After three weeks off, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is back in action. For the fifteenth time this season, they are racing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Here is everything you need to know for Friday night’s Truck Series action.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200 at Indy Raceway Park Preview
With only three races until the 2025 Truck Series playoffs begin, it is a mad dash for all those below the cut line to solidify their spot in the running for the championship. Last time at IRP in 2024, it was Ty Majeski securing his first of three wins en route to his 2024 series championship. Can Majeski make it three in a row in Indy and make a bid for another championship in ’25? Or will Corey Heim pick up another win in his already dominant season?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JULY 19: Ty Majeski, driver of the #98 Road Ranger Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 19, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Race Preview:
The TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a 200-lap, 137-mile race around the 0.686-mile oval track. Stage cautions will be on laps 60 and 120, and the final lap on lap 200. The prize purse for this race is a total of 782,900 dollars. Teams will have 4 sets of tires for the race, 3 fresh and 1 from qualifying. In case of weather, Goodyear is bringing the wet-weather oval tires, and teams will have 3 sets. The tires being used are the tires previously used at North Wilkesboro.
Read More: Heim-Riggs Incident Paves Way for Chandler Smith Victory at North Wilkesboro
The Track- Indianapolis Raceway Park:
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, opened in 1960, is located just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a multi-motorsport facility with a quarter-mile dragstrip, 0.686-mile oval track, and a road course. The oval features 12 degrees of banking in the four corners, flat compared to other tracks on the schedule. It has hosted 20 races since 1995, with the series taking a break between 2011 and 2022.
Mike Skinner won the first Truck Series race in 1995, driving a Chevrolet. Ron Hornaday Jr. has the most wins at IRP, with 4 wins. Ty Majeski has the most out of active drivers with two. John Hunter Nemechek set the Truck Series lap record in 2022, running a 22.583-second lap.
Read More: NASCAR Truck Series: Championship Contender, Ty Majeski, Hit with L2 Penalty
Truck Series Point Standings:
Here are the point standings following the previous race at Pocono Raceway:
1. Corey Heim: 629
2. Chandler Smith: 505
3. Daniel Hemric: 486
4. Layne Riggs: 483
5. Grant Enfinger: 461
6. Kaden Honeycutt: 456
7. Tyler Ankrum: 441
8. Ty Majeski: 421
9. Jake Garcia: 411
10. Stewart Friesen: 381
Read More: Layne Riggs Takes Advantage of Mistakes to Win Truck Series Race at Pocono
Here is the battle for the final spots in the Truck Series playoffs:
10. Ty Majeski: +38 above
——- Playoff Cut Line——
11. Jake Garcia: -38 below
12. Giovanni Ruggiero: -65 below
13. Ben Rhodes: -68 below
Drivers To Watch:
There are 35 trucks entering this race with 36 spots available. These are the drivers joining the field for this race:
- Brent Crews, #1 Toyota, TRICON Garage
- Jason Alexander, #02 Chevy, Youngs Motorsport
- Corey Day, #7 Chevy, Spire Motorsports
- Jordan Anderson, #20 Chevy, Youngs Motorsports
- Alan Waller, #22 Ford, Reaume Brothers Racing
- Greg Van Alst, #35 Chevy, Greg Van Alst Racing
- Ross Chastain, #44 Chevy, Niece Motorsports
- Luke Fenhaus, #66 Ford, Thorsport
When I think IRP, Ty Majeski is the driver who immiediately comes to mind. Short-track star, he has made this track his playground the last two years. While Thorsport has struggled this year, heading to a track a two-time defending winner, can bring about a new attitude within a race team. I think he is still the favorite Ford for this race.
This season has been all Heim-time. Cannot count out that No. 11 Tundra at all this season. But IRP has not been his been his best track. While he has a great average start, he has a average finish of 10th compared to a 5.3 average start. Be cautious about Heim on Friday, but know he has the truck to win.
For the Chevy’s, don’t count out Cup talent Ross Chastain in the #44 Niece truck. Cup talent can always get it done. As for who can get it done for the series regulars, I look to Grant Enfinger to win it. He won this race in ’22, so he can wheel a truck around this track. While he is win-less so far in 2025, he is solidly in the playoffs, sitting fifth in points. Look for that yellow-and-black No. 9 Chevy on Friday.
How To Watch The Truck Series at IRP:
Here is the schedule for the TSport 200 at Indy Raceway Park:
- Friday, July 25th:
- Practice:
- 3:05 PM Eastern
- Coverage is on Fox Sports 1
- Qualifying:
- 4:10 PM Eastern
- Coverage continues on FS1
- The TSport 200:
- 8:00 PM Eastern
- Coverage is on Fox Sports 1, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
- Practice:
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Main Photo: Justin Casterline, Getty Images
Recording Date: July 19, 2024