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NASCAR Truck Series: Las Vegas Preview, Predictions, and How to Watch

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 04: John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

After a week off following Daytona, the Craftsman Truck Series returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the running of the 2023 Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200.

In Daytona, we saw a race plagued by rain and lots of caution laps. The race was eventually called short, declaring Zane Smith the winner, two years in a row. Can he bring the momentum from Daytona to Las Vegas?

Last year’s race saw Chandler Smith power around Zane Smith for the win on the last lap of the race. During post-race inspection, second place runner Zane Smith was disqualified. The #38 Ford was found to have lug nuts deemed illegal according to the NASCAR Rule Book.

Coming off a big win at Fontana in the Cup SeriesKyle Busch returns to the Truck Series. Back in his iconic #51 with sponsor Zariz Transport, but this time he is in a Silverado and not a Tundra. Busch will be competing in the triple header, running the Trucks, Xfinity for Kaulig Racing, and Cup races this weekend.

The Track:

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval speedway, with 20 degrees of banking through its four turns. The speedway was built and opened in 1996, and the first truck series race was held on November 3rd of that year. The Carquest 420K results list reads like a hall of fame roster. Bill Elliott, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Ron Hornady Jr, Bob Keselowski, Darrell Waltrip, A.J. Foyt, Joe Nemechek, and Harry Gant. Jack Sprague won the race, beating Bill Elliott who finished second. Since 1996, The Craftsman Truck Series has raced at the speedway twenty-six times since 1996. Mike Skinner holds the record for truck wins at Las Vegas, with two wins in 2006 and 2008.

Predictions:

Series veterans, John Hunter Nemechek and Ross Chastain return to the Craftsman Truck Series. Nemechek with TRICON Garage, and Chastain with Niece Motorsports. With seventeen wins between the two of them, both have been in contention for championships in their full-time seasons. Look for these veterans to be running up front.

Tanner Gray, who finished second at Daytona, ran well last year at Vegas. Gray qualified eighth, led seven laps and finished 5th. He was racing for David Gilliland Racing last year, the team has rebranded as TRICON Garage and has become Toyota’s replacement for the loss of Kyle Busch Motorsports to Chevrolet. TRICON has the resources to provide him with a race-winning truck, but there is one driver in the field who will most definitely be in contention to win.

Kyle Busch. Coming off a big win in the Cup Series at Fontana, Kyle is returning to his hometown track. KBM is looking to show it is still the powerhouse in the series and I believe there is no better place to show the series they are still here. Busch finished second to his driver Chandler Smith last year. Busch has a ton of momentum coming into the first of his three races this weekend, and I believe we will see him in victory lane, Friday night.

How to Watch the NASCAR Truck Series:

  • Qualifying – Friday, March 3rd – 4:30 PM ET, FS1
  • Race – Friday, March 3rd – 9:00 PM ET, FS1
Featured Image Credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images

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