NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings after 2018 Fr8Auctions 250
By Mark Kristl
#5 through #1
#5. Grant Enfinger arguably had the best truck in the Fr8Auctions 250. He won the first stage and led 31 laps of the race. During the closing laps, he made contact with David Gilliland and spun. NASCAR did not throw the caution flag for this incident, so he lost two laps when he came into the pits. He finished in 19th place. He enters the round of 6 four points ahead of the Championship 4 cut line. He won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to advance to the round of 6. Will he be able to repeat that success in the round of 6 to continue his drive for the 2018 Truck Series championship?. No. 98, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 8. GRANT ENFINGER
#4. Justin Haley stayed in the top 10 for the majority of the Fr8Auctions 250. He finished both stages in eighth place, and he finished the race fourth. His #24 GMS Racing Chevrolet had plenty of speed to survive the carnage at Talladega Superspeedway. If he maintains that speed and stays within the top 10 in the round of 6, he can overcome the four-point deficit that he currently has to the Championship 4 cut line. Of course, winning in the opening race like he did in the round of 8 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park would also clinch him a berth in the Championship 4 Homestead-Miami Speedway.. No. 24, GMS Racing. Chevrolet, LW: 4. JUSTIN HALEY
No. 18, Kyle Busch Motorsports. Toyota, LW: 3. NOAH GRAGSON. #3. Noah Gragson led the field as they took the white flag. As the field raced on the backstretch, Timothy Peters charged for the lead with plenty of momentum. Gragson went to block him, but it was too late. Peters did not let up and Gragson wrecked. The caution flag instantly flew, ending the race, and Gragson brought his damaged #18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota home with a 13th place finish. Although some fans criticized Peters for the contact, Gragson admitted it was the last lap at Talladega. He would have done the same thing if he were in Peters’s position. Kudos to him for that response.
No. 16, Hattori Racing Enterprises. Toyota, LW: 2. BRETT MOFFITT. #2. The Fr8Auctions 250 was the last unsponsored race for the #16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota. During the race, Brett Moffitt made contact with Tanner Thorson. His playoff hopes dwindled for a bit, but his team repaired his truck well enough for him to continue racing. Although he finished two laps down in 17th place, he advanced to the round of 6. With the points reset, his four victories this season lift him to second place in the championship standings, and he has a 13-point cushion over the Championship 4 cut line. A fully sponsored truck for the rest of the season should give him plenty of confidence to go win the 2018 Truck Series championship.
#1. Johnny Sauter did not sweep both Truck Series restrictor plate races this season. The “Big One” ended his day after 73 laps of the Fr8Auctions 250. He has won five races this season, however, so he advanced to the round of 6 and retained his lead in the championship standings in doing so. I predicted that he would win the 2018 Truck Series championship. With a 28-point cushion over the Championship 4 cut line, he remains the favorite.. No. 21, GMS Racing. Chevrolet, LW: 1. JOHNNY SAUTER