NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series heads into its penultimate race at Homestead-Miami Speedway with seven drivers still with championship hopes.
Talladega gave us a first-time winner in Matt DiBenedetto and seven playoff drivers still fighting to get a chance to race for the championship.
What a finish at @TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/kUJNpLY1YE
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 1, 2022
Ty Majeski has been locked into the finale in Phoenix since his first Truck Series win at Bristol in September. Chandler Smith, Zane Smith, and Ben Rhodes make up the three drivers above the cut line, with Christian Eckes, Stewart Friesen, John Hunter Nemechek, and Grant Enfinger sitting below the cutline for Phoenix.
The last Homestead-Miami Truck race was in 2020. Qualifying was not held, so pole position was set by a formula. Austin Hill started on pole with Kyle Busch starting second. The race saw several drivers from higher series like Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain, who both finished in the top 5, and Kyle Busch winning the race.
The Track
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a 1.5-mile, progressively banked speedway located in Homestead, Florida, an hour south of Miami. It used to hold the championship race for all three national series, crowning the champion from 2002 to 2019. The turns are banked at 18 degrees and increase to 20 degrees at the wall, drivers will have to decide to run the shorter distance bottom line or the faster higher line but run the risk of hitting the wall. Kyle Busch holds the record for most wins at the speedway with three (2010, 2013, and 2020).
Playoff Standings
- Ty Majeski, Thorsport Racing: 1 Win – Advancing to Championship Race
- Chandler Smith, Kyle Busch Motorsports: +30
- Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports: +18
- Ben Rhodes, Thorsport Racing: +3
—————- Playoff Cut Line—————-
- Christian Eckes, Thorsport Racing: -3
- Stewart Friesen, Halmar Friesen Racing: -3
- John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch Motorsports: -5
- Grant Enfinger, GMS Racing: -29
Predictions
Toyotas have a history of running well at Homestead, winning the last three races at the speedway. One truck I believe will be a contender will be the #17 of Ryan Preece. He comes in with one win, six top-five finishes, and 8 top-ten finishes in only 9 starts this season. The Toyota will have speed and if they can get around Preece, I believe it will be Chandler Smith leading the Tundras, with John Hunter Nemechek being the second-fastest Toyota.
- Ryan Preece, David Gilliland Racing
- Chandler Smith, Kyle Busch Motorsports
- John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch Motorsports
How to Watch (All Times in EST)
- Practice/Qualifying: Friday, October 21st, 3:05 p.m. on FS1
- Baptist Health 200: Saturday, October 22nd, 1:00 p.m. on FS1
