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NASCAR Truck Series: Who are the favorites to win the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby?

By Mark Kristl

ROSSBURG, OH - JULY 18: Norm Benning, driver of the #6 Zomongo/H&H Transport Chevrolet, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on July 18, 2018 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
ROSSBURG, OH - JULY 18: Norm Benning, driver of the #6 Zomongo/H&H Transport Chevrolet, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on July 18, 2018 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, IL - JUNE 22: NASCAR Truck Series ThorSport Racing teammates Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, and Grant Enfinger, driver of the #98 Champion Power Equipment Ford (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
MADISON, IL – JUNE 22: NASCAR Truck Series ThorSport Racing teammates Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, and Grant Enfinger, driver of the #98 Champion Power Equipment Ford (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) /

ThorSport Racing

If there is a team to bet on in the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby, it’s ThorSport Racing, except for Johnny Sauter. Sauter has struggled mightily at Eldora Speedway, but he is already locked into the playoffs thanks to his win at Dover International Speedway in early May.

In the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby, ThorSport Racing are set to field five entries. In addition to their four full-time drivers, the team have entered Chase Briscoe in their #27 Ford. Briscoe is the defending winner of the race.

Fresh off his Xfinity Series victory at Iowa Speedway, Briscoe is hoping to become both the first two-time winner and thus the first back-to-back winner of the Eldora Dirt Derby.

Finishing second in the 2018 Eldora Dirt Derby was teammate Grant Enfinger. As the Truck Series points leader, Enfinger is in a good position, but he would like nothing more than to win at Eldora Speedway. In two Truck Series starts there, he has recorded two top four finishes, although he has only led one lap. Of course, a driver only needs to lead one lap to win a race.

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Like Briscoe, Matt Crafton is also hoping to become the first driver to win multiple Eldora Dirt Derby races. Crafton won the race in 2017. He has not won a race this season, and he sits 29 points above the playoff cut line. Winning the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby would clinch him a playoff berth and give him five playoff points as he pursues his third championship.

Lastly, Ben Rhodes has generally started well in Eldora Dirt Derby races, but he generally fades over the course of the races. His average starting position is 4.33, which includes the pole position for the race last year, but his average finishing position is 27.33. He led 44 laps last season at Eldora Speedway, so if he can keep his #99 Ford up front throughout the race, he will be a contender.

Of all the ThorSport Racing drivers, Rhodes is the one in most need of a win. He currently sits 34 points below the playoff cut line. Fortunately, in the two practice sessions for the race, he found himself in ninth and eighth place, respectively, on the speed charts. If his ThorSport Racing team can make the appropriate adjustments, he can run inside the top five and contend for the victory.

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The Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway is scheduled to take place later this evening. The heat races are set to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET. The race  itself is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET. All live TV coverage will be provided by Fox Sports 1.

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