NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings after 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby
By Mark Kristl
#5 through #1
No. 17, DGR-Crosley. Toyota, LW: 5. TYLER ANKRUM. #5. Tyler Ankrum won the last chance race to start the Eldora Dirt Derby in 26th place. He drove his #17 Toyota all the way up to a ninth place finish. If he is able to pass that many trucks in the playoffs, he may surprise with a deep playoff run.
No. 16, Hattori Racing Enterprises. Toyota, LW: 4. AUSTIN HILL. #4. Austin Hill was the only driver who failed to finish the Eldora Dirt Derby. His race ended after 79 laps due to his involvement in the lap 65 wreck. He is locked into the Truck Series thanks to his season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway. In the point standings, however, he currently sits in ninth place. Hattori Racing Enterprises won the 2018 Truck Series championship with Brett Moffitt. Can they recapture that magic to win it all with Hill?
#3. Johnny Sauter has traditionally struggled at Eldora Speedway. He started the Eldora Dirt Derby in sixth place after finishing in second in his heat race. He was involved in two separate accidents, and he fell to a 21st place finish, five laps off the lead lap. He has earned the third highest playoff point total among all drivers. He’ll look to add to that total in the regular season finale at Michigan International Speedway.. No. 13, ThorSport Racing. Ford, LW: 3. JOHNNY SAUTER
#2. Brett Moffitt began race day at Eldora Speedway well. He won his heat race, started in third place and finished in third in stage one. He was then involved in the lap 65 melee, and his #24 Chevrolet began to overheat as a result of the damage it sustained. He eventually finished the race nine laps off the lead lap in 29th. But he remains one of the best drivers this Truck Series season and will look to get back into contention for wins in the regular season finale at Michigan International Speedway as he looks to defend his 2018 championship.. No. 24, GMS Racing. Chevrolet, LW: 2. BRETT MOFFITT
#1. For his first race at Eldora Speedway, Ross Chastain looked like he learned how to drive the track quickly. He finished in ninth and sixth place in stage one and stage two, respectively. On lap 96, he looped his #45 Chevrolet around, as Michael Waltrip noted, “about 800 degrees”. He stayed on the lead lap, and he crossed the finish line in 12th. He has raced at Michigan International Speedway before and will deploy his experience there as he seeks his fourth victory of this season.. No. 45, Niece Motorsports. Chevrolet, LW: 1. ROSS CHASTAIN