NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers are set to enjoy a coming-out party in Friday’s Ecosave 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Where the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series already have history at the 2.28-mile circuit, the NASCAR Trucks will race there for the first time.
And unlike the Cup and Xfinity Series, which face Round of 12 elimination races at the 17-turn layout, Truck Series drivers will open competition in the Round of 8 of the Playoffs.
Corey Heim, a nine-time winner this season, starts the round 69 points above the elimination line, with his name already penciled into the Championship 4. Heim has led 143 of 181 laps contested on road courses this season. He has also led laps in 22 straight races, a series record.
Layne Riggs is the only other driver who is remotely secure at 22 points above the cut line.
Third-place Daniel Hemric is one point above the elimination line, with fourth-place Ty Majeski, the defending series champion, tied with Tyler Ankrum at the bubble.
Eighth-place Kaden Honeycutt, driving for Halmar-Friesen Racing after starting the season with Niece Motorsports, is only seven points in arrears in a wide-open race for the Championship 4.
Hemric, who finished second to Heim in the last Truck Series road course race at Watkins Glen, approaches Friday’s race with a level of confidence that outweighs his slim margin in the standings.
“I think our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet can be just as good as it was in Watkins Glen and hopefully a little better,” Hemric said. “This is great opportunity we have in front of us to lock into Phoenix this weekend.
“There will be a lot of varying strategies, and the field will likely flip at least once during the day. There’s a lot of variables to manage at the Roval, but I have confidence in everybody at MHR (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) and on this No. 19 NAPA team that we can make it happen.”