This year’s NASCAR Truck Series playoff contenders offer an interesting glimpse into the sport’s future with those vying for the 2024 championship boasting an average age of 24.7.
Grant Enfinger, who has given CR7 Motorsports its playoff debut, is the oldest at age 39, while 19-year-old Taylor Gray is the youngest, grabbing a playoff berth in his first full-time season in the series.
Two-time Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes is the only title holder on this year’s playoff roster. Three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton missed the playoffs this year for the first time since the system was implemented in 2016.
Twenty-three-year-old Christian Eckes, a three-time winner this year, claimed the regular season championship. However, 22-year-old Corey Heim, with five victories this year, is the playoffs No. 1 seed. Eckes is second.
Ty Majeski, the inaugural winner in the (Alan) Kulwicki Driver Development program, is seeded third. His second consecutive victory this season came at Richmond Raceway about a week before his 30th birthday.
Others vying for the 2024 championship are Nick Sanchez, 23; Rajah Caruth, 22; Tyler Ankrum, 23; and Daniel Dye, 20.
With an eighth-place finish in Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway, Dye became the first driver to bump his way into the playoffs in the regular season finale. His accomplishment bumped Tanner Gray out of the playoffs. Gray, who finished 12th in Saturday night’s race, was five points above the cutline entering the event.
Ankrum, who possesses a top 10 finish in every short track race this season, made the playoffs for the first time since 2020 in his inaugural year with Bill McAnally’s operation.
In addition to Taylor Gray, others making their debut in the Truck Series playoffs are Sanchez, Caruth and Dye.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoffs kick off Aug. 25 at The Milwaukee Mile. Two drivers will be eliminated at the first round’s conclusion, which ends Sept. 27 at Kansas Speedway. The Nov. 1 Martinsville race determines the championship four, with four drivers being eliminated at that event.
NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Standings
1. Corey Heim 2041
2. Christian Eckes 2038 -3
3. Ty Majeski 2023 -18
4. Nick Sanchez 2018 -23
5. Rajah Caruth 2009 -32
6. Grant Enfinger 2007 -34
7. Tyler Ankrum 2007 -34
8. Taylor Gray 2003 -38
9. Ben Rhodes 2002 -39
10. Daniel Dye 2001 -40
A North Carolina native, Deb Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who is in her fourth decade covering auto racing. In addition to covering the sport for United Press International, she has written motorsports articles for several newspapers, magazines and websites including espnW.com, USA Today, and The Charlotte Observer. Her awards include the American Motorsports Media Award of Excellence, two-time National Motorsports Press Association writer of the year, and two-time recipient of the Russ Catlin award. She also has won an award in the North Carolina Press Association’s sports feature category. During her career, Deb has been managing editor of GT Motorsports magazine and was with Winston Cup Scene and NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 18 years, serving as the publication’s editor for 10 years. In 2024 she was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame.
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