NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings after 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby
By Mark Kristl
In his 63rd career start, Stewart Friesen won his first NASCAR Truck Series race. How did his Eldora Dirt Derby victory affect the power rankings?
Was I right or was I right? The top three finishers in the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby were Stewart Friesen, Sheldon Creed and Grant Enfinger, who I predicted were the favorites to win the NASCAR Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway!
Congratulations, Stewart Friesen. He won his first career NASCAR Truck Series race in this race in Rossburg, Ohio. He led 57 of the race’s 150 laps thanks to a successful gamble at the end of stage two.
Chase Briscoe swept the first two stages, but Briscoe opted to pit at the end of stage two. Friesen, meanwhile, stayed out, and thanks to five caution flag periods in the final stage, he won the race, and he appropriately celebrated his first Truck Series victory.
They say the first burnout is always the sweetest,
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2019
(and in this case, the dustiest).@StewartFriesen | @EldoraSpeedway pic.twitter.com/uIsfxfwK6p
The highest finishing dirt-ringer was Mike Marlar. He wheeled the #33 Reaume Brothers Racing Toyota to a fourth place finish. He achieved the best ever finish for the organization. He relished both his good finish and his NASCAR Truck Series debut altogether.
"Deep down everyone wants to race NASCAR."
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 2, 2019
Mike Marlar was able to make a dream come true at @EldoraSpeedway while picking up a top-five finish. pic.twitter.com/WpJoGBkrje
Another driver who deserves a shoutout is Tyler Dippel. He finished in eighth place, tying his career-best finish. As he drove his #02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet around the high line, Fox Sports 1 broadcaster Michael Waltrip remarked how much a win by Dippel would change the playoff picture. Although he didn’t win, he earned well-deserved praise.
Friesen locked himself into the NASCAR Truck Series playoffs with his win. Six of the eight playoff berths have been clinched. Grant Enfinger remains the series points leader with an almost insurmountable lead over Matt Crafton.
If someone below the playoff cut line wins their way into the playoffs, Crafton will almost assuredly miss the playoffs. If nobody below the playoff cut line wins, then both Enfinger and Crafton will make the playoffs.
What do the power rankings look like after the Eldora Dirt Derby? How did the Truck Series lone trip to a dirt track affect the top drivers? Before you read about those top 10, here are the 20 drivers who are in the top 30 in the championship standings but are not in the power rankings top 10.
NOTE: “LW” means last week and “NR” means not ranked.
- Todd Gilliland, #4, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota
- Sheldon Creed, #2, GMS Racing, Chevrolet
- Tyler Dippel, #02, Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Austin Wayne Self, #22, AM Racing, Chevrolet
- Jordan Anderson, #3, Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet
- Spencer Boyd, #20, Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Gus Dean, #12, Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Brennan Poole, #30, On Point Motorsports, Toyota
- Natalie Decker, #54, DGR-Crosley, Toyota
- Jennifer Jo Cobb, #10, Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing, Chevrolet
- Anthony Alfredo, #15, DGR-Crosley, Toyota
- Josh Reaume, #33, Reaume Brothers Racing, Chevrolet
- Christian Eckes, #51, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota
- Cory Roper, #04, Roper Racing, Ford
- Jesse Little, #97, JJL Motorsports, Ford
- Norm Benning, #6, Norm Benning Racing, Chevrolet
- Angela Ruch, #44, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Joe Nemechek, #87, NEMCO Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Myatt Snider, #13, ThorSport Racing, Ford
- Timothy Peters, #92, Ricky Benton Enterprises, Ford