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  • Four Takeaways From The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event At Eldora

    Four Takeaways From The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event At Eldora

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at Eldora Speedway for the fourth year in a row last Wednesday night and this race did not disappoint. Here are my four takeaways from the event.

    1. Matt Crafton gets a breakthrough win – Before Eldora, Crafton had been having an up and down year in 2017 with only two top fives and seven top 10s and hadn’t won for over a year since Charlotte of 2016. After Eldora, he has now solidified himself into the Truck Series playoffs with a win. It was a much-needed win for not only him but for the whole Thorsport Racing team, which was having an up and down year as well. Let’s see if this win can carry Crafton to the championship at Homestead.
    2. The race was hard to find for some – If you were one of the lucky ones like me, who got to watch the race on Fox Business Channel, then be thankful. However, for some people, they had to miss out on quite possibly one of the biggest races of the year for the Truck Series. I found it a little ridiculous that I had to flip through three channels to find my NASCAR. I understand a big soccer game was on, but they have their own channel for that. NASCAR right now doesn’t. This wasn’t necessary.
    3. Stewart Friesen gets a career best finish – Friesen came oh so close at Eldora and probably should have won the race, but fell short. He ended up winning Stage 2 and had the lead late in the going until Crafton passed him for the lead with 16 laps to go. However, the second place finish gave Friesen his career-best finish in the Camping World Truck Series.
    4. Christopher Bell almost rallies to the front after a wreck in Stage 1- It was a wild night for the 2015 defending race winner Christopher Bell. After spinning and colliding with Kaz Grala toward the end of Stage 1, it looked like his night was over. But the fact was, it wasn’t. He rallied by the end of Stage 2 to finish fourth. By the time the race ended, the scoring pylon read ninth. Sure it was disappointing for him and his Kyle Busch Motorsports team for finishing that way, but let’s face it, if this was a regular race, Bell would’ve been out already. So kudos to the team for fighting their way back into the race. And oh, by the way, he even led 22 laps.
  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Power Rankings – Eldora

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Power Rankings – Eldora

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series headed to the famed Eldora Speedway on Wednesday for the fifth annual Eldora Dirt Derby and what was the 11th race of the year. It’s time to take a look at a wild night of dirt racing at Eldora.

    1. Stewart Friesen – While Friesen may not have won the race, he held his own and led the most laps. After winning the first heat race, he would end up qualifying on the pole. Friesen led most of the laps in Stage 1 but came up one spot short as that stage ended under caution. He then rebounded to win the second stage. However, problems began for him as he pitted at the end of the stage for a flat tire. Friesen was able to hold on to the lead until 16 to go, where eventual race winner, Matt Crafton went on to take the win.

    “We didn’t come here to run second, that’s for damn sure,” Friesen said. “I’m proud of these guys (Halmar Racing) they worked hard to get the truck dialed in.”

    2. Matt Crafton – Crafton finally ended his long winless streak that started in June of 2016 at Charlotte, and claimed his first ever dirt win, in NASCAR, at least. After winning the second heat race, this placed him second alongside the pole sitter for the race. When a late race stage caution came out, Crafton was the leader and NASCAR determined him as the winner of Stage 1, due to a lengthy cleanup. In Stage 2, he placed ninth. The winning moment for Crafton came with 16 to go, as he took the lead for good and went on to win at Eldora.

    “My first dirt win,” Crafton said, “a lot of fun. In the second part of the race, we darn right just stunk. It was my fault, we over-tightened it on the first run, we were pretty good. I thought we were a little bit too free, so we just tightened up and went back to the way we started the race. At the end, I had to either tear up the right side off or take it to victory lane.”

    3. Chase Briscoe – Briscoe had a solid outing at Eldora by coming home third. It should be no surprise, however, as he has experience in dirt track racing. He raced in the second heat and came home third, which gave him a 12th place starting spot. He was a silent contender all night long placing fourth in the first stage but fell out of the top in the second stage. Briscoe rallied back, though, as he came home in the third position, giving him his fifth top five of the year.

    “The last two days at Eldora were really up and down, especially since I’ve been looking forward to this race for so long,” Briscoe said. “We had a really good Cooper Standard Ford F-150 primary truck and at the end of the final practice, we were fast with a couple of tenths in the bank. Unfortunately, I hopped the cushion wall and had no choice but to go to a backup. I lost fourth gear 15 laps into the race and had the whole race in third gear, which hurt us. When the track is that slick, having fourth gear so you can pedal it and keep it hooked up is big. I just couldn’t carry straightaway speed.”

    4. Grant Enfinger – Enfinger came home with a solid points day. You would not think of him as someone having experience in the dirt, however, he has one win at DuQuoin, which is a dirt track in the ARCA Racing Series. Enfinger was in the top 10 in both of the stages. At the end of the night, he came home fourth, thus giving him his fifth top five of the year.

    “It was definitely a great night for us,” Enfinger said. “We had a really good Champion Power Equipment Tundra the last two days we were here. It was just a matter of me getting adjusted to it. I learned a lot the whole night. I feel like we were legitimately a contending truck there at the end.”

    5. Noah Gragson – It was Gragson’s first time on dirt at Eldora. In the fifth heat race, he placed second. Toward the end of the race, it was all about track position. When Stage 3 went back underway, Gragson restarted in the fourth position. He battled hard throughout the rest of the night, only to place seventh in his first dirt track race.

    “That race was ridiculous, but also so much fun,” Gragson said. “It was something that really wasn’t in my wheelhouse. I’m used to running short-track asphalt stuff and this was nothing like anything I’d ever done before. The track was constantly changing. It was wild going three or four-wide most of the race. “It was a wild night at Eldora as the race was run under caution 38 percent of the time.

    The race featured 10 cautions for 59 laps, as well as, four leaders among 15 lead changes.

    Next Up: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Pocono International Raceway Saturday, July 29.

  • Matt Crafton Ends Winless Drought At Eldora

    Matt Crafton Ends Winless Drought At Eldora

    Matt Crafton was able to end his winless drought at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday night. It has been over a year since the No. 88 team has won a race. It all started with qualifying, however.

    Crafton won the second heat race, which put him on the outside pole. Alongside him was dirt track veteran, Stewart Friesen, who won the first heat race.

    Forty laps made up Stage 1, while 50 laps made up the second stage and 60 laps wound up the final stage.

    When Stage 1 began, it was action packed early as favorite Bobby Pierce spun out on the backstretch, involving JJ Yeley and Chris Windom.

    On lap 18, the second caution was brought out again as Sheldon Creed went around and caused a huge pile up in Turn 3. Numerous drivers were involved including Norm Benning, Pierce, Harrison Burton, Johnny Sauter, Ben Rhodes, Rico Abreu, Ryan Truex and Austin Cindric.

    Shortly after the restart on lap 32, a caution came out for Christopher Bell and Kaz Grala, who collided with each other off Turn 2. Grala, with heavy damage, was done for the night. As for Bell, he had major right side damage but was able to get back into the race.

    After several caution laps, NASCAR decided to end the first stage under caution, thus giving Matt Crafton the win in Stage 1.

    As Stage 2 took off on lap 40, it was a bit quieter but still, action packed. Just two laps after the restart, a spin by Rhodes, Korbin Forrister and Max Johnston brought out the fourth caution.

    Before the end of Stage 2, there were two more cautions involving Creed on lap 67 and on lap 84 for Ray Ciccarelli spinning on the frontstretch after contact with Creed.  Stewart Friesen went on to win Stage 2.

    After pitting for a flat tire, Friesen was able to retain the lead on the restart with 59 laps to go as the third and final stage began. Bell took the lead a lap later and held on until 37 to go, where Friesen retook the lead. However, the pace was slowed again, as Ty Dillon had a flat right front tire go down with 33 to go.

    A few laps after a restart with 25 to go, Bell pitted for a flat tire and once more, another caution was brought for Ciccarelli.

    Crafton was able to take the lead with 16 to go and held on from there to end his winless drought dating back to June of 2016 at Charlotte.

    “My first dirt win,” Crafton said. “A lot of fun. In the second part of the race, we darn right just stunk. It was my fault, we over-tightened it on the first run, we were pretty good. I thought we were a little bit too free, so we just tightened up and went back to the way we started the race. At the end, I had to either tear up the right side  off or take it to victory lane.”

    Friesen, Chase Briscoe, Grant Enfinger and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top five. Johnny Sauter’s points lead is now down to seven points over second place Bell.

    This was Crafton’s 13th career Truck Series win and his first of the 2017 season.

    Crafton led twice for 24 laps.

    There were four leaders among 15 lead changes, as well as, 10 cautions for 59 laps.

    Next Up: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series head east for Pocono International Raceway on Saturday, July 29.

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Eldora with Format, Rules, Qualifying Procedure

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Eldora with Format, Rules, Qualifying Procedure

    The Camping World Truck Series travels to Eldora Speedway this week for the Eldora Dirt Derby. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Tuesday, July 18

    On Track: 7-7:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice – No TV (Follow live)
    9-9:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – No TV (Follow live)

    Wednesday, July 19

    On Track:
    5 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    7:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Qualifying Race (10 laps) – FS2
    7:39 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Second Qualifying Race (10 laps) – FS2
    7:48 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Third Qualifying Race (10 laps) – FS2
    7:57 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Fourth Qualifying Race (10 laps) – FS2
    8:06 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Fifth Qualifying Race (10 laps) – FS2
    8:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Last Chance Qualifying Race (15 laps) – FS2
    9:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby (150 laps, 75 miles/40-50-60) – Fox Business Network

    Race Details:

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
    Race: Eldora Dirt Derby
    Place: Eldora Speedway
    Date: Wednesday, July 19
    Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
    TV: FOX Business, 9 p.m. ET
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 75 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 150)

    Previous Winners:

    Winner                       Date
    Kyle Larson                07/20/2016
    Christopher Bell          07/22/2015
    Darrell Wallace Jr.       07/23/2014
    Austin Dillon               07/24/2013

    Eldora – Format, Rules, Qualifying

    Eldora’s qualifying and race formats differ from the knockout qualifying seen weekly in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series. Below is a guide to how it works.

    At Eldora, a random draw determines the qualifying order for two-lap, single-truck qualifying that determines the starting positions for the qualifying races (five races in total). The fastest qualifier earns the Keystone Light Pole Award.

    Each of the five qualifying races consists of 10 laps, with only green-flag laps counting. The top five trucks in the two-lap qualifying will start on the pole for their respective qualifying races. The lineups for the qualifying races are filled based on qualifying speeds (sixth competes in the first qualifying race, seventh in the second, eighth in the third, etc.)

    The top-five trucks from each qualifying race will transfer to the race. Upon completion of the qualifying races, 25 trucks will earn spots in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

    When the five qualifying races are completed, there will be a last-chance qualifying race. The lineup will be based on finishing position from the qualifying races and the race will be 15 laps with only green flag laps counting. The top two finishers transfer to the race, where they will start in positions 26-27.

    The 28th-31st starting positions go to the highest-ranking eligible trucks in owner points that have not already earned a starting position through qualifying.

    The 32nd starting position goes to the most recent eligible past series champion; if that position is not filled by an eligible champion, it will be assigned based upon owner points.

    The race will be 150 laps divided into three stages: Stage 1 ends on lap 40, Stage 2 ends on lap 90, and the Final Stage ends on lap 150. During the competition cautions at the stage breaks on Lap 40 and Lap 90, caution laps will not count and positions cannot be improved on pit road.

    Teams are not required to pit during the competition cautions. Those teams that do not elect to pit may remain on the track and start in front of the pitting teams.

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  • Cody Coughlin Nabs Top-15 Finish At Kentucky

    Cody Coughlin Nabs Top-15 Finish At Kentucky

    Cody Coughlin was able to nab a top-15 finish in Thursday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.

    In the first stage, Coughlin finished in the 20th position after running seventh earlier in the race. In the second stage, he improved his finishing position to sixteenth.

    In the remaining laps during the final stage, Coughlin was inside the top 10 but fell back quickly after his engine let go on the back stretch. Nonetheless, he was able to get to the start/finish line to finish 15th in the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225.

    “That was a bit weird, I had no warning that was going to happen until the engine just let go,” Coughlin said. “It’s disappointing because we had another top-10 finish within our grasp. It was fun racing up there for much of the night. It was certainly wild at times. I’m glad the rain stopped and we were able to get this race in.”

    This was Coughlin’s sixth top-15 finish of his career and his fourth this year.

    Coughlin sits 13th in the driver standings after Kentucky.

  • 75 percent of ThorSport Racing collected in second stage wreck

    75 percent of ThorSport Racing collected in second stage wreck

    SPARTA, Ky. — An eight-place finish by Matt Crafton and 15th by Cody Coughlin salvaged what almost turned into a rotten night for ThorSport Racing after three-quarters of their stable, including Crafton, were involved in a multi-truck wreck early in the second stage of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway.

    Entering Turn 3 on the lap 42 restart, first stage winner Ben Rhodes was running below the No. 45 of TJ Bell when he got loose and spun out. He did roughly a 135° spin before hitting Bell with his left-rear corner, sending him up the track and into the path of Crafton, who made slight contact with the wall.

    After Rhodes made contact with Bell, his truck did another half spin before pounding the wall right-rear first. Teammate Grant Enfinger, who made the choice to go high to avoid the spinning Rhodes when he was still on the bottom, slammed into his rear-end.

    “I was underneath the 4 (Christopher Bell) trying to make a move. Then I saw him start to come down on me so I started backing out, and as we were going down to the groove we just all ran out of room,” Rhodes said. “I was trying to give everybody as much room as I could. Just unfortunate. I know all the restarts everybody was going as hard as they can. They were four-wide in front of me, so I was trying to do what I could with what I had. Just unfortunate we couldn’t come out a little bit better for our Safelite team. We had a lot of people here tonight to watch the race. Sorry I let them down. Just a big mistake on my part. Miscalculated it, and just need to re-evaluate our situation this year and try to get us in the playoffs.”

    Crafton leaves Kentucky fourth in points, 89 back of Johnny Sauter, with Rhodes and Enfinger tailing him in fifth and sixth. Coughlin leaves 13th in points.

  • Bell Takes Late Lead and Holds Off Challenger to Win Truck Race at Kentucky

    Bell Takes Late Lead and Holds Off Challenger to Win Truck Race at Kentucky

    SPARTA, Ky. — An early spin didn’t stop Christopher Bell from returning to the front to claim victory in the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway.

    He took the lead from John Hunter Nemechek with a pass to the high-side in Turn 3 and held off Brandon Jones right down to the final lap to score the victory.

    “This is pretty special,” Bell said after the race. “We had our ups and downs. Practice didn’t go very well, but we had a really fast Tundra, and (crew chief) Rudy Fugle made great calls from the pit box after I made a mistake and spun out.”

    RACE RECAP

    After rain delayed the original start by roughly three hours, Johnny Sauter led the field to the green flag at 10:39 p.m. Matt Mills brought out the first caution on Lap 22 when he got loose, overcorrected and hit the outside wall exiting Turn 4.

    On the ensuing restart on Lap 27, ThorSport Racing teammates Ben Rhodes and Grant Enfinger “sandwiched” Sauter going into Turn 1 to take the lead, with Enfinger taking the sole lead. The caution flew a second time on the same lap when Bell went spinning in Turn 3.

    Rhodes took the lead from his teammate on the following restart on Lap 32 and drove on to win the first stage.

    Noah Gragson, who pitted under the first caution, assumed the race lead.

    Back to green on lap 42, the caution flew on the same lap for a multi-car wreck in Turn 3, which collected three of the four ThorSport trucks.

    After that wreck, the rest of the stage proceeded under green, with Gragson winning it.

    Myatt Snider exited pit road with the race lead. He lost the lead on the ensuing restart to Bell.

    The race didn’t make it a lap before Gragson was turned by Austin Cindric on the frontstretch, bringing out the sixth caution.

    When the next run settled into a longer green run, Bell came up on lapped traffic. John Hunter Nemechek took advantage of this and took the lead from Bell on Lap 94.

    It was interrupted by a solo spin by Snider with 44 laps to go.

    Bell took the lead on the ensuing restart with 37 to go when the caution flew for a two-truck wreck in Turn 3, setting up the run to the finish.

    NUTS & BOLTS

    The race lasted one hour, 59 minutes and 47 seconds at an average speed of 112.703 mph. There were 10 lead changes among eight different drivers and eight cautions for 42 laps.

    Sauter leaves with a 28-point lead over Bell.

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  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kentucky

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kentucky

    The  Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series all travel to Kentucky Speedway this week. The on-track activity begins Wednesday with Truck Series Practice. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Wednesday, July 5:

    On Track:
    3-4:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice (Results)
    5-6:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice (Results)

    Thursday, July 6:

    On Track:
    2- 2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
    4- 4:50 p.m.: XFINITY Series Second Practice – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
    5 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1 – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
    6- 6:50 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN – POSTPONED
    7:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 (150 laps, 225 miles) – FS1
    (Delayed approx. three hours due to rain) Results

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    1 p.m.: Erik Jones
    1:15 p.m.: William Byron, Cole Custer and Brendan Gaughan
    1:30 p.m.: Ben Rhodes
    Post-Camping World Truck Series press conference on NASCAR.com after race

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Friday, July 7:

    On Track:
    8:30-9:55 a.m.: XFINITY Series Practice (Follow live) (Canada: TSN GO)
    10-11:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – NBC Sports App (Follow live) (Canada: TSN GO)
    1-2:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
    4:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
    6:15 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
    8 p.m.: XFINITY Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2) – POSTPONED TO SATURDAY

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    9:15 a.m.: Matt Kenseth
    12:20 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    3 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    3:30 p.m.: Quaker State
    7:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying
    11 p.m.: NASCAR.com – Post-XFINITY Series Race

    Garage Cam:  (Watch live)
    9:30 a.m.: Cup Series

    Saturday, July 8:

    On Track:
    Noon: XFINITY Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
    7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – NBCSN
    11 p.m.: Cup Series Post-Race Show on NBCSN
    11:30 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap on NBCSN

    Press Conferences:  (Watch live)
    2:45 p.m.: Richard Petty
    11:30 p.m.: NASCAR.com – Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

    Race Details:

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
    Race: Buckle Up in Your Truck 225
    Date: Thursday, July 6
    Time: 7:30 p.m. ET – Delayed approx. three hours due to rain
    TV: FS1
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 225 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 35), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on lap 150)

    NASCAR XFINITY Series
    Race: Alsco 300
    Date: Friday, July 7 – Postponed to Saturday
    Time: 8 p.m. ET
    TV: NBCSN
    Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

    Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    Race: Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts
    Date: Saturday, July 8
    Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
    TV: NBCSN
    Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

    Complete TV Schedule

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

     

  • Kyle Busch Fastest at Kentucky in Final Truck Practice

    Kyle Busch Fastest at Kentucky in Final Truck Practice

    SPARTA, Ky. — Kyle Busch topped the chart in final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 46 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota was the fastest with a time of 29.853 and a speed of 180.886 mph. Christopher Bell was second in his No. 4 KBM Toyota with a time of 29.869 and a speed of 180.867 mph. Kaz Grala was third in his No. 33 GMS Racing Chevrolet with a time of 29.886 and a speed of 180.687 mph. Matt Crafton was fourth in his No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota with a time of 29.897 and a speed of 180.620 mph. Johnny Sauter rounded out the top-five in his No. 21 GMS Chevrolet with a time of 29.902 and a speed of 180.590 mph.

    Brandon Jones, Austin Hill, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top-10.

    Busch posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 178.896 mph.

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  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview – Kentucky

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview – Kentucky

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action this week after a weekend off. It will be the 10th race of the season for the Truck Series, just six races before the playoffs begin.

    There are 34 entries on the preliminary list for Thursday night’s truck race. In the past five races at Kentucky Speedway, there have been five different winners. Only two of those winners are entered in the race, Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch. Here are some drivers to keep an eye on for tomorrow night’s race.

    1. Kyle Busch – You better believe that whenever Kyle Busch is entered in any race, he’ll have an automatic shot to win. In the past five races, Kyle has raced in three of them with one win and two top fives. However, in his previous outing at Kentucky, Busch crashed out on lap 56, ending his night early.
    2. Matt Crafton – Crafton has had a sour season so far with only two top five and five top 10 finishes in 2017. At Kentucky, he is the highest active driver stat wise. In five races, Crafton has one win plus one top five and one top 10 finish and has led 43 laps. Crafton’s turning point could take place at Kentucky.
    3. Johnny Sauter – Sauter has been decent at Kentucky. He has one top five and three top 10 finishes at Kentucky. Sauter has been strong this season and is looking to continue building his momentum for a chase at the championship.
    4. Christopher Bell – In two races, Bell has one top five and one top 10 finish. With two wins already this season, he’ll be looking to secure a third win as he has no career wins at Kentucky.
    5. John Hunter Nemechek- Nemechek has been on a roll in the past two races, securing two consecutive wins. Nemechek’s track record at Kentucky has not been too shabby with one top five and one top 10 finish. Nemechek has a best finish of second which came in the 2016 race.Qualifying is slated for 5 p.m. ET Thursday, while the race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, both on FS1.