Back after another week off, the Craftsman Truck Series has seen some off-track excitement but is now ready to create some on the track. Here is everything you need to know for the Mission Food 176 at Watkins Glen International.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mission Foods 176 at Watkins Glen Preview

Last time the Craftsman Truck Series raced at Watkins Glen, it was not even the Craftsman Truck Series; it was the Camping World Truck Series. The year was 2021, Austin Hill was driving the #16 Toyota for Hattori Racing, and picked up his second win in a row.

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK – AUGUST 07: Austin Hill, driver of the #16 United Rentals Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series United Rentals 176 at Watkins Glen International on August 07, 2021, in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

A young Corey Heim finished a respectable 18th. Now the 2025 regular season champion, can Heim hold off the Cup and Xfinity regulars and get one more win before the Playoffs begin? Or will they get the better of the young driver and steal one away?

Read More: Layne Riggs Near Unstoppable in Truck Series Win at IRP

Race Preview:

The Mission Foods 176 at Watkins Glen International Raceway is a 72-lap,176.2-mile race around the 2.45-mile road course in the village of Watkins Glen, New York. Stage cautions will be on laps 20 and 40, with the final lap on lap 72. $782,900 is available in the prize purse for this race. Teams will have both dry and wet weather Goodyear tires for this race.

Teams will have five sets of the dry tires, 3 for the race, 1 from qualifying, and 1 from practice. If it rains, Goodyear is bringing the wet tires; 4 sets will be available.

The Track-Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen International is one of NASCAR’s staple road courses, known for its long straights, challenging curves, and big elevation changes. It is the super speedway of road courses. Originally a series of county roads, a permanent facility was built in 1956, but it has seen changes in its years since. Watkins Glen has hosted most major racing series across the world: F1, IndyCar, WEC, and IMSA. But the NASCAR Series calls it their home road course.

The Craftsman Truck Series has had races at Watkins Glen six times before this year. Ron Hornaday won the first race in 1996, driving a Silverado for Dale Earnhardt Inc. There is a six-way tie for the most wins, with every winner only winning once. Austin Hill holds the lap record, set in 2021.

Truck Series Point Standings:

Here is the playoff cutoff battle heading into Watkins Glen:

9. Kaden Honeycutt*: +73

10. Ty Majeski: +61

——– Cut Off Line———

11. Jake Garcia: -61

12. Ben Rhodes: -77

13. Gio Ruggerio: -99

14. Tanner Gray: -122

15. Connor Mosack: -165

*- Honeycutt has left Niece Motorsports and will drive the #52 Toyota for HFR in the playoffs

Drivers Joining The Field:

There is quite the list of drivers joining the Truck Series grid for this race. 4 Cup Series regulars and 2 Xfinity Regulars. They are…

Kyle Busch, #07 Chevy, Spire Motorsports
Sammy Smith, #7 Chevy, Spire Motorsports
Ross Chastain, #44 Chevy, Niece Motorsports
Connor Zilisch, #45 Chevy, Niece Motorsports
Christopher Bell, #52 Toyota, Halmar-Friesen Racing
Chris Buescher, #66 Ford, Thorsport

other notable entries include Brent Crews, driving for Brent Crews Racing in the #70 Toyota and Parker Kligerman in the #75 for Henderson Motorsports.

Who Will Win?

There is a lot of talent in this field for Friday’s race. I think we could see a battle of future Cup talents this weekend with both Zilisch and Heim in the field. I would give the upper hand to Zilisch since he has more experience at Watkins Glen in a stock car compared to Heim, but I don’t question Heim’s ability on a road course.

If they don’t put 15 plus seconds on the field, I think any of the four Cup Series talents could do the same.

As for the battle for the final spot in the Truck Series playoffs, I think the two Thorsport trucks just outside of the playoffs, Jake Garcia and Ben Rhodes, are firmly in. I don’t think Gio will beat the veteran Ben Rhodes or the almost 40 points Jake Garcia has to make the playoffs. The Nos. 13 and 99 will make the post-season.

How To Watch The Truck Series at Watkins Glen:

Here is the schedule for Friday’s Mission Foods 176 at Watkins Glen:

Friday, August 8th:

Practice:

11:35 AM Eastern
Coverage is on Fox Sports 2

Qualifying:

12:45 PM Eastern
Coverage continues on FS2

The Mission Foods 176:

5:00 PM Eastern
Coverage switches to Fox Sports 1, and radio coverage is on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Last Word on Motorsports will have all the updates from NASCAR’s Triple Header at Watkins Glen this weekend

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