NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – Fred’s 250 Presented by Coca-Cola Preview

After an off week, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series jumps back into action this Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway for the Fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (1 p.m. ET Fox, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).  This will be the final race in the Round of 8.

Talladega Superspeedway has hosted 11 NCWTS events, each with a different pole winner.  Cole Custer (18 years, 8 months) was the youngest pole winner with his run back in October 2016.  Hall of Fame-Elect Member Ron Honaday, Jr. is the oldest (52 years, 7 months) with his pole from the 10/10 race.

Eight different drivers have raced their way to Victory lane at Talladega, three coming from the pole position.  Parker Kligerman was the youngest (22 years, 1 month) with his victory in 10/12.  The oldest, winning the 10/11 event, was Mike Wallace (52 years, 7 months).  Todd Bodine holds the race record of 145.513 mph (10/08).  Tyler Reddick holds the qualifying record at 186.827 mph (10/14).  Last year’s race winner was Grant Enfinger.  He returns this year to defend his crown.

After Saturday’s race, the playoff field will be cut down to six drivers, with two being eliminated from contention.  Below is a brief preview of the eight drivers running for the championship:

Christopher Bell – 1st (2,152):  Christopher is locked in to the Round of 6 by his win at New Hampshire.  Bell is looking for his first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship.

Ben Rhodes – 2nd (2,105):  Ben Rhodes is locked in to the Round of 6 via his win at Las Vegas.  That win was the first of his career.  Rhodes is also looking for his first series championship.

Matt Crafton – 3rd (2,101):  Matt can clinch a spot in the Round of 6 with 37 points and a new winner, 29 points and a repeat winner, or by winning the race himself.

Johnny Sauter – 4th (2,098):  Sauter can get his No. 21 into the Round of 6 by winning the race, collecting 32 points if there is a repeat winner, or by collecting 40 points when a new winner takes the checkered flag.

Chase Briscoe – 5th (2,084):  Chase continues to look for his first series win.  If he finds it Saturday, he would lock himself into the Round of 6.  Otherwise, Briscoe would need to collect 54 points if there is a new winner or 46 points if there is a repeat winner to punch his ticket into the next round of the playoffs.

Austin CIndric – 6th (2,82):  Austin can advance to the Round of 6 on points with 55 points and a new winner or 48 points and a repeat winner.  He can also advance by winning the race.

Kaz Grala – 7th (2,074):  Grala currently sits in the first position out of the Round of 6.  He will need help from those in front of him in the standings to advance on points.  Kaz would automatically advance by winning the race.

John Hunter Nemechek – 8th (2,068):  John Hunter Nemechek is currently out of the hunt to advance to the next round.  If he could win Saturday, he would automatically advance.  John Hunter will need help from those ahead of him in the standings to make it into the Round of 6 on points.

The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates making their first start at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend are Chase Briscoe, Justin Haley, Wendell Chavous, Kaz Grala, Stewart Friesen and Noah Gragson.  Sunoco contenders who have made previous starts here are last year’s winner Grant Enfinger, Austin CIndric and Cody Coughlin.

There are two current broadcasters making starts in Saturday’s Fred’s 250 Presented by Coca-Cola.  FOX Sports’ Regan Smith will pilot the No. 92 machine for Ricky Benton, while NBC Sports’ Parker Kligerman will drive for Charles Henderson in the No. 75.  Kligerman won this race in 2012.  Smith finished ninth in his only career NCWTS start here in 2007.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series runs the Fred’s 250 Presented by Coca-Cola at Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday, October 14. (1 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

 

Shane Burton
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