NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings after 2019 NC Education Lottery 200
By Mark Kristl
#10 through #6
No. 2, GMS Racing. Chevrolet, LW: 10. SHELDON CREED. #10. Sheldon Creed qualified in 10th place for the NC Education Lottery 200. He finished the first two stages in eighth and seventh, respectively, earning seven stage points. He drove his #2 GMS Racing Chevrolet to a 12th place finish and left Charlotte Motor Speedway 34 points below the playoff cut line. He has some work to do to make the Truck Series playoffs in his rookie season.
#9. Harrison Burton qualified his #18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in fourth place. He never maintained that top five position, however. He finished in ninth in both of the first two stages, and when the checkered flag flew, he finished in 11th. The rookie driver lost a position in the championship standings, but he is only one point below the playoff cut line.. No. 18, Kyle Busch Motorsports. Toyota, LW: 8. HARRISON BURTON
Toyota, LW: 9. TODD GILLILAND. #8. Todd Gilliland qualified in third place and stayed inside the top 10 throughout the NC Education Lottery 200. He ended the race with a 10th place finish. He also earned 10 stage points, and he gained a position in the championship standings. He is currently the last driver above the playoff cut line with a one-point lead over teammate Harrison Burton.. No. 4, Kyle Busch Motorsports
#7. At times, Ben Rhodes appeared to match Kyle Busch with the best truck. But when the NC Education Lottery 200 concluded, Rhodes finished in fourth place, which was still an improvement of one spot from his starting position. He is currently 45 points above the playoff cut line, which is a solid amount halfway through the Truck Series regular season. He led six laps of the, so it was clear that his #99 ThorSport Racing Ford was fast. Expect him to continue to be a contender to win races this season.. No. 99, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 6. BEN RHODES
#6. Matt Crafton appears to be one adjustment or one lucky break away from returning to victory lane. He took the pole position and the stage one victory of the NC Education Lottery 200. While he finished the second stage and the race itself in fourth and fifth place, respectively, he appeared to be trapped at times behind other trucks. While he was faster than Austin Hill and Stewart Friesen, he struggled to pass both drivers. He left Charlotte Motor Speedway a total of 42 points above the playoff cut line in fifth place in the championship standings.. No. 88, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 7. MATT CRAFTON