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Tag: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

  • Marco Andretti inks part-time ARCA, Truck Series rides in 2024

    Marco Andretti inks part-time ARCA, Truck Series rides in 2024

    Marco Andretti will be elevating his racing resume to new heights by competing on a part-time basis across the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series divisions in 2024.

    The 36-year-old, third-generation Andretti from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, will be joining forces with Cook Racing Technologies for 14 ARCA events, beginning at Daytona International Speedway in February, and make seven Truck Series starts with Roper Racing, which is aligned with Cook Racing Technologies, beginning at Circuit of the Americas in late March.

    Andretti’s other Truck starts with Roper Racing will include Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July, the Milwaukee Mile in August, Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in September, Homestead-Miami Speedway in October and the finale at Phoenix Raceway in November.

    The news comes as Andretti is coming off an eventful season, where he competed in his 18th consecutive Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, where he finished 17th. He also competed in the Camping World SRX Series, where he finished in the runner-up spot in the final standings, and made his first three Truck Series career starts with Spire Motorsports, where he notched two top-20 results and a season-best 18th-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway last October.

    “I’m really happy with the program we’ve put in place for my racing schedule in 2024,” Andretti said. “This plan is a good mixture of races with the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series that provides maximum track time, which is what I’m after. It will answer a lot of my unknowns in stock cars. I also want to do it the right way and not go right to the top of their sport on my INDYCAR and SRX merit as I respect the amount of talent in all of the various stock car series. I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun with Bruce and the team. I’m confident that we can be pretty competitive right out of the gate.”

    To date, Andretti, the grandson of racing legend Mario Andretti and the son of former racer Michael Andretti, has achieved two victories, six poles, 20 podiums and 1,035 laps led in 251 starts in the NTT IndyCar Series, with his best result in the Indy 500 being a runner-up result during his event’s debut in 2006. Having achieved championships in Skip Barber National division and the SRX Series along with making a single start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Andretti made his NASCAR national touring series debut in the Xfinity Series level at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October 2022 with Big Machine Racing Team, where he ended up in 36th place.

    The addition of Andretti to Cook Racing Technologies brings excitement for Bruce Cook, co-owner of the team who will serve as Andretti’s crew chief, as the organization is coming off the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West owner’s championship and three victories produced between Landen Lewis and Kaden Honeycutt.

    “I am looking forward to working with Marco and helping him to develop and grow as a driver in stock cars,” Cook said. “Marco has a proven track record across multiple racing platforms. I think with some more seat time and guidance in the stock car world, he’ll be able to compete up front on a regular basis.”

    Marco Andretti’s part-time campaign in the ARCA Menards Series is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 17 and air at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1. His part-time campaign in the Craftsman Truck Series is set to occur at Circuit of the Americas on March 23 and air at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Kevin Manion named crew chief for Nick Sanchez, Rev Racing for 2024 Truck Series season

    Kevin Manion named crew chief for Nick Sanchez, Rev Racing for 2024 Truck Series season

    Kevin “Bono” Manion will be joining Rev Racing to serve as Nick Sanchez’s new crew chief for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as Rev Racing prepares to embark on its second season in the Truck Series and first in a technical alliance with Spire Motorsports. It also comes as Manion is coming off a full 2023 Truck Series schedule with Spire Motorsports, where he worked with nine different competitors while calling the shots atop the No. 7 Spire Chevrolet entry pit box.

    “I am really looking forward to working with Nick [Sanchez] in the upcoming season,” Manion said. “He is incredibly committed to his craft and I know we are going to work really well together. We have a great group of guys surrounding this effort and we are positioned for success, we just need to execute.”

    Manion, a native of Boylston, Massachusetts, joins Rev Racing amid an illustrious NASCAR career that includes two Xfinity Series championships with Martin Truex Jr. (2004-05), 17 Xfinity career victories, and five Cup career wins, including the 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 titles with Jamie McMurray, all while being a crew chief.

    In 2016, Manion became a crew chief in the Truck Series for the first time as he joined Kyle Busch Motorsports to lead the team’s No. 51 “all-star” entry that was piloted between four competitors. He would then spend the next two seasons at DGR-Crosley before transitioning to GMS Racing for the following two seasons as he led Zane Smith to three career victories and back-to-back runner-up results in the final driver’s standings. For the previous two seasons, Manion moved to Spire Motorsports, which expanded to the Truck Series for the first time, beginning on a part-time basis in 2022 before expanding to a full schedule in 2023. Throughout the two seasons, Manion worked with a total of 12 competitors and achieved two victories.

    Manion achieved his first Truck victory as a crew chief with Daniel Suarez at Phoenix Raceway in November 2016 and has since compiled a total of nine Truck victories with six competitors, with his latest occurring with Kyle Larson at North Wilkesboro Speedway last May.

    Manion’s move to Rev Racing brings excitement for Sanchez, who retains driving responsibilities of the No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST for a second full-time Truck campaign. The 22-year-old Sanchez from Miami, Florida, is coming off the first Truck campaign for himself and Rev Racing after winning the 2022 ARCA Menards Series championship. Throughout the 2023 season, Sanchez achieved five poles, two top-five results, 12 top-10 results, 309 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.0, with his best result being a runner-up finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. He qualified for the 2023 Truck Series Playoffs and settled in sixth place in the final driver’s standings after missing the Championship 4 cutline in a tie-breaker. Nonetheless, he managed to achieve the 2023 Rookie-of-the-Year title as he prepares for another bid for both a Championship 4 berth and his first series’ victory.

    “I am thrilled to be returning to Rev Racing for a full season in the [NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series],” Sanchez said. “I certainly have some unfinished business. I am grateful for another opportunity to compete with [owner] Max [Siegel] and appreciative for the returning support of my partners at Gainbridge. They truly are catalysts in my career and continue to drive positive change in our sport. I am energized by the new talent I have surrounding me in 2024, but feel foundationally grounded by those that are returning for a second season. The team makeup is positioned for success and we are all focused on the same goal, to win a Championship.”

    In addition to Manion, Allen Hart, a former engineer and technical director who recently served as crew chief for Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series, will join Rev Racing to serve as the team’s chief engineer.

    Rev Racing’s 2024 Craftsman Truck Series season is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16 and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Stefan Parsons joins Henderson Motorsports for 2024 Truck Series campaign

    Stefan Parsons joins Henderson Motorsports for 2024 Truck Series campaign

    Stefan Parsons will compete for Henderson Motorsports throughout the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as the 25-year-old Parsons from Cornelius, North Carolina, is coming off an 18-race campaign between the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series divisions, where he competed for five organizations. Throughout the 18-race campaign, he logged in three top-20 results, all occurring in the Xfinity circuit. In the Truck Series, he made two starts for Young’s Motorsports before competing for Rackley W.A.R. in the 2023 finale at Phoenix Raceway.

    Parsons, who is the son of former NASCAR competitor Phil Parsons and the nephew of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Benny Parsons, has made 65 career starts in the Xfinity Series and 11 in the Truck Series to date. His best result is an eighth-place finish achieved at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2022 in the Xfinity circuit with Alpha Prime Racing. His best result in the Truck circuit is a 17th-place run at Bristol in 2018 with Premium Motorsports.

    Meanwhile, Henderson Motorsports is coming off a nine-race campaign throughout the 2023 Truck Series season. Parker Kligerman, who won two races with the team (Talladega Superspeedway in 2017 and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2022), made eight starts while Sean Hingorani, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West champion, made his Truck debut during the finale at Phoenix. Kligerman recorded the team’s best result of the season in the form of a ninth-place run at Talladega in October.

    With Parsons commencing his 2024 Truck season behind the wheel of Henderson Motorsports’ No. 75 entry at Daytona International Speedway in February, the remainder of his schedule remains to be determined.

    Parsons’ 2024 Craftsman Truck Series campaign with Henderson Motorsports is scheduled to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16 and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Ty Dillon joins Rackley W.A.R. for full-time Truck Series return in 2024

    Ty Dillon joins Rackley W.A.R. for full-time Truck Series return in 2024

    Ty Dillon has been named the newest, full-time competitor of the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Rackley W.A.R. for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as the 31-year-old Dillon from Welcome, North Carolina, is coming off a full-time Cup Series campaign with Spire Motorsports, where he generated an average-finishing result of 27.5, including a season-best 11th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in August, before settling in 32nd place in the final driver’s standings. Previously, he competed on a full-time Cup basis for Petty GMS Motorsports, where he notched a season-best 10th-place result at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course and an average-finishing result of 22.6 before ending up in 29th place in the 2022 final standings.

    The move for Dillon is set to mark his first start in the Truck Series since competing in the 2021 series’ finale at Phoenix Raceway for Bret Holmes Racing. It is also set to mark his first full-time campaign in the series since 2013, where he won two races and settled in a career-best runner-up spot in the final standings.

    “I’m excited to go back to the Truck Series and compete in the series that got it all started for me,” Dillon said. “I have a lot of good memories from earlier in my career with winning races and poles, and our goal is to create more this season. Rackley W.A.R. has built a solid foundation and it’s an honor to be a part of taking them to the winning level they want to be at. I’m very appreciative of this opportunity and ready to get started in Daytona.”

    The Truck Series is the series which Dillon made his inaugural presence within NASCAR’s top three national touring series, which occurred in 2011 as he was competing for the ARCA Menards Series championship. During the season, he competed in the final three events of the season for Kevin Harvick Inc., where he notched a strong third-place finish during the season’s penultimate event at Texas Motor Speedway.

    The next two seasons, Dillon piloted the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for Richard Childress Racing in the Truck Series. During the two-year span, the North Carolina native scored a combined three victories, four poles, 16 top-five results, 29 top-10 results, 665 laps led and average-finishing results within the top 10. He was also a championship contender during both seasons, where he ended up in fourth place in the 2012 final standings and claimed the Rookie-of-the-Year title before ending up in the runner-up spot in 2013.

    Through 58 previous starts in the Truck Series (2011-15, 2017-18, 2021), Dillon has achieved three victories, five poles, 20 top-five results, 36 top-10 results, 702 laps led and an average-finishing result of 10.0.

    In addition to the Truck Series, Dillon has made 164 career starts in the Xfinity Series, with his top accomplishments including achieving a single series’ victory occurring at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2014 and claiming top-five results in the final standings between 2014 and 2016. He has also made 238 career starts in the Cup Series, where he has generated two top-five results, including a career-best third-place finish at Talladega in October 2020, and seven top-10 results.

    “We are excited to announce Ty Dillon as the driver for Rackley W.A.R. in the NASCAR Truck Series.” Willie Allen, President and Chief Operating Officer, said. “Ty’s exceptional talent is a perfect fit for our team as we elevate our engineering and technological capabilities to new heights. We’re investing in cutting-edge technology and innovative engineering to ensure Ty has one the most competitive trucks on the track. This season marks a new chapter for our team. We’re ready to showcase our progress and for a championship run. We look forward to making this season the new benchmark in our racing history.”

    Entering the 2024 Truck Series season, Dillon is set to become the 11th competitor overall to campaign in at least one Truck event for Rackley W.A.R. Recently, the team’s No. 25 entry was piloted by Matt DiBenedetto, who recorded the team’s first career victory at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2022 and made the 2023 Truck Playoffs before being eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 10. With three races remaining on the 2023 schedule, however, Rackley and DiBenedetto parted ways, with Chandler Smith, Trevor Bayne and Stefan Parsons each piloting the entry throughout the final three-scheduled events. With the team’s No. 25 entry ending up in ninth place in the final owner’s standings, Rackley W.A.R. strives to extend its competitive form entering the 2024 season.

    Dillon’s No. 25 Chevrolet entry will be primarily sponsored by Rackley Roofing Company, Inc. for 16 of the 23 events on the 2024 Truck Series schedule.

    “Racing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is extremely competitive. Over these last three years, we have learned a ton of what to do and what not to do,” Curtis Sutton, Rackley W.A.R. Chief Executive Officer, said. “I believe we have put a team together with Ty Dillon behind the wheel of the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado, where great things are in store in 2024 for this team, our sponsors and everyone who supports this organization, including Chevrolet Motorsports.”

    Dillon’s first full-time campaign with Rackley W.A.R. in the Craftsman Truck Series is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to air on February 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Young Layne Riggs leaning on family with a hunger to win in 2024

    Young Layne Riggs leaning on family with a hunger to win in 2024

    The 21-year-old Layne Riggs encapsulates the late Ken Squier, saying “Common men doing uncommon things.” The son of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Scott Riggs, Layne has forged his own path, mainly taking to the short tracks of the south as so many others like him do. 

    The difference? Layne Riggs whipped all the other common men on the racetrack, and now he’s in a premier ride in the top three series of NASCAR. The young North Carolina native signed a deal with Front Row Motorsports to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2024, equaling Riggs’ first full-time opportunity in a national series. 

    “We just had to make sure I took advantage of every opportunity I had,” Riggs said. “I’ve always lived off part-time deals, especially in the Truck Series. I even got those three races for Kaulig in the Xfinity Series, but I think it really goes back to winning the (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) championship in 2022. I was very successful there, and it gave me the opportunity to get more Truck Series races the next year. Kevin Harvick gave me the opportunity to drive his late model at Martinsville, and we started talking to Jerry, (from Front Row Motorsports) just kind of shooting the breeze behind the trailer before the race. He called back that next Monday and said, “We want you for next season, we think that you’re the guy and you’re the candidate to drive our truck.”

    Riggs says his number one goal for the season is to get to victory lane for the first time in his national series career, but he’ll have to go to school quickly. 

    “I know that I have the people around me, and I know I have a good enough team. Obviously, I have really big shoes to fill. Zane (Smith) went back to back at Daytona which is going to be my first race. I’ve never run on a superspeedway before in my life, so I’m going to have to learn very quickly. He (Zane Smith) is undefeated at COTA. That truck has won every race at Circuit of the Americas and I’ve never run a road course in my life. So the two places he (Zane) was very strong at, I have zero experience at.”

    However, Riggs says he feels confident about his team’s ability to match his strong suit – the short tracks. 

    “There’s a lot of short tracks and tracks that I’m familiar with on the schedule this year,” Riggs added. 

    Despite the fact that 2024 will be Riggs’ first in a top-3 series, there’s one big mentor that he can lean on – his father, NASCAR veteran Scott Riggs, who won nine races combined in the Truck & Xfinity Series and ran 208 Cup Series races over a NASCAR career that spanned 15 years. 

    “It makes it easier for me, is all,” Riggs said, “when I asked him what having a veteran racer so close to him does.” 

    “He’s still Dad. When I was younger, I went to all the Cup races with them, and it’s funny, I always thought, ‘Doesn’t everybody’s dad drive race cars?’ This is normal for a kid like me. But it’s been great. When he was getting out of it, I started getting into it. In my whole 10 or 11 years of racing, he’s only ever missed two races. It’s been a great bond, working on the late models, working on the cars in the shop after school, building the cars. He would (be my) crew chief on the weekends. He says now he’s worked himself out of a job,” Riggs jokes. “He’s worked so hard and pushed so hard to get me to this level, that now he doesn’t have a job anymore.”

    That mentorship, combined with a boatload of pure talent has pushed Riggs to a level few common men reach. Now, it’s up to the young driver to do uncommon things and distinguish himself from the hungry pack in 2024.

  • My official way too early 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff predictions

    My official way too early 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff predictions

    With two months remaining until the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season begins at Daytona, I thought I’d do what every sensible NASCAR fan does every offseason, and make way too early (and likely incorrect) Playoff predictions. 

    So without further ado, sit back, relax, and please, do not revisit this article after the regular season finale at Richmond on August 10th of next year. 

    Virtual Locks

    Nothing is guaranteed in the wild world of NASCAR racing, but there are a few standout drivers who should have no issue making the postseason. 

    Corey Heim, No. 11 Toyota Tundra, TRICON Garage:

    Coming off a Championship race that was disappointing on multiple counts for Heim, he’s looking to avenge his narrow loss and win his first NASCAR championship. Heim had 3 wins, 12 top 5’s, and 19 top 5’s in just 22 starts last year, and still won the regular season championship despite missing the race at Gateway. So long as the speed is still in the shop at Tricon, Corey Heim could be in a great position to win a Truck Series championship and cement his spot as a top 3 prospect in the sport. 

    Christian Eckes, No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing:

    While Eckes narrowly missed the Final 4, he still won 4 races and proved his critics wrong. In his 2nd year with MHR, Eckes is primed to make the Championship 4 and compete against the big dogs. He could be asked to be a bit more consistent, as he only turned in 13 top tens last season, but as long as he puts his Silverado in Victory Lane, he’ll be a lock for the Playoffs. 

    Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Ford F-150, ThorSport Racing:

    Coming off a quiet 2nd championship, Rhodes is aiming to have more winning speed in 2024. Only 7 top 5’s and 1 win for the team that eventually won the championship is a statline that seems a bit shocking, but in the Playoff era, all you have to do is perform at the right time. I think Rhodes at least doubles his win total from ‘23 in ‘24, and he’ll be coasting into the postseason. 

    Ty Majeski, No. 98 Ford F-150, Thorsport Racing:

    Majeski only won once last season, at IRP, but it feels like there were at least 2 missed opportunities to get to Victory Lane. A pit road penalty at Richmond ruined one of the most dominating performances in Truck Series history and the rough weekend at Milwaukee (after fellow driver Carson Hocevar allegedly said the No. 98 team had their “superpower” taken away) seem like races that Majeski should want back. Going into his 3rd year with ThorSport, it seems like Majeski needs a big season to stay in a coveted seat, and I think he wins at least twice in the Regular season to slot himself into the Playoffs. 

    Feeling Alright, Alright, Alright…

    I feel confident that these next few drivers will make the Playoffs, but I wouldn’t say they’re locks yet. 

    Nick Sanchez, No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado, Rev Racing:

    While Sanchez didn’t get to Victory Lane in 2023, the rookie was the man to beat in Qualifying and finished top 10 in over half the races. (12) He goes into 2024 with big expectations, and I think he meets them, winning his first race and not having to worry about points as the regular season winds down. 

    Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Toyota Tundra, Halmar Friesen Racing:

    Friesen had a pretty disappointing campaign in 2023, going winless, missing the Playoffs, and only finishing top 10 7 times. But in a weakened field, the veteran from Canada should have an easier time making the Playoff field. I think he will find Victory Lane before the postseason begins.

    Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ford F-150, ThorSport Racing:

    What’s more impressive than Crafton’s 15 wins and 3 championships? The fact that in 8 years of them being in place, Matt Crafton has never missed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. Heck, he’s never finished below 15th in the points and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 since 2006. Crafton has just snuck in the past couple of seasons, and I think he will do so again, but I simply can’t predict that the 47-year-old will miss the postseason, because there’s simply no evidence to suggest it. Will he break his 3-and-a-half-year winless streak dating back to Kansas in July of 2020? I doubt it, but don’t be surprised if the crafty vet gets back into Victory Lane. 

    By The Skin of Their Teeth

    The Truck Series Playoff bubble battle usually comes down to the final few races, if not the final race. I think these last 3 drivers barely sneak into the 2024 Playoffs. 

    Layne Riggs, No. 38 Ford F-150, Front Row Motorsports

    The No. 38 team took a step back with Zane Smith last year, but it was a lame-duck year for Smith, who was looking forward to his Cup Series plans in 2024 and beyond. While young, Layne Riggs has shown flashes of talent in the Truck Series over his select starts. Combining his raw talent, great equipment, and a veteran team, I think Riggs sneaks in. His best shot at a win is likely COTA. Riggs may not be the best road course racer, but the 38 truck is 3-0 in Austin, winning with Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith (twice) when the Truck Series ventured to the Texas road course. 

    Grant Enfinger, No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado, CR7 Racing

    Though disappointed to come up just short of the championship, Enfinger still had a fantastic year in 2023. 3 wins gave way to his best season in quite a while. However, GMS shut down their Truck Series program after Phoenix, leaving Enfinger without a ride until he signed with CR7 Racing a few days ago. I think Enfinger is talented enough to lift sub-par equipment to the postseason, even if it’s just by a few points. Plus, Enfinger is an excellent superspeedway racer, and with the first 2 destinations on the schedule being Daytona & Atlanta, Enfinger has a decent chance to win his way into the Playoffs early in the year.

    And finally…

    Jake Garcia, No. 13 Ford F-150, ThorSport Racing

    Garcia turned in a very solid effort in his rookie campaign, finishing 13th in points with 9 top 10s. In slightly better equipment and with a slightly weakened field, the path seems open for Garcia to make the Playoffs, however, narrow a margin it might be. He’ll have plenty of other drivers on his tail, but I think the strength of ThorSport lifts him into the Playoffs. 

    Close, but no Cigar

    A few drivers that will narrowly miss out on the postseason…

    Tanner Gray, No. 15 Toyota Tundra, TRICON Garage 

    Gray has been steadily improving over the past few seasons but hasn’t been able to finish the regular season as well as he’s started it. That issue will plague Gray again, as he’ll narrowly miss out on the postseason. 

    Taylor Gray, No. 17 Toyota Tundra, TRICON Garage

    In what will be his first full-time year in the Truck Series, Gray’s path will be very similar to that of his brother. Gray will have a strong start, but will eventually fall off as crunch time grows near. Maybe in 2025, he’ll make the postseason for the first time.

    Tyler Ankrum, No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing

    Since his win at Kentucky in 2019, Ankrum has missed the Playoffs in 3 out of the last 4 seasons. After leaving Hattori Racing for MHR, he’s hoping a new team will re-invigorate him. However, I think he still has a ways to go before he gets back in victory lane, or the championship conversation. I think he outperforms teammate Daniel Dye, who I predict to be nowhere near the bubble come Playoff time, but Ankrum needs to find consistent speed soon. 

    Matt Mills, No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado, Niece Motorsports 

    Mills impressed at Richmond last summer with KBM, and I think he’ll outrun Niece teammate Bayley Currey this year. However, he’s still young and doesn’t have a ton of experience in big-time moments. Mills will have his moments, and he’s driving for a great team, but it won’t be enough to lift him to the Playoffs. 

    Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado, Faction46

    When I asked Thad Moffitt about his expectations for 2024, he said that he thinks the team could be in Playoff contention, running around 10th-15th. Seeing as Faction46 is a brand new race team, I’ll take the lower end of that, but I do think they’ll have a few solid runs, and have a good shot at winning the season opener at Daytona. A top 15 season in the points would be a fantastic jumping-off point for Lane Moore and the all-new Faction46 team. 

    Next 4 Out: Dean Thompson, Bayley Currey, Daniel Dye, Timmy Hill

    There you have it, folks. My way too early Truck Series playoff predictions. Again, please don’t come back to this article after the regular season finale to see how many of my predictions have aged like milk.

    Here’s to a great season of Truck Series Racing!

  • Enfinger joins CR7 Motorsports on multi-year Truck Series basis, beginning in 2024

    Enfinger joins CR7 Motorsports on multi-year Truck Series basis, beginning in 2024

    Grant Enfinger will be joining forces with CR7 Motorsports to pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado RST on a multiyear basis, beginning in the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as the 38-year-old Enfinger from Fairhope, Alabama, is coming off his seventh full-time campaign in the Truck Series, where he piloted GMS Racing’s No. 23 Chevrolet to three victories, a pole, nine top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 232 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.0 throughout the 23-race schedule. After qualifying for the 2023 Playoffs and making the Championship 4 cutline, Enfinger finished in sixth place during the finale at Phoenix Raceway and in a career-best runner-up in the final driver’s standings. The finale would also mark his final race with GMS Racing, which ceased all NASCAR operations at season’s end and initially left Enfinger without a ride for the 2024 season.

    The move marks a reunion for CR7 Motorsports and Enfinger, both of whom joined forces for nine Truck events in 2021 and two ARCA Menards Series events this past season. During the nine-race Truck stint, Enfinger’s best result with the team was a fourth-place run at Circuit of the Americas in May.

    “I feel like we have all the right pieces in place,” Enfinger said. “With Chevrolet’s help and support, we were able to put this together and have the resources it takes to truly win races and contend for championships.”

    Enfinger, a former champion of the ARCA Menards Series (2015) with 16 career victories, made his inaugural presence in the Truck Series at his home track, Talladega Superspeedway, in October 2010. Since then, the Alabama native, who spent four seasons (2010-12 & 2016) competing in the series on a part-time basis before graduating to a full-time role in 2017, proceeded to claim 10 career victories in the series along with six poles, 58 top-five results, 102 top-10 results, 1,131 laps led and an average-finishing result of 10.4 through 173 Truck career starts. Other accomplishments made by Enfinger within the series include qualifying for the Playoffs five times, making the Championship 4 cutline twice (2020 & 2023) and winning the 2019 Truck Series Regular Season Championship.

    With CR7 Motorsports forming an alliance with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Grant County Mulch and Champion Power Equipment will be serving as primary partners for the organization, with the latter sponsoring Enfinger’s No. 9 entry.

    In addition, veteran Michael Shelton will be serving as the team’s general manager while veteran Jeff Stankiewicz will be serving as Enfinger’s crew chief for the 2024 season. The move reunites Enfinger with Stankiewicz, the 2020 Truck Series championship-winning crew chief who spent the previous two seasons as crew chief for Sheldon Creed in the Xfinity Series and achieved both the 2015 ARCA title and a Truck Series victory at Talladega in 2016 with Enfinger.

    “When the opportunity came along, I knew that Grant was the perfect choice,” Codie Rohrbaugh, team owner of CR7 Motorsports, said. “With our efforts to elevate our racing program in 2024, I am confident in what Grant will bring to the team.”

    “I am expecting growing pains, but I also foresee performance from the beginning,” Enfinger added. “I can’t say thank you enough to everyone that made this happen. Especially Codie and the entire Grant County Mulch family and everyone at Champion Power Equipment. I am extremely excited about this next chapter in my career and couldn’t be more happy about my decision.”

    With his plans for next season set, Enfinger’s first full-time Craftsman Truck Series campaign with CR7 Motorsports commences at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Ankrum added to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing lineup for 2024 Truck Series season

    Ankrum added to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing lineup for 2024 Truck Series season

    Tyler Ankrum will be joining McAnally-Hilgemann Racing to pilot the team’s fourth entry, the No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST, for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as the 22-year-old Ankrum from San Bernardino, California, is coming off his fifth full-time campaign in the Truck Series and second with Hattori Racing Enterprises. Throughout the 2023 season, he recorded a single top-five result, six top-10 finishes, 15 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.2 before settling in 17th place in the final driver’s standings.

    For the 2024 season, Ankrum’s No. 18 entry, which has been renumbered from 35 during the previous season, will be sponsored by LiUNA! for 21 of 23-scheduled events while veteran Mark Hillman will be serving as the crew chief. Ankrum will also compete alongside full-time competitors Christian Eckes and Daniel Dye, with Jack Wood also joining the team on a part-time basis.

    “Joining [McAnally-Hilgemann Racing] for 2024 is an exciting next step for me and a great opportunity,” Ankrum said. “Both teams showed a ton of speed and versatility in 2023, and the results were there to show for it. I’m looking forward to working with Mark [Hillman] and his team and looking forward to being teammates with Christian [Eckes], Jack [Wood], and Daniel [Dye]. I want to get back to the playoffs and I know the potential is there at MHR to accomplish that next year.”

    Ankrum, who grew up competing in quarter midgets and late models, is a former champion of the ARCA Menards Series East, which he achieved in 2018 while competing for DGR-Crosley. During the season, he made his first two Truck Series career starts with DGR-Crosley, where he finished 18th and sixth, respectively.

    The following season, Ankrum competed with DGR-Crosley in the Truck Series on a full-time basis, minus the first three events due to age restrictions. Despite competing in two events for NEMCO Motorsports in June due to sponsorship issues pertaining to Ankrum’s DGR-Crosley ride, he returned to the latter organization by late June before notching his first career victory at Kentucky Speedway in July. The victory allowed the Californian to make the 2019 Truck Series Playoffs, where he would be eliminated from title contention after the Round of 8 and settle in eighth place in the final standings. By then, he had achieved the 2019 Truck Series Rookie-of-the-Year title.

    Ankrum would proceed to compete the 2020 and 2021 Truck seasons with GMS Racing, where he made the Playoffs for a second time in 2020 and settled in ninth place in the final standings. He then spent the following two seasons driving for Hattori Racing Enterprises, where his best points result was a 12th-place result in the 2022 final standings.

    Through 113 career starts in the Truck Series, Ankrum has achieved one victory, one pole, 10 top-five results, 38 top-10 results, 144 laps led and an average-finishing result of 16.4 as he strives to return both to Victory Lane and the Playoffs for the upcoming season.

    “We’re really glad to have Tyler join the team as we continue to grow in 2024,” Bill McAnally, team owner of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, said. “Tyler has shown he can get the job done at this level, and we want to get him back in the playoffs and be a strong contender this year. Surrounding him with Mark [Hillman] and the No. 35 team from last season will be a great fit for Tyler and we’re excited he’s joining our expanding program.”

    With his plans for next season set, Ankrum’s first Truck Series campaign with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing is set to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Jack Wood inks full-time ARCA West, part-time Truck schedule with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2024

    Jack Wood inks full-time ARCA West, part-time Truck schedule with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2024

    Jack Wood will be joining McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in a double-duty role for the 2024 NASCAR season. The double-duty effort will feature Wood piloting the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care/Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet SS on a full-time basis in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he will compete for the series’ championship, and the No. 91 MHR Chevrolet Silverado RST in 14 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Serise events.

    As part of Wood’s double-duty effort, Kevin Bellicourt will serve as his crew chief in both series and Eric Holmes, a three-time ARCA West champion, will serve as both his spotter and driver coach. Wood’s first Truck Series start with MHR in 2024 is set to occur at Daytona International Speedway on February 16 followed by Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24 as the rest of his schedule remains to be determined. His first ARCA Menards Series West start of the 2024 season also remains to be determined with the series’ schedule not yet revealed.

    The news comes as the 23-year-old Wood from Loomis, California, is coming off a part-time Truck campaign with Kyle Busch Motorsports, where he competed in 13 of the 23-race schedule and recorded two top-10 results.

    “The opportunity to race for a championship with BMR and NAPA Auto Care is definitely exciting,” Wood said. “It’s a great chance to reestablish myself in the West series, focus on racing for a title and continuing to compete on the Truck side also. Having Kevin [Bellicourt] with me in both series is going to be a huge help to build consistency and I’m looking forward to balancing both programs next season.”

    Prior to the Truck Series, Wood formely competed in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he has tallied four top-five results and 11 top-10 results in 19 starts (2019-23). He has also made three career starts in the ARCA East region and 17 career starts in the ARCA Menards Series, where he has collected three top-five results and 10 top-10 results in 17 starts (2021-23).

    During the 2021 season, Wood made his Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, where he finished 28th while piloting GMS Racing’s No. 24 Chevrolet entry. The Californian would compete in 11 additional events before competing on a full-time basis in the Truck circuit with GMS in 2022. Despite finishing no higher than 13th on the track in a season where he recorded an average-finishing result of 25.2 and a 24th-place result in the final standings, Wood was selected to anchor Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 51 Chevrolet entry for the majority of the 2023 season, where he shared the ride with team owner Kyle Busch, William Byron and Matt Mills.

    Through 48 career starts in the Truck Series, Wood has achieved three top-10 results, five laps led and an average-finishing result of 24.4. Currently, his best on-track result is a ninth-place run at Texas Motor Speedway in April as he continues his pursuit for his first series’ victory.

    Wood’s 2024 plans reunites himself with Bill McAnally Racing, which he competed for at Sonoma Raceway in the ARCA West and at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the ARCA Menards Series during the 2022 season. It will also mark his first full-time campaign in the ARCA West region as he replaces Tanner Reif in the No. 16 BMR entry, an entry that last won the ARCA West title in 2021 with Jesse Love. Over on the Truck Series region, Wood will compete alongside Christian Eckes and Daniel Dye, both of whom will compete for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing on a full-time basis.

    “Having Jack join our Truck Series program is a big addition, and I’m excited to see him compete for a championship in the NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet out west,” Bill McAnally, team owner of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, said. “We want to get back to victory lane in the ARCA West Series and Jack will give us a great chance to chase our 12th championship. He never got to compete for a regional title, and I think the opportunity for him to do that will help him gain confidence and experience. It will also help grow the No. 91 team with Kevin [Bellicourt] into a contender in the Truck Series.”

    With his plans for next season set, Wood’s part-time 2024 Craftsman Truck Series campaign with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing is scheduled to commence at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Jeff Hensley joins TRICON Garage as No. 17 crew chief for 2024 Truck Series season

    Jeff Hensley joins TRICON Garage as No. 17 crew chief for 2024 Truck Series season

    Veteran Jeff Hensley will be joining TRICON Garage to serve as the crew chief of the No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro team piloted by Taylor Gray for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

    The news comes as the 61-year-old Hensley from Ridgeway, Virginia, is coming off a strong season as the crew chief of the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado RST team piloted by Grant Enfinger. Throughout the season, the duo notched three victories, a pole, nine top-five results, 13 top-10 results, 232 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.0. They also made the 2023 Truck Series Playoffs and transferred all the way into the Championship 4 round, where they ended up in the runner-up result in the final standings. Ultimately, the finale would serve as Hensley’s final race working at GMS Racing as GMS ceased operations at this season’s conclusion.

    Hensley, who was a former Xfinity Series competitor for his family-owned team before transitioning to a career as a crew chief in 1987, has called 463 events as a Truck Series crew chief from 2004 to 2023. During this span, he notched 22 victories with six different competitors, including nine with Enfinger, and ended up with two runner-up results in the final standings, the first with Mike Skinner in 2007 and the second with Enfinger in 2023.

    In addition, Hensley has appeared in 427 events as a crew chief in the Xfinity circuit from 1987-2001. During the stretch, he achieved 11 victories and the 1990 series’ championship with Chuck Brown. Following the 2001 season, Hensley, who was working for his family-owned team, worked for Arrington Manufacturers before reassuming his role as a crew chief with a direct focus within the Truck Series.

    The 2024 Truck Series season is set to mark Hensley’s first with a Toyota organization since the 2017 season that occurred with ThorSport Racing and Enfinger. It will also mark his first season paired with Taylor Gray, who notched a career-best runner-up finish at Kansas Speedway in September, three top-five results and eight top 10 results while competing in all but three events this past season before settling in 15th place in the 2023 driver’s standings. Having made 33 career starts in the Truck Series for the past three seasons, the 18-year-old Gray from Artesia, New Mexico, is set to mount for his first series’ victory and Playoff bid in 2024 while also making his series’ debut at Daytona International Speedway in February.

    With his plans for next season set, Hensley is set to make his first appearance as a crew chief for TRICON Garage and Taylor Gray in the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series’ season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona. The event is scheduled to occur on February 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.