finished second back in March. Now, he simply has to find a way to continue his tear and get some luck in order to truly contend for a title down the stretch.

Matt Crafton continues to pace the field in points, while Ryan Blaney is just 18 points behind the defending champion. The two young drivers are in search of their first title, but Crafton has been one of the most consistent drivers all season.

Along with chasing down Crafton, every driver will have to compete with Kyle Busch yet again. Here's a look at the schedule, standings and preview of the Winstar World Casino and Resort 350.

Race Information

Where: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas

Date: Friday, Oct. 31

Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: Motor Racing Network

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1	Matt Crafton	716	2	11	14
2	Ryan Blaney	698	1	10	14
3	Darrell Wallace Jr.	694	3	8	12
4	Johnny Sauter	676	1	8	14
5	Timothy Peters	639	1	7	11
6	German Quiroga Jr.	608	0	3	10
7	Joey Coulter	607	0	3	9
8	Ben Kennedy	590	0	1	7
9	Jeb Burton	587	0	1	6
10	Ron Hornaday Jr.	494	0	5	10

Race Preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPDKntUtBNc

Of the drivers still in contention, each one has been consistent on nearly every track regardless of the setting. For Crafton, it's been all about remaining in the top five, something he's done a series-high 11 times.

The most recent, of course, came last weekend, when all three drivers at the top of the standings finished fifth or better. Crafton left with a third-place result as he gained points on Blaney, but it was Wallace who closed in on him with the win.

Looking to become the first back-to-back Camping World Truck Series champion, Crafton referenced his chances at winning it all, per Dan Kukla of the Visalia Times-Delta:

"If we lose it, I truly believe it will be bad luck. We won't lose it because we get out ran," Crafton said. "I truly believe that we have the best group of guys in the garage. I believe 100 percent in them. It's really cool to be in situation I'm in."

With three races remaining, it would appear Crafton still holds the upper hand despite Wallace's success. The last time the CWTS visited Texas, it was Crafton who held off the field for the win while Blaney finished fourth and Wallace was 10th.

Chase contender Joey Logano congratulated Wallace and shared his thoughts on Blaney's run:

Congrats @BubbaWallace. Nice work by @RyanBlaney22 fighting back to get that top-5.

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) October 25, 2014

However, Wallace hasn't finished outside of the top 10 in the last five races, with three of those at second or better. Leaving Martinsville with confidence, he posted this Instagram photo with the caption "We came. We saw. We conquered."

In order to keep pace, he'll need to do the same thing on Friday night to close the gap. Luckily, with teammate and team owner Kyle Busch likely leading the way, Wallace should have a friend near the front of the pack.

Expect to see a heavy dose of both on Friday night along with Blaney making his case for a points title. Both young drivers will need a nearly flawless performance, but they are both driving strong as the end of the season nears.

Whether it's Busch dominant again or one of the title contenders moving out front, Halloween will be an interesting one in Texas. Only three races remain, so it's all or nothing for every driver in the field.

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As the 2014 NASCAR Truck Series winds down, it made a stop at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the UNOH 175. The race featured a smaller field—just 30 drivers started, with most of the Sprint Cup drivers are focused on the Chase—which made it a more intimate affair. 

The story of the race was winner Cole Custer. The 16-year-old started out in front and didn't relinquish that position for most of the day, save for a questionable pit stop late that nearly cost him the victory. Custer was on the pole for the event after setting a track record with a 131.897 mph lap during qualifying. It's the second pole position he's earned in just seven Truck Series starts. Joining him on the front row was Cameron Hayley.

With time running out for drivers to make their move up the standings, the urgency going into the final laps was easy to see. After next week's Rhino Linings 250, the Truck Series takes two weeks off, so any momentum that could have been built today was crucial. 

Here's a look at the results from the Truck Series' stop at Loudon, New Hampshire, and the season standings:

Place	Driver
1	Cole Custer
2	Darrell Wallace Jr.
3	Matt Crafton
4	Johnny Sauter
5	John Hunter Nemechek
6	Cameron Hayley
7	Erik Jones
8	Tyler Reddick
9	Joey Coulter
10	Ryan Blaney

Pos.	Driver	Points	Points Behind Leader
1	Matt Crafton	602	-
2	Johnny Sauter	595	7
3	Ryan Blaney	578	24
4	Darrell Wallace Jr.	567	35
5	German Quiroga Jr.	530	72
6	Joey Coulter	527	75
7	Ben Kennedy	509	93
8	Timothy Peters	508	94
9	Jeb Burton	491	111
10	Ron Hornaday Jr.	460	142

With the victory, the teenager made history, according to NASCAR Truck Series' official Twitter:

At 16 yrs. 7 mos. and 28 days, @colecuster00 is the youngest race winner in #NASCAR national series history #UNOH175

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) September 20, 2014

.@colecuster00's first win came in his seventh series start. He led 148 of 175 laps today at @NHMS.#UNOH175 #NASCAR

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) September 20, 2014

Custer took to Twitter before the race to give thanks to his crew, as all smart drivers do, stating they did great work on the car and that limiting mistakes would be the key. 

Guys did a awesome job on the car, should be pretty good in the race, just can't make any mistakes

— Cole Custer (@ColeCuster) September 20, 2014

It's safe to say that whatever the crew did to his car, combined with his steely approach on the track, paid off well for Custer. He also now has bragging rights over everyone else in high school for the next two years because no other teenager can claim to be a better driver. 

NASCAR writer Richard Allen noted that Custer's start at the UNOH 175 was better than the one another Custer had during a famous battle in American history:

Cole Custer is off to a better start at NHMS than George Custer got off to at Little Big Horn. #NASCAR

— MotorsportsReport (@MtrsportsReport) September 20, 2014

The only thing that slowed Custer down was a caution flag and pit stop following a crash by J.R. Heffner. During the caution, he pitted to take four tires.

That caution allowed the field to catch up to Custer. On the restart, he fell back to seventh before climbing back up to the second row following another restart with 11 laps to go. 

Cautions became the story of this race late. After a largely smooth run for the first 145 laps, there were four accidents in the next 22 laps that slowed the pace considerably. 

While Custer had a banner day, the bigger picture is still rosy for Matt Crafton, who came into the race with a five-point lead in the overall standings and put an awful qualifying session behind him.

After starting the race 30th, Crafton climbed all the way up to the lead on the restart following Heffner's accident. He would relinquish that spot following the final restart with four laps to go when Custer made a brilliant inside move to retake the No. 1 position, via NASCAR Truck Series' official Twitter:

Lap 172 - LEAD CHANGE: Custer powers back to the lead on the restart lap. Wallace P2, Crafton P3.#UNOH175 #NASCAR

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) September 20, 2014

Unfortunately for Crafton, he wasn't able to put much distance between himself and fellow points contenders Johnny Sauter and Ryan Blaney because all three of them finished inside the top 10. Crafton and Sauter followed each other in the No. 3 and 4 spots when the checkered flag waived. 

With so little margin for error in the points chase, the last six races are going to have all the drama and intrigue NASCAR fans could ask for. If they get close finishes like the one in New Hampshire, that's just icing on the cake. 

If you want to talk sports, hit me up on Twitter. 

Featuring the first road course on the Camping World Truck Series in 13 years, the inaugural Chevy Silverado 250 was undeniably captivating in 2013. 

Chase Elliott, in just his sixth start, pulled off the dramatic victory after spinning out Ty Dillon on the race's final turn. Of course, that thrilling finish was nearly overshadowed by some extracurricular activities following the race. 

As Max Papis told ESPN.com's Marty Smith, after Papis and Mike Skeen wrecked their trucks in a collision, also on the final corner, while fighting for position, Skeen's girlfriend slapped Papis, reportedly dislocating his jaw.

What could possibly top that in 2014?

"I wish I knew," said Ron Fellows, via MotorSportsTalk's Tony DiZinno. "That first one was a hard one to top."

Indeed it was. But the non-oval course clearly sets the table for late-race drama and some breathtaking driving. Let's take a look at everything you need to know for this year's race from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Full Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Event	TV	Live Stream
Sat., Aug 30	9:30 a.m.	Practice 1
Sat., Aug 30	11:35 a.m.	Practice 2
Sat., Aug 30	5:40 p.m.	Qualifying
Sun., Aug 31	1:30 p.m.	Chevrolet Silverado 250	Fox Sports 1	Fox Sports Go

Standings

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5
1	Johnny Sauter	487	1	7
2	Matt Crafton	479	2	7
3	Ryan Blaney	463	0	7
4	Ron Hornaday Jr.	460	0	5
5	Darrell Wallace Jr.	454	2	5
6	German Quiroga Jr.	433	0	2
7	Joey Coulter	425	0	3
8	Timothy Peters	414	0	4
9	Ben Kennedy	412	0	1
10	Jeb Burton	393	0	0

Preview

A week after earning his first Truck Series win, Brad Keselowski will not race in Bowmanville. However, one of the most well-known Canadian drivers, Alex Tagliani, will race in front of the home crowd for Keselowski's team. 

Tagliani has been busy this season. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series full-timer finished 13th at the Indianapolis 500 and has also made appearances on the Nationwide Series for Team Penske. 

In his Truck Series debut, it'll be intriguing to see what he can do in the No. 19 Reese Towpower Ford, although he admitted it's about Team Keselowski first and foremost, via DurhamRegion.com's Brian McNair:

"I always try to be a team player and not put myself first, especially when you're a one-timer, and so far I think teams that I've worked for appreciate that," Tagliani said. "If I'm in a position to bring home a win for the team and for myself, then I'll definitely push for it."

His teammate, of course, will be Ryan Blaney, who is currently in third place in the driver standings, not far behind Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton. 

From last year's top-10 finishers, only four will be in competition on Sunday: Darrell Wallace Jr., Ron Hornaday Jr., Timothy Peters and Crafton. Three of those—Wallace, Hornaday and Crafton—finished in the top four last week at Bristol, while Hornaday and Crafton each have a pair of top-fours in a row. 

MoreThanAFan.net's Ryan Isley sees Bubba's success translating into a full-time move to Nationwide soon:

With the way he has been improving, it isn't a stretch to assume that we will see Wallace full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series soon. He has made six appearances in the series over the past two seasons, with four top-10 finishes and a high finish of seventh on two occasions. When Wallace does indeed make that leap, you can bet he will be more than ready for it.

Another intriguing name to watch will be John Hunter Nemechek. In six races this season, the rising 17-year-old star has four top-10s, including a pair of sixth-place finishes his last two times out. 

When it comes down to it, matching last year's antics may be difficult. But with a compelling debut, a handful of elite drivers on top of their games and a thrilling, unique track, this isn't a race to miss. 

After a week off in the NASCAR Camping World truck series, the circuit now sets its sights on Dover for another 200 miles of action.

While Matt Crafton still remains atop the points standings, everyone on the track is trying to take down the elusive Kyle Busch. The driver-owner smoked the field to lead 130 of 134 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway and is set to repeat that success again after winning in Dover last season.

Busch might not be able to earn points on the circuit, but John Wes Townley is certainly looking to keep climbing up the standings. After recording a fourth-place finish in Charlotte, the Wauters Motorsports driver is now up to seventh in the standings.

With the race just days away, here is a look at the full schedule, standings and preview ahead of the Lucas Oil 200.

Lucas Oil 200 Information

Where: Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.

When: Friday, May 30, 5:30 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: MRN

Pos.	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1	Matt Crafton	162	1	3	3
2	Timothy Peters	151	0	2	3
3	German Quiroga Jr.	144	0	0	4
4	Johnny Sauter	143	0	2	3
5	Ron Hornaday Jr.	137	0	1	3
6	Ben Kennedy	132	0	1	2
7	John Wes Townley	127	0	1	1
8	Jeb Burton	127	0	0	2
9	Ryan Blaney	123	0	1	2
10	Darrell Wallace Jr.	108	0	1	1

Preview of Lucas Oil 200

On a weekend where every series is in town at Dover, just one notable Sprint Cup driver is scheduled to make a start in the Lucas Oil 200.

Unfortunately, that driver is Busch.

Crafton currently sits at the top of the points standings, but he has finished second behind Busch in the last two races at Kansas and Charlotte. The 37-year-old joked about Busch's dominance on the track, per Tony DiZinno of NBC Sports:

“I’m gonna have to whoop him in some way. I’m getting tired of it,” Crafton said. “We struggled a bit on pit road, although we got back some track position. The last five laps it just went away, but overall not a bad run.”

On top of the negative vibes Crafton continues to get from Rowdy, his daughter clearly shares those feelings, via his personal Instagram account:

While the ThorSport Racing driver is clearly becoming annoyed with Busch, he has been the superior driver among regular truck drivers. Crafton sits at the top of the points standings and is the only competing racer with three top-five results.

As for the separation between the two drivers, John Morris of NASCAR Productions provides a look at the photo finish between Busch and Crafton in Charlotte:

Outside of the two preeminent drivers, Townley might be another one to watch. Following his career-best finish at Charlotte, the 24-year-old is on track to find his way into the top 10 yet again at Dover.

Last season, Townley navigated his way to an 11th-place result at Dover and will look to turn the momentum from two weeks ago into another strong run.

Another driver to watch is Busch's teammate, Darrell Wallace Jr. Bubba took the pole in 2013 at Dover, but fell behind late and wound up 10th in his lone truck series start at the track.

Wallace was running up in the top 10 at Charlotte before an unfortunate wreck would take him out. Given his track record at Dover, the sophomore in the series might be looking for his second top-five finish of the season alongside his dominant team owner.

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