Tag: truck series

NASCAR entry lists at Talladega, notable entries for Cup and Truck

Check out NASCAR’s entry lists for this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, including notable entries in the Cup and Truck Series.

NASCAR is heading to Talladega Superspeedway as the Cup Series continues the Round of 12 while the Truck Series holds its second race of the Round of 8. Starting with the Cup Series, Riley Herbst will drive the No. 36 car for Front Row Motorsports as his now teammate Todd Gilliland will return to the No. 38 car after a week with Rick Ware Racing.

Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar returns to the No. 42 for Legacy Motor Club for his fifth race with the organization. Finally, Brennan Poole will wheel the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing for the second straight superspeedway race in a row.

In the Truck Series, Chandler Smith will drive the No. 25 truck for Rackley W.A.R. after the organization moved on from Matt DiBenedetto. Also, Front Row Motorsports introduces a second entry as Brett Moffitt will attempt to make the field in the No. 34 truck. Finally, Parker Kligerman returns to the No. 75 truck for Henderson Motorsports.

The entry lists are stacked with an incredible amount of big names and this weekend’s NASCAR racing at Talladega should exceed the hype. It will kick off on Saturday afternoon with the Truck Series on FOX Sports 1.

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Talladega race schedule: NASCAR Cup and Truck Series start times

Check out the weekend schedule at Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series!

NASCAR is heading to Talladega Superspeedway and there is always an incredible amount on the line at one of the sport’s most unpredictable venues. The Cup Series will hold the second race of the Round of 12 while the Truck Series goes forward with the second race of the Round of 8. In 2023, the Xfinity Series will not be a part of the fall weekend at Talladega.

The Truck Series will start out the weekend on Saturday afternoon while Cup Series holds the final event on Sunday afternoon. Talladega will undoubtedly be a chaotic weekend to an already crazy playoff schedule.

Here’s the full weekend schedule for Talladega, with start times and broadcast information for each session:

NASCAR Cup Series:

Saturday: Qualifying (4:30 p.m., USA Network)

Sunday: YellaWood 500 (2:00 p.m. ET, NBC)

NASCAR Truck Series:

Saturday: Qualifying (9:30 a.m., FOX Sports 2), Love’s RV Stop 250 (1:00 p.m., FOX Sports 1)

Matt DiBenedetto won’t finish the 2023 NASCAR season with Rackley W.A.R.

Rackley W.A.R. announces that Matt DiBenedetto won’t finish out the 2023 NASCAR season in the No. 25 truck with three races left.

Last week, [autotag]Matt DiBenedetto[/autotag] announced on social media that he would not return to the No. 25 truck for Rackley W.A.R. in 2024. Despite not having anything lined up, DiBenedetto seemed to be taking the risk of trying to find a better situation for him moving forward. However, he will have to do such a thing without a ride for now.

Rackley W.A.R. surprisingly announced on Tuesday afternoon that DiBenedetto would not finish out the 2023 NASCAR season in the No. 25 truck. This comes after the former Rackley W.A.R. driver was eliminated from the Truck Series playoffs at Kansas Speedway over one week ago. The organization has yet to finalize its plans for the last three races.

It is a bittersweet end to what seemed like a promising partnership between the two sides. DiBenedetto won Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway during the 2022 NASCAR playoffs and now, the venue will represent the first race following their breakup. The organization should announce a driver within the next week.

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Corey Heim steals the victory, Championship 4 spot at Bristol

Corey Heim wins the NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in thrilling fashion to clinch a spot in the Championship 4.

The NASCAR Truck Series went to Bristol Motor Speedway for the first race of the Round of 8 and left with a new driver chasing a title. [autotag]Corey Heim[/autotag] made a late pass on Christain Eckes and claimed the victory. It was surprising as Eckes led the most laps while winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2. Still. it was Heim who clinched a spot in the Championship 4.

The driver of the No. 11 truck won the Truck Series regular-season championship and has been one of the best competitors in the series for the entire year. As for the other playoff drivers, Zane Smith and Ty Majeski lost the most with finishes outside of the top 15 spots. They both sit below the playoff cut-line now.

The Truck Series now goes to Talladega Superspeedway in two weeks for the second race of the Round of 8. It will be wild as seven drivers outside of Heim look to clinch a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics top-10 finishing order:

  1. No. 11 Corey Heim
  2. No. 19 Christian Eckes
  3. No. 23 Grant Enfinger
  4. No. 42 Carson Hocevar
  5. No. 17 Taylor Gray
  6. No. 24 Rajah Caruth
  7. No. 99 Ben Rhodes
  8. No. 4 Chase Purdy
  9. No. 2 Nick Sanchez
  10. No. 25 Matt DiBenedetto

Noah Gragson’s best ride options for the 2024 NASCAR season

Noah Gragson has been reinstated by NASCAR and needs to find a ride for the 2024 season. Find out Gragson’s best seat options for next year!

[autotag]Noah Gragson[/autotag] used to drive the No. 42 Cup car for Legacy Motor Club during the 2023 NASCAR season; however, Gragson requested his release from the organization following his suspension for liking an offensive social media post. Fast forward one month and the former Legacy Motor Club driver has been reinstated after finishing sensitivity training.

Gragson struggled to perform in his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series but still has the talent to compete at the highest level. With the Las Vegas native now reinstated, what are the best ride options for the 2024 season? The most likely outcome is that Gragson finds his way to a NASCAR Xfinity or Truck Series team next season.

Joe Gibbs Racing would be the best Xfinity Series fit for Gragson if the organization wants to compete for race wins but is it realistic? It would give the 25-year-old driver an opportunity to rebuild himself with Toyota moving forward. Joe Gibbs Racing’s current drivers may not return in 2024, which would give Gragson the chance of being one of its possibly two or three full-time drivers.

Gragson’s next best option for an Xfinity Series ride is Kaulig Racing. The organization currently has two full-time drivers and a third full-time entry; however, Daniel Hemric could be promoted to the team’s Cup Series program. A.J. Allmendinger could also move down to the Xfinity Series but the No. 10 car would be open for Gragson if Kaulig Racing pursued him.

Finally, Rackley W.A.R. would be a solid option in the Truck Series if Gragson needed to go that route. Matt DiBenedetto won’t return to the organization for the 2024 season, which gives them an open seat in the No. 25 truck. Gragson would be able to make the playoffs in the entry but it wouldn’t be in the most competitive equipment overall.

There will likely be suitors for Gragson because his talent is undeniable. The issue stems from his suspension and whether organizations, sponsors, and others will want to be associated with him. It may take a little bit of time but Gragson should find a quality ride that allows him to rebuild his career in NASCAR.

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Trackhouse Racing officially signs Shane van Gisbergen to NASCAR deal

Trackhouse Racing has officially signed Shane van Gisbergen to a NASCAR deal that will see him race in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series.

[autotag]Trackhouse Racing[/autotag] announced on Wednesday night that it has officially signed [autotag]Shane van Gisbergen[/autotag] to a contract for the 2024 NASCAR season. van Gisbergen will not compete full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series but will run in the top 3 levels of the sport next year. This comes after the New Zealand native’s shocking victory in his NASCAR debut at the Chicago Street Course.

van Gisbergen will primarily run in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series but could also see starts in late models and other races. Trackhouse Racing is not expected to field those entries and should partner with organizations in those series. The 2024 season will be focused on getting van Gisbergen acclimated to the oval tracks and superspeedway tracks.

Overall, this is a great move for Trackhouse Racing and one that may set them up long-term. If van Gibsergen impresses enough in NASCAR next season, the organization could buy a charter in 2025 or 2026 and field him in that entry. It will be a learning curve but van Gisbergen will be a must-watch driver every single week.

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Bristol race schedule: Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series start times

Check out the weekend schedule at Bristol Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series!

NASCAR is heading to Bristol Motor Speedway in what is set to be an incredibly tense weekend of racing for the sport’s top-3 series. The Cup Series will take on the final race of the Round of 16 while the Xfinity Series is ready for the beginning of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Truck Series is gearing up for the Round of 8 with four championship spots on the line.

The Truck Series kicks off the weekend on Thursday night as the Xfinity Series races on Friday night. Then, the Cup Series will close out the weekend with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday night. Only two drivers, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick, have clinched spots in the Round of 12 as of this point.

Here’s the full weekend schedule for Bristol, with start times and broadcast information for each session:

NASCAR Cup Series:

Friday: Practice (4:35 p.m., ET, USA Network), Qualifying (5:20 p.m., USA Network)

Saturday: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network)

NASCAR Xfinity Series:

Friday: Practice (2:35 p.m., ET, USA Network), Qualifying (3:10 p.m., USA Network), Food City 300 (3:00 p.m., USA Network)

NASCAR Truck Series:

Thursday: Practice (4:00 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2), Qualifying (4:35 p.m., FOX Sports 2), UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (9:00 p.m., FOX Sports 1)

NASCAR entry lists at Bristol, notable entries for Cup, Xfinity, and Truck

Check out NASCAR’s entry lists for this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, including notable entries in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series.

NASCAR is heading to the only pavement weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway and the entry lists are stacked. Starting with the Cup Series, Ryan Newman returns to the No. 51 car for Rick Ware Racing while Carson Hocevar continues his stretch of race with Legacy Motor Club in the No. 42 car.

Most notably in the Xfinity Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes his return to stock car racing by wheeling the No. 88 car for JR Motorsports. It will be his first race at Bristol since 2017. Next, Trevor Bayne will make his second start in the No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing this season. Finally, Derek Kraus is listed as the driver of the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing.

In the Truck Series, there are 38 entries, which should set up for a fun qualifying session. Carson Kvapil makes his NASCAR debut in the No. 7 truck for Spire Motorsports while William Sawalich receives another start in the No. 1 truck for TRICON Garage. Parker Kligerman will also participate in the No. 75 truck for Henderson Motorsports.

The entry lists are stacked with an incredible amount of big names and this weekend’s NASCAR racing at Bristol should exceed the hype. It will kick off on Thursday night with the Truck Series on FS1.

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Christian Eckes wins Truck Series playoff race at Kansas in thrilling fashion

Christian Eckes wins the NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway in thrilling fashion to close out the Round of 10.

The NASCAR Truck Series always puts on a show at Kansas Speedway and Friday night was not any different. It was another race with a late-race restart as the field took the green flag with two laps to go. Zane Smith, Corey Heim, and [autotag]Christian Eckes[/autotag] had a wicked two-lap battle while three wide. Unfortunately for Smith and Heim, they didn’t cross the line first.

Eckes seized the day for his third Truck Series victory of the 2023 NASCAR season. The driver of the No. 19 truck already clinched a spot in the Round of 8 but this solidifies his status as a championship contender. Meanwhile, Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton failed to make the Round of 8 after not earning enough points compared to Ben Rhodes.

The Truck Series now goes to Bristol Motor Speedway next week for the first race of the Round of 8. It will be wild as eight drivers look to clinch a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

Kansas Lottery 200 top-10 finishing order:

  1. No. 19 Christian Eckes
  2. No. 17 Taylor Gray
  3. No. 25 Matt DiBenedetto
  4. No. 11 Corey Heim
  5. No. 38 Zane Smith
  6. No. 42 Carson Hocevar
  7. No. 52 Stewart Friesen
  8. No. 2 Nick Sanchez
  9. No. 1 Jesse Love
  10. No. 16 Tyler Ankrum

NASCAR Truck Series playoff grid update for final race of Round of 10

The NASCAR Truck Series is heading to Kansas Speedway for the final race of the Round of 10 and here’s an update involving the playoff grid.

The NASCAR Truck Series will be competing in the final race of the Round of 10 at Kansas Speedway on Friday night. While four drivers, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Christian Eckes, have clinched a spot in the Round of 8, there are still four spots remaining for the six remaining drivers on the playoff bubble.

Starting with the only driver who appears to be safe, Carson Hocevar has a 56-point gap over the cut-line and should easily cruise to a Round of 8 appearance barring something totally chaotic. Hocevar is the only driver with a possibility of being eliminated who faces an easy task on Friday night.

Zane Smith sits 29 points above the playoff cut-line but that can disappear quickly with a bad race or incident. Smith still remains in a good spot but it’s not as certain as Hocevar. It will take a clean first two stages for the Front Row Motorsports driver to truly become comfortable while everyone behind him is in an intense situation.

Matt Crafton (+9) and Nick Sanchez (+3) each need to have strong nights if they don’t want to face elimination. Both drivers have shown speed at certain points in the season but they have a significant gap in experience. Crafton has been here before while Sanchez is in his rookie season, which will likely make it a tougher task at Kansas.

Finally, Ben Rhodes, the 2021 Truck Series champion, is three points below the cut-line heading into Kansas. It would be a very disappointing season if Rhdoes is unable to advance to the Round of 8 due to his past success. As for the final driver in the standings, Matt DiBenedetto faces a steep hill with a 20-point deficit after two weeks of struggles.

The playoff intensity will be high on Friday night and it is bound to have some sparks flying. This is the first elimination race of the 2023 playoffs and it marks the most significant race of the season yet.

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