NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings after 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby
By Mark Kristl
#10 through #6
Harrison Burton was involved in back-to-back caution flag incidents in the Eldora Dirt Derby. He spun on lap 57, bringing out the caution. Then, eight laps later, he was involved in the “Big One”. His Kyle Busch Motorsports crew never quit, and he did finish the race. Unfortunately, he finished in 31st place, 23 laps off the lead lap. Burton left Eldora Speedway needing to win the regular season finale in order to make the Truck Series playoffs. Talk about pressure for the 18-year-old rookie.. No. 18, Kyle Busch Motorsports. Toyota, LW: 9. HARRISON BURTON. #10
#9. Ben Rhodes earned five stage points and a 14th place finish in the Eldora Dirt Derby. However, Stewart Friesen’s win left Rhodes 63 points below the playoff cut line. He is the only ThorSport Racing driver below the cut line. Rhodes’ frustration showed when he and Tyler Dippel expressed their anger after the checkered flag flew at Eldora Speedway. Most likely, Rhodes vented some of his displeasure with this season at Dippel. Either way, he has to win at Michigan International Speedway in order to qualify for the playoffs.. No. 99, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 10. BEN RHODES
Matt Crafton won his heat race at Eldora Speedway. As a result, he started in second place. A total of 14 stage points and a 10th place finish in the Eldora Dirt Derby left Crafton with a 63-point margin above the playoff cut line. His playoff berth rests on one case scenario: a full-time driver below the playoff cut line cannot win at Michigan International Speedway. If someone does, Crafton will almost assuredly miss the playoffs. For the two-time Truck Series champion, missing the playoffs would be a disappointment to his season.. No. 88, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 7. MATT CRAFTON. #8
No. 98, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 6. GRANT ENFINGER. #7. One year after finishing in second place at Eldora Speedway, Grant Enfinger finished in third at the same venue. He remains the series points leader, which will guarantee him a playoff berth if he stays in first place after the regular season finale. He has been extremely consistent thus far this season. In 15 races, he has recorded 12 top 10 finishes. It’s a safe bet that he will be the Truck Series points leader at the end of the regular season.
#6. At the end of <em>National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation</em>, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) said, “I did it.” Stewart Friesen echoes the same thought. He did it; he finally won a Truck Series race! Will the proverbial monkey off his back open the floodgates opening for more victories? He certainly hopes so. Thanks to his Eldora Dirt Derby win, he should be full of momentum when the playoffs begin.. No. 52, Halmar Friesen Racing. Chevrolet, LW: 8. STEWART FRIESEN