NASCAR Truck Series Driver Power Rankings after 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby
By Mark Kristl
After the 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby, three NASCAR Truck Series playoff berths remain. Read about those playoff spots in this week’s driver power rankings.
Tony Stewart won three NASCAR Cup Series championships as a driver. He has won two championships as a co-owner of Cup Series team Stewart-Haas Racing. NASCAR Truck Series fans applaud Stewart for his ownership of Eldora Speedway. The 0.5-mile dirt track produced an exciting 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby that culminated in a photo finish.
ThorSport Racing field four full-time Truck Series entries. Matt Crafton has won two NASCAR Truck Series championships driving the #88 Ford. Driving the #41 Ford, Ben Rhodes won the previous Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
Grant Enfinger, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series champion, is chasing his first career NASCAR Truck Series playoff berth in his #98 Ford. Finally, Myatt Snider is racing full-time for the first time in his Truck Series career this season in the #13 Ford.
At Eldora Speedway, ThorSport Racing fielded a fifth entry, the #27 Ford driven by Chase Briscoe, and the winner of the 2017 Truck Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway delivered for the team.
Briscoe won the 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby. He won the third qualifying race and started the race in third place. During the race, he won the second stage. Following a caution flag period, he regained the lead on lap 145.
Another caution flag period sent the race into overtime. Battling Enfinger, Briscoe led lap 151. As the white flag flew, Enfinger took the lead. On the 153rd and final lap of the race, Briscoe edged Enfinger at the finish line.
Check out the video for a replay of the exciting conclusion of the race.
Briscoe is ineligible for Truck Series points. As a result, Justin Haley clinched his NASCAR Truck Series playoff berth since there are three playoff berths still available and just three race remain on the regular season schedule.
Check out this week’s power rankings to see how drivers fared at Eldora and to find out what to watch for in the future. First, here are the 20 drivers who are in the top 30 in the championship standings who are not in this week’s power rankings.
NOTE: “NR” means not ranked and “LW” means last week.
- Dalton Sargeant, #25, GMS Racing, Chevrolet
- Austin Hill, #02, Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, #4, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota
- Austin Self, #22, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Wendell Chavous, #49, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Justin Fontaine, #45, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Jordan Anderson, #3, Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet
- Jesse Little, #97, JJL Motorsports, Ford
- Norm Benning, #6, Norm Benning Racing, Chevrolet
- Joe Nemechek, #87, NEMCO Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Jennifer Jo Cobb, #10, Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing, Chevrolet
- Josh Reaume, #33, Reaume Brothers Racing, Toyota
- Spencer Davis, #51, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Korbin Forrister, #7, All Out Motorsports, Toyota
- Harrison Burton, #51, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota
- David Gilliland, #54, DGR-Crosley, Toyota
- Robby Lyons, #15, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Parker Kligerman, #75, Henderson Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Bo LeMastus, #54, DGR-Crosley, Toyota
- Bayley Currey, #63, MB Motorsports, Chevrolet