For the second time this season, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will return to Bristol Motor Speedway, but this time, it will be for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics on Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – the second race of the Playoffs’ Round of 10.
To date, the 0.533-mile track has hosted 27 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, producing 22 different winners and 19 different pole winners.
The winningest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Kyle Busch, holds the most wins at the ‘Holy Grail of Short Tracks’ with five victories at Bristol (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017).
Eight races have been won from the pole, most recently by Christian Eckes earlier this season.
Three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series veterans have stamped their names in the Bristol Motor Speedway record books. Here’s a closer look:
- Race record: Brad Keselowski 91.919 mph (08/21/2014)
- Qualifying record: Kyle Busch 129.413 mph (08/16/2017)
- Most races: Matt Crafton (2)
- Most poles: Kyle Busch (4)
- Most wins: Kyle Busch (5)
- Most top fives: Kyle Busch (8)
- Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (15)
- Laps led: Kyle Busch (649)
In total, this season will be the sixth-time Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race (2019-2024).
Bristol Motor Speedway has occupied four different spots on the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff schedule since joining in 2019 – from 2019-2020 it was scheduled as the first race of the Playoffs, it moved to the elimination race (third race) of the Playoffs in 2021, then served as the fourth race in the Playoffs from 2022-2023. This season is the first-time Bristol has hosted the second race in the Truck Playoffs.
Of Bristol Motor Speedway’s five previous Truck Series Playoff races, there have been five different winners: Johnny Sauter (2019), Sam Mayer (2020), Chandler Smith (2021), Ty Majeski (2022) and Corey Heim (2023).
None of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Bristol Playoff race winners have gone on to win the title in the same season.
Practice for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway kicks off at 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, September 19, followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 3:35 p.m. ET (FS2).
Playoffs Contender’s Career Performances at Bristol Motor Speedway
Just two races are left to decide who will survive and advance to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8. A win at Bristol this weekend by a Playoff contender would guarantee their spot in the next round.
Here’s a look at how the 10 CRAFTSMAN Truck Playoff drivers have performed at Thunder Valley previously.
| Rank | Driver | Races | Poles | Wins | Top Fives | Top 10s | DNFs | Average Finish | |
| 1 | Christian Eckes | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5.8 | |
| 2 | Ty Majeski | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18.0 | |
| 3 | Corey Heim | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5.7 | |
| 4 | Nick Sanchez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13.0 | |
| 5 | Taylor Gray | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14.3 | |
| 6 | Tyler Ankrum | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16.3 | |
| 7 | Daniel Dye | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 | |
| 8 | Grant Enfinger | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 5.4 | |
| 9 | Ben Rhodes | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 12.2 | |
| 10 | Rajah Caruth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16.0 |
Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, and Corey Heim are the only previous winners entered this weekend.
Playoff Crunch Time: Rhodes, Caruth facing elimination
ThorSport Racing veteran Ben Rhodes and Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth find themselves below the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 8 cutline as the series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway.
Two-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes managed to finish ninth at the Milwaukee Mile and left the 1.015-mile paved oval just two points back from the Round of 8 cutline. The 2024 season is the 26-year old’s seventh Playoff appearance.
Unlike the vast Playoff experience Rhodes has, Rajah Caruth is in his first appearance in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs. It’s been 14 races since Caruth’s first (and last) visit to Victory Lane (Las Vegas) but the Washington, D.C. native knows how to race his way into the top 10 – he’s recorded eight top-10 finishes so far this season, the most in his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career.
The driver of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet had a decent day at the Milwaukee Mile, finishing 18th, but is now twenty points back from the Round of 8 cutline and the final transfer position.
Currently, CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger is in the eighth and final position to transfer to the next round in the Playoffs on points. Just ahead of Enfinger in seventh is McAnally-Hilgemann driver Daniel Dye, up nine points on the Round of 8 cutline.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Milwaukee Mile (August 25, 2024)
| Rank | Driver | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Christian Eckes (P) | 2,090 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 39 | 60 |
| 2 | Ty Majeski (P) | 2,074 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 44 |
| 3 | Corey Heim (P) | 2,071 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 41 |
| 4 | Nick Sanchez (P) | 2,064 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 34 |
| 5 | Taylor Gray (P) | 2,043 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| 6 | Tyler Ankrum (P) | 2,043 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| 7 | Daniel Dye (P) | 2,039 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 8 | Grant Enfinger (P) | 2,032 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| 9 | Ben Rhodes (P) | 2,030 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 10 | Rajah Caruth (P) | 2,028 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 9 | -4 |
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Playoffs’ 10 Contenders
Drivers are listed below by seeding heading into Bristol Motor Speedway – Playoff Race 2 of 7:
Christian Eckes (No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol as the points leader in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings with 2,090 points.
- Up +60 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his fourth postseason appearance (2024, ‘23, ‘22, ’20).
- Has made four series starts at Bristol posting one win (2024), two top fives and three top 10s.
Ty Majeski (No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford)
- Heads to Bristol ranked second in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,074 points.
- Up +44 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his third consecutive postseason appearance (2024, ‘23, ‘22).
- Has made three series starts at Bristol posting one win, one top five and one top 10.
Corey Heim (No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota)
- Heads to Bristol ranked third in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,071 points.
- Up +41 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his second consecutive postseason appearance (2024, ‘23).
- Has made three series starts at Bristol posting one win, one top five, and three top 10s.
Nick Sanchez (No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol ranked fourth in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,064 points.
- Up +34 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his second consecutive postseason appearance (2024, ‘23).
- Has made three series starts at Bristol posting one top 10.
Taylor Gray (No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota)
- Heads to Bristol ranked fifth in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff with 2,043 points.
- Up +13 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his first postseason appearance (2024).
- Has made four series starts at Bristol posting one top five and two top 10s.
Tyler Ankrum (No. 18 McAnally-Hilgeman Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol ranked sixth in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,043 points.
- Up +13 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his third postseason appearance (2024, ’20, ‘19).
- Has made four series starts at Bristol posting one top five and two top 10s.
Daniel Dye (No. 43 McAnally-Hilgeman Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol ranked seventh in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,039 points.
- Up +9 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his first postseason appearance (2024).
- Has made two series starts at Bristol posting a best finish of 13th earlier this season.
Grant Enfinger (No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol ranked eighth in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,032 points.
- Up +2 points from the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his sixth postseason appearance (2024, ’23, ’22, ’20, ’19, ‘18).
- Has made eight series starts at Bristol posting five top fives and eight top 10s.
Ben Rhodes (No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford)
- Heads to Bristol ranked ninth in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,030 points.
- Back -2 points from the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his seventh postseason appearance (2024, ’23, ’22, ’21, ’20, ’18, ‘17). Two-time series champion.
- Has made 10 series starts at Bristol posting one top five and six top 10s.
Rajah Caruth (No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet)
- Heads to Bristol ranked 10th in the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs standings with 2,028 points.
- Back -4 points from the Round of 8 cutoff.
- This is his first postseason appearance (2024).
- Has made three series starts at Bristol posting two top 10s.
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