NASCAR Truck Series Power Rankings: Nobody advances after Talladega

No playoff driver advanced after the race at Talladega Superspeedway. How do the NASCAR Truck Series power rankings look after the 2019 Sugarlands Shine 250?

The two NASCAR Truck Series races at superspeedways this season have been different animals. In the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, the high level of calamity resulted in only nine drivers finishing the race. At Talladega Superspeedway, there were some controversial calls. In both races, two drivers earned their first career NASCAR Truck Series wins.

Johnny Sauter crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Sugarlands Shine 250, but NASCAR deemed he forcefully blocked Riley Herbst below the double yellow line.

Moreover, Sauter also drove below the double yellow line. NASCAR relegated Sauter to the last driver on the lead lad and awarded the victory to Spencer Boyd.

So congratulations to Boyd and Young’s Motorsports on the first win for both the driver and the organization.

Boyd is not a playoff driver and thus no playoff driver advanced to the Championship 4 by winning this race. How did the playoff drivers fare in the Sugarlands Shine 250, the first race in the round of 6?

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

Brett Moffitt finished in second place in both of the first two stages and ultimately finished the race in fourth. He earned 51 points in the Sugarlands Shine 250, the most of any driver.

As a result, he stays in first place in the championship standings with a 45-point margin above the Championship 4 cut line. Although he is not guaranteed a Championship 4 berth, he left Talladega Superspeedway in a very comfortable position.

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

Stewart Friesen finished in fifth and second place in the first two stages, respectively, but then NASCAR made a controversial call. On lap 51, NASCAR deemed he and Brett Moffitt locked bumpers. The Fox Sports 1 broadcasters could not find footage of the two drivers locking bumpers. Nonetheless, both drivers received pass-through penalties, which caused them both to fall one lap behind.

Friesen received the lucky dog on the lap 89 caution flag period. He rebounded to finish in fifth place. With the recovery, he sits in second in the championship standings with a 22-point margin above the Championship 4 cut line. All in all, Friesen gained two spots in the standings, an accomplishment at Talladega Superspeedway.

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

Austin Hill finished in sixth place in the Sugarlands Shine 250, and he also scored four stage points. He led two laps, but he felt he had a race-winning truck. Still, an average finish of 3.5 at the two Truck Series superspeedway races this season is outstanding. Hill is 13 points above the Championship 4 cut line, but his confidence that he and his Hattori Racing Enterprises team can win races is coming at the right time of the year.

Post race thoughts from @_AustinHill following his best finish at @TalladegaSuperS. #NASCARPlayoffs #SugarlandsShine250 pic.twitter.com/KkQX3rGP5D
— Hattori Racing (@Hattori_Racing) October 12, 2019

4. Matt Crafton, #88, ThorSport Racing, Ford, LW: 4

Matt Crafton took the pole position for the Sugarlands Shine 250, his 450th career Truck Series race. He earned one stage point, avoided the big wreck and finished in eighth place. Crafton also gained one spot in the championship standings, even though he is only two points above the Championship 4 cut line. The two-time Truck Series champion is doing exactly what he needs to do in order to contend for a Championship 4 berth.

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

Ross Chastain was the only playoff driver who failed to finish the Sugarlands Shine 250. He finished in third place in the first stage, gaining eight stage points, but he started the big wreck on lap 89. As a result, he finished in 22nd. Thanks to his eight stage points, he is only two points below the Championship 4 cut line. Moreover, in a classy move, he took credit for causing the big wreck, and above all, he is okay.

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

Tyler Ankrum is learning rapidly. In his first career Truck Series race at a superspeedway, he qualified in second place. He led three times for six laps, proving he had no fear. He earned five stage points and finished in seventh. However, because all but one playoff driver finished inside the top eight, he remains below the Championship 4 cut line, albeit by only one point. If he continues to be a quick study, he may earn himself a Championship 4 berth.

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 preview

Martinsville Speedway is scheduled to host the second of three races in the round of 6. But how do the six playoff drivers stack up at the 0.526-mile short track in Martinsville, Virginia?

Of the six, Matt Crafton is the most accomplished there. He has won there twice, lastly in October of 2015. Outside of Crafton, Brett Moffitt has four top 10 finishes at the track in four starts. His average finishing position there is 3.5. Stewart Friesen has two top 10 finishes at the track, and he took the pole position for the spring race there this season.

Qualifying for the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 will be crucial. The last seven winners at Martinsville Speedway have all started inside the top 10. For Tyler Ankrum, he must improve at the track. In two starts there, he has an average starting position of 16.5 and an average finishing position of 18.5.

Although Ross Chastain has an average finishing position of 12.71, he has finished inside the top 10 in his last two Truck Series races at Martinsville Speedway. Moreover, he led 53 laps in the spring race there this year, and he won the second stage. He will be seeking a strong finish after his wreck in the Sugarlands Shine 250.

Austin Hill only has two top 10 finishes in eight starts at “The Paperclip”, but he is currently on a five-race streak of finishing inside the top 10. Can he make it six in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200?

He earned stage points in the first two stages there earlier this season, but he slid back to an 16th place finish. Earning stage points will be crucial because at least two Championship 4 berths will be decided via the point standings.

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Will anyone clinch a Championship 4 berth at Martinsville Speedway? The NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 26. It is set to consist of 200 laps, with the first two stages ending after lap 50 and lap 100, respectively. TV coverage for this race is set to be provided by Fox Sports 1 beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.

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