NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings: Brett Moffitt advances to round of 6

Brett Moffitt won the UNOH 200 to advance to the NASCAR Truck Series round of 6. How did the rest of the playoff drivers fare at Bristol Motor Speedway?

There was clearly aggression in the UNOH 200. The 200-lap race at Bristol Motor Speedway featured 12 caution flag periods for 73 laps. The opening race of the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series round of 8 put on quite a show for the fans.

The happiest driver at the four-turn, 0.533-mile (0.858-kilometer) high-banked oval in Bristol, Tennessee was Brett Moffitt. He won the UNOH 200 to secure his 10th career NASCAR Truck Series victory, and this victory advances him to the round of 6.

Because the Truck Series playoffs are now underway, these power rankings will focus solely on the playoff drivers. As noted, Moffitt will advance to the Round of 6. For the current Truck Series playoff picture, click here.

NOTE: “LW” refers to last week

1. Brett Moffitt, #24 GMS Racing Chevrolet, LW: 1

The reigning Truck Series champion led the final 27 laps of the UNOH 200, fending off a hornet’s nest of hungry drivers. Winning stage two along with the race aids Moffitt as he sets himself up for the round of 6. He is now in the trophy-hunting business for the other two round of 8 races. Congratulations, Brett Moffitt!

2. Stewart Friesen, #52 Halmar Friesen Racing Chevrolet, LW: 3

After several laps of hard racing, on lap 152, Stewart Friesen and Matt Crafton encountered a slower truck. Rather than either driver easing off of the gas, both drivers attempted to take it three-wide into turn 4. It didn’t work. They made contact, with Friesen’s #52 Chevrolet receiving a little bit more damage. Friesen recovered to finish in fourth place. He now has a 17-point margin above the round of 6 cut line. Here are his thoughts regarding the lap 152 incident.

3. Grant Enfinger, #98 ThorSport Racing Ford, LW: 4

Grant Enfinger led 57 laps of the race lost the lead to Moffitt on the lap 174 restart. Enfinger finished in fifth place. He only scored two stage points, and his margin over the round of 6  cut line is 13 points. Still, to leave Bristol Motor Speedway above the cut line is an accomplishment.

4. Ross Chastain, #45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet, LW: 2

Arguably NASCAR fans’ favorite underdog had a contending #45 Chevrolet in the UNOH 200. Ross Chastain led 78 laps, won stage one and almost won stage two. He overcame a penalty to finish in third place as the second highest finishing playoff driver. He now sits 25 points above the round of 6 cut line. However, his driving style irked quite a few people. Listen to what he said after the race.

5. Matt Crafton, #88 ThorSport Racing Ford, LW: 7

Although Matt Crafton’s #88 Ford took less damage than Friesen’s #52 Chevrolet in the lap 152 incident, Crafton finished three positions lower than Friesen in seventh place. After I predicted that Crafton wouldn’t advance to the round of 6 due to his lack of aggression, he drove hard at Bristol Motor Speedway. He sits 13 points above the round of 6 cut line, and he is confident that he and Friesen left Bristol, Tennessee with an understanding.

6. Austin Hill, #16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota, LW: 5

After his victory at Michigan International Speedway, Austin Hill finished in 10th place in stage one of the UNOH 200 and in the race itself. He kept his #16 Toyota out of trouble, but he left the race three points below the round of 6 cut line. Nevertheless, Hill’s sponsor United Rentals were pleased with his performance in “Thunder Valley”.

7. Johnny Sauter, #13 ThorSport Racing Ford, LW: 6

Johnny Sauter was the first playoff driver to encounter trouble in the UNOH 200. On lap 77, he was involved in an incident with John Hunter Nemechek. The incident ended Nemechek’s race whereas Sauter continued on. He finished in 11th place and is now three points above the round of 6 cut line. He left Bristol Motor Speedway with one less friend, though. Nemechek tweeted his thoughts about the incident.

8. Tyler Ankrum, #17 DGR-Crosley Toyota, LW: 8

In his first Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tyler Ankrum finished six laps off the lead lap in 20th place. His eight stage points help make up for the worst finish of a playoff driver in this race. He now sits in in eighth the championship standings, 13 points below the round of 6 cut line. He and his DGR-Crosley team will keep digging, though.

Chevrolet Silverado 250 preview

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Next up for the NASCAR Truck Series is their annual trip to their lone road course on the schedule. In Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, the Truck Series drivers will race around the 10-turn, 2.459-mile (3.957-kilometer) Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It is the only race for which any of the three NASCAR national series will travel outside of the United States.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park has hosted the Truck Series once a year since the 2013 season. The Chevrolet Silverado 250 is set to consist of 64 laps with stage one ending after lap 20 and stage two ending after lap 40.

There has not been a repeat Truck Series winner at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and the 2019 edition will probably continue that streak. Last season, Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates Noah Gragson and Todd Gilliland tangled on the last lap, and Justin Haley won the race.

Nearly all of the six Truck Series races there have seen exciting finishes thanks to contact between the top two drivers in the closing laps.

Former IndyCar driver Alex Tagliani will drive the #51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, and he will be a favorite to secure his first career Truck Series victory. Of the playoff drivers, Matt Crafton is the only one who has recorded at least two top five finishes at the track. Tyler Ankrum has never competed there before, and he will need a good finish to reduce his deficit to the round of 6 cut line.

The NASCAR Truck Series will visit Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Sunday, August 25. The Chevrolet Silverado 250 is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET with live TV coverage provided by Fox Sports 1.