By Reggie Gatlin-Holt

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: LiUNA! 175

The Place: Milwaukee Mile Speedway

Track Length: 1.015 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Sunday, August 25

The Time: 3 p.m. ET

The Purse: $672,572

TV: FS1, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 177.625 miles (175 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 55),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 110), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 175)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs are set for Milwaukee Mile

After ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski emerged victorious at Richmond Raceway last weekend, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs are set to get underway next weekend at the heralded Milwaukee Mile Speedway for the LiUNA! 175 on Sunday, August 25 at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio.

The 2024 season will mark the ninth running of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs (2016-2024). Since the inception of the Playoff format in 2016, seven different drivers have hoisted the championship trophy – Johnny Sauter (2016), Christopher Bell (2017), Brett Moffitt (2018), Matt Crafton (2019), Sheldon Creed (2020), Ben Rhodes (2021, 2023), and Zane Smith (2022).

The structure of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs will remain the same as years past: a seven-race, three round elimination format. The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will cap off their season in conjunction with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway for the Championship 4 Finale.

Characteristics of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff format include:

• The number of championship drivers in contention for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship will decrease after every three Playoff races, from 10 to start in the Playoffs; eight after race No. 3; and four after race No. 6.

• The first three races of the Playoffs (17-19) will be known as the Round of 10; races 20-22 will be known as the Round of 8; and race No. 23 will be the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship (Championship 4 Round).

• A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Playoff race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next round.

• Four drivers will enter the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship with a chance at the title, with the highest finisher among those four capturing the championship.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Structure:

• Round of 10: Races 17-19 will be at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway. If a driver in the Playoffs wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the Round of 8. The remaining available positions (1-8) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points. Each advancing Playoff contender will then have their points reset to 3,000, plus any Playoff points awarded to that point are added.

• Round of 8: Races 20-22 will be at Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway. Likewise, if a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the Championship 4 Round. The remaining available positions (1-4) that have not been filled by wins will be filled on points. Each advancing Playoff contender will then have their points reset to 4,000.

• Each eliminated driver will return to the Playoff-start base of 2,000 (plus any awarded Playoff points), with their accumulated points starting with race No. 17 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-10th still up for grabs.

Say CHEESE! America’s Legendary Oval to host CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff opener

For the second time in 14 years, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is returning to the Milwaukee Mile Speedway for the LiUNA! 175 (Sunday, August 25 at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio).

Located on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park, this historic track houses a 1.015-mile paved oval. In addition, there is a 0.8-mile asphalt-paved road circuit located in the infield. The infield was home to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers from 1934 to 1953. Known as the oldest operating speedway in the world, the Milwaukee Mile has hosted at least one auto race every year since 1903, except during World War II.

The remarkable mile-oval has hosted 16 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events. The series made its grand return last season for the first time since 2009, where four-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. bested a field that included Todd Bodine, Matt Crafton, and Johnny Sauter. Now, the Milwaukee Mile will play host to the opening event in the postseason’s Round of 10.

In 1995, the inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the Milwaukee Mile was won by pole sitter Mike Skinner, piloting the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The following year there were 17 lead changes, which became a series record.

2008 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion and three-time Most Popular Driver, Johnny Benson Jr. holds the most wins in Brew City after three consecutive victories in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Not only will the contenders have to get reacquainted with the heralded mile-oval, but they will also once again be experiencing a foreign concept: racing on a Sunday. Practice for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at the Milwaukee Mile kicks off at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 24.

Scouting the 2024 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff roster

The field for the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs is packed with both postseason veterans and several newcomers. Six different teams are represented along with all three of NASCAR’s OEMs (Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota).

Below is a quick look at the contenders in this year’s Playoff grid as the drivers have a week off to prepare for the first race of the Round of 10 at the famed Milwaukee Mile Speedway.

Heading into the Playoffs as the No. 1 seed with 2,048 points is Corey Heim. The driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota’s second year with his team has once gone without a significant hitch leading the field with a career-high five wins (COTA, Kansas, North Wilkesboro, Gateway, Pocono) to lock him into the Playoffs. The Marietta, Georgia native has recorded five top-five finishes, 10 top-10 finishes, and has led 469 laps. This is Heim’s second Playoff appearance.

The 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Champion Christian Eckes enters the Playoffs as the No. 2 seed with 2,038 points. The 23-year-old reached the Playoffs with three wins (Bristol, Martinsville, Nashville) on the season. The driver of No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet leads the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series field with 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. This is Ecke’s fourth Playoff appearance.

With 2,023 points, Ty Majeski of ThorSport Racing enters as the No. 3 seed. The third-year driver has been in the Playoffs since his rookie season in 2022. Piloting the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford, Majeski has collected two back-to-back wins (LOIRP, Richmond). The Seymour, Wisconsin native has posted seven top fives, 10 top 10s, and 372 laps led. This season marks Majeski’s fourth consecutive Playoff appearance (2022-2024)

The driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet Nick Sanchez heads into the Playoffs as the No. 4 seed with 2,018 points. The 23-year-old raced his way into his second Playoffs after securing two wins this season (Daytona, Charlotte). The Miami, Florida native has posted seven top fives, 10 top 10s, and led 72 laps this season.

The No. 5 seed Rajah Caruth follows Sanchez into the Playoffs with 2,009 points. Piloting the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Caruth picked up his first career win (Las Vegas) to lock his spot into the Playoffs. The 22-year-old is having a career-best year with three top fives, eight top 10s, and 45 laps led. This is the Washington, D.C. native’s first Playoff appearance.

Post-season veteran Grant Enfinger enters the Playoffs as the No. 6 seed with 2,007 points. The driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet did not have a stellar start to the beginning of the year but has recently been running up in the front of the field. Meshing well with his new team, the 39-year-old has posted five top fives, eight top 10s, and has led 197 laps this season. This is the Fairhope, Alabama native’s sixth Playoff appearance – third-most all-time.

Entering the Playoffs as the No. 7 seed with 2,007 points is Tyler Ankrum. The driver of the No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet raced his way into the Playoffs via points, clinching at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. In 16 starts this season, the 23-year-old has put up five top fives, eight top 10s, and has led 92 laps – the most of his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career. This is Ankrum’s third Playoff appearance.

Taylor Gray follows Ankrum into the Playoffs as the No. 8 seed with 2,003 points. Piloting the No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota, Gray has had a career-best season so far. The 19-year-old has posted five top fives, nine top 10s, and led 25 laps. Although he is the youngest of the postseason field and is making his first Playoff appearance, Gray is confident in his abilities.

2021 and 2023 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes enters the Playoffs as the No. 9 seed with 2,002 points. Rhodes is no stranger to the postseason as this is his seventh Playoff appearance – second-most all-time. The 27-year-old raced his way into the postseason via points. In 16 starts this season, the driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford has two top fives, six top 10s, and 16 laps led. The Louisville, Kentucky native could become the third driver to win three championships and the second driver to win back-to-back, joining the exemplary company of his ThorSport teammate Matt Crafton (2013, 2014) if he accomplishes the feat.

Rounding out the 10 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff contenders is Daniel Dye, who has 2,001 points. An eighth-place finish in the regular-season finale at Richmond helped the driver of the No. 43 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet earn his way into the postseason field. The 20-year-old has recorded one top five, six top 10s, and had led 4 laps this season. This is Dye’s first Playoff appearance.

For additional information, Playoff bios, championship and postseason stats and Playoff elimination grids please visit the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs Media Hub at the following link on NASCARMedia.com.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Lawless Alan to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Michigan International Speedway – Lawless Alan will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut piloting the No. 15 AM Racing Ford in Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

In addition to Michigan, the 24-year-old will add Atlanta Motor Speedway to his schedule.

In the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series this season, Alan earned a season-high 11th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April and heads to Michigan on the heels of a respectable 18th-place finish in this past Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond after starting 25th.

“I’ve never been to Michigan, but I’ve been taking the last weeks to prepare myself for the race weekend, whether that be with iRacing, watching prior NASCAR Xfinity Series races, or just conversing with team members at AM Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing,” Alan said. “Undoubtedly, watching the ARCA race on Friday and asking questions will be essential for making my Xfinity Series debut successful. The goal is to make gains from practice to qualifying. When the green flag drops on Saturday afternoon, we need to keep making gains with our No. 15 Ford Mustang and be able to bring home a top-20 finish or better.”

COURTESY NASCAR COMMUNICATIONS