NASCAR Truck Series Driver Power Rankings after 2018 Gander Outdoors 150

Conclusion

The top two finishers in the Gander Outdoors 150 were Kyle Busch and Erik Jones. Both drivers are ineligible for points in the NASCAR Truck Series as full-time Cup Series drivers, so the top finishing Truck Series regular was Dalton Sargeant in his #25 GMS Racing Chevrolet in third place.

For Sargeant, two more positions would have landed him his first career Truck Series win and playoff berth. That would have altered the playoff standings and cut line. Of course, that also would have affected this week’s driver power rankings.

Instead, Busch won, and Sargeant is still seeking his first career Truck Series win. At least one is now guaranteed to earn a playoff spot via the point standings since five drivers have earned playoff spots via victories and three spots are still open with two races remaining in the regular season. Thanks to Bob Pockrass, here are the playoff standings following the race.

Mathematically, the maximum amount of points a driver can make up in one race in the Truck Series without winning is 55. As a result, the only two drivers below the playoff cut line who can get into the playoffs by their point totals are Myatt Snider (-94) and Cody Coughlin (-109). Most likely, if nobody below the playoff cut line wins, the Truck Series playoff drivers are set.

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Because of that expectation, look for drivers below the playoff cut line to race aggressively and  try some different strategies throughout the final two races of the regular season. Of the drivers below the playoff cut line, only Todd Gilliland has earned a playoff point thus far in 2018. What this means is that the drivers above the playoff cut line have dominated the season thus far.

However, surprises can occur. Two years ago at Michigan International Speedway, Brett Moffitt won his first career Truck Series race. With this playoff format, winning is paramount. With two races left in the regular season, a win locks any driver into the playoffs and gains them five playoff points.

Grant Enfinger, Matt Crafton and Stewart Friesen would lock themselves into the playoffs with a win. For the drivers who are already locked into the playoffs, a win earns them five more playoff points, which are useful to advance through the playoffs all the way to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Michigan International Speedway hosts the next NASCAR Truck Series race. That race, the Corrigan Oil 200, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 11. Fox Sports 1 will air the race beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.