This weekend, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series descends on World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for one of the six races remaining to set this year’s playoff field. Currently, five drivers are locked into the playoffs by virtue of victories this season.
Zane Smith holds a series-leading three wins, while John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, Chandler Smith and Stewart Friesen each have one apiece.
That’s where the certainty ends. Ty Majeski sits solidly at sixth in the standings with a nearly 100-point cushion over Tanner Gray, who’s currently the first driver outside the top 10. Barring five more winners over the next six races, he and Christian Eckes, who sits just two points behind Majeski, will likely point their way into the playoffs with little issue.
The same can be said for Carson Hocevar, who’s currently seventh in the standings and has a 63-point cushion over Gray. And with the way he’s been running, it’s going to take a pretty tough string of bad luck to keep him from having a shot to race for the championship.
Meanwhile, Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton, currently sit ninth and 10th, respectively, and are also likely safe, barring winners outside the top 10. The pair have combined to lead a dismal 21 laps in 10 races and are probably in the most danger out of anyone not locked into the playoffs with a win.
Both drivers are clearly capable of turning their seasons around with a strong run at Gateway, along with a few others who stand out as those to watch this weekend.
Carson Hocevar
It’s impossible to look at any race in the Truck Series right now and not consider Hocevar as a contender. After all, he’s come so close to his first career win multiple times this season, only to have those hopes dashed with just a handful of laps remaining. He’s led at least one lap in five of the last six races including a pair of career-high efforts at Bristol Motor Speedway dirt and Charlotte Motor Speedway (55 and 57 laps,…
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