NCWTS: Rattlesnake 400K at Texas Motor Speedway Preview

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series travels to the great state of Texas for the 20th annual Rattlesnake 400K at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. The series will make their first of two stops at the facility throughout 2016 as the next one will come later this year in November. They will also be joined with the Verizon IndyCar Series as well.

A total of 34 drivers are featured on the entry list. Some of those names include Ryan Ellis, Ryan Lynch, German Quiroga, Austin Hill, Austin Wayne Self, Tommy Joe Martins, Wayne Edwards, Cody Coughlin, Mike Bliss, Carlos Contreras, Jesse Little and Tim Viens.

If you followed the Camping World Truck Series throughout 2011 through 2014 – you probably see an interesting name entered. That is because Red Horse Racing announced that German Quiroga will pilot the No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota last week. Quiroga’s last Camping World Truck Series start came in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2014.

Quiroga is very excited to rejoin the Camping World Truck Series fold this weekend. “I’m very happy to return to Red Horse Racing,” said Quiroga in a team release. “I hope we can put together a great run at Texas (Motor Speedway) and that we will be able to put something together so I can keep competing this season.”

The Mexico native holds five top five and 17 top 10 finishes through 50 career starts. The 36-year old driver enters the weekend looking for his first career NASCAR national series victory.

Matt Crafton enters the weekend with momentum after bringing home the hardware in the last two Camping World Truck Series races. Crafton led 76 laps at Dover International Speedway and 47 the last time out at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month. The California native and his No. 88 crew have been able to turn a slow start around.

Oh and guess what? Crafton also has momentum on his side as he won the last two spring races at Texas. Crafton gives us his thoughts going into the Rattlesnake 400K. “I love going to Texas (Motor Speedway), the spring race especially, because its so much warmer – it’s just hot and slippery,” said Crafton in a team release. “You have to lift, you have to modulate the throttle a lot more, you’re not just running around the first five laps wide open. Aero doesn’t play as big of a role; you can search around. You get so much tire fall off, and it makes for such a great race, because you have to move around and search for new grip. It puts on such a great show for the fans.”

In 30 races at Texas, Crafton holds two victories, 11 top five and 19 top 10 finishes. The series veteran has only three DNF’s and three poles at the 1.5-mile oval.

Jesse Little will join the Camping World Truck Series for the first time of the year this weekend. Little has four previous starts last season and looks to grab his first top 10 finish of the season.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to partner with Hattori Racing Enterprises this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway,” said Little in a release. “Shigeaki (Shige) Hattori (truck owner) has done a good job building his team this season and I hope we can continue to help build that foundation with a good run on Friday night.”

He also hopes to apply what he learned last season into this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. “I learned a lot at Texas last year,” added Little in a team release. “It’s very much a temperature sensitive track and no doubt with practice and qualifying held during the day – we’ll have to make sure we’re adjusting our No. 81 The Carolina Nut Co. Toyota Tundra to the best of our ability with the hope we can be in contention for a top-10 finish. It’s going to be tough, because the fields are stout right now, but if we work hard, I know we can deliver a good effort.”

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race will air Friday live on FOX Sports 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Channel 90 will carry the live radio broadcast of the event.

Brett Winningham
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