WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — For the first time in five years and only third time since 2000, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will compete at Watkins Glen International with the Mission 176 at The Glen Friday afternoon to start NASCAR’s tripleheader weekend.

NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contender Austin Hill won the last truck race at the iconic New York road course in 2021 fending off now-NASCAR Cup Series driver John Hunter Nemechek and Hill’s fellow Xfinity Series regular Sheldon Creed for the trophy.

You have to go all the way back to 2000 for the previous truck race at The Glen, won from pole position by Greg Biffle.

Returning from a week-off, the Craftsman Truck Series has only two races remaining to set the 10-driver Playoff field.

Seven drivers have already secured their championship opportunity through victories this season leaving three positions open to points heading into the weekend.

TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim holds a commanding 143-point lead on Front Row Motorsports’ Chandler Smith for the Regular Season Championship. Grant Enfinger, Kaden Honeycutt and reigning series champion Ty Majeski currently hold the three points positions inside the Playoff cut.

Majeski is 61 points above Jake Garcia for that 10th Playoff entry. A new winner this weekend could certainly dramatically change the Playoff outlook.

Front Row Motorsports’ Layne Riggs is coming off his second win in the series’ last three races claiming the trophy at Indianapolis Raceway Park two weeks ago. Heim won the only previous road course race of the season at Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park.

Notably, four NASCAR Cup Series drivers are entered this weekend including Christopher Bell, who will drive the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota for the injured Stewart Friesen. Kaden Honeycutt, who has driven for Niece Motorsports this season, will drive the remainder of the season’s races for the Halmar Friesen team.

Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain will team with Zilisch – who is doing triple-duty – in the pair of Niece Motorsports Chevrolets.

Kyle Busch (No. 07 Spire Motorsports) and defending NACAR Cup Series race winner Chris Buescher (No. 66 ThorSport Racing) are also on the grid along with Xfinity Series standout Sammy Smith (No. 7 Spire Motorsports).

 

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