By Lonnie Hugh Skinner

ON THE POLE FOR TONIGHT’S RACE

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Gio Ruggiero, an 18-year-old, won his first career pole on Friday afternoon at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

A native of Massachusetts, Ruggiero will lead the 34-truck field to the green flag for tonight’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Rounding out the Top 5 are, Tanner Gray, Corey Heim, Ross Chastain and Kaden Honeycutt.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Charlotte Storylines and Insights:

·       This weekend marks the 23rd running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, one race per season since 2003.

·       This weekend’s Truck race break up into three stages: Lap 30, Lap 60, Lap 134.

·       This is race 11 of 25 in the 2025 season. There are eight races left in the regular season.

·       Charlotte is a home race for all the truck teams but two: ThorSport Racing in Sandusky, OH and Rackley W.A.R. in Centerville, TN.

·       This is the fifth and final race on 1.5-mile tracks for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2025.

·       The last seven CRAFTSMAN Truck Serie races at Charlotte were won by different drivers.

·       The #07 and #7 Spire trucks won two of the last three races on 1.5-mile tracks.

·       Corey Heim won four of the last eight 1.5-mile track races, he has not gone more than one race without a win during that time (if the pattern continues, he will win at Charlotte).

·       The driver who led the most laps won six of the last nine 1.5-mile track races.

·       Five of 10 races in 2025 had a pass for the win in the last five laps.

·       Three last lap passes for the win in the first 10 races is tied for the most all time.

·       Tyler Ankrum ended a 130-race winless streak at Rockingham, the most starts between wins in Truck series history.

·       Tanner Gray won the last two Charlotte poles.

·       Tyler Ankrum leads all drivers with seven top-five finishes in 2025.

·       Corey Heim is the only driver to lead in all 10 races in 2025.

·       Corey Heim is one win away from tying Matt Crafton for 10th in all-time Truck wins with 15.

·       There were two overtime finishes in the last three races of 2025, there were none in the previous 21 races.

·       Kyle Busch is still back; he has eight Truck wins at Charlotte. Kyle Busch finished 1st or 2nd in 12 of his 15 Charlotte Truck starts.

NASCAR & Charlotte, Etc.

Historical & Significant Events at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

·       Charlotte Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by Chairman Emeritus and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee O. Bruton Smith. The late Curtis Turner, one of stock car racing’s earliest stars and another Hall of Fame inductee, served as Smith’s primary business partner.

·       Smith, a native of Oakboro, N.C., was an automobile dealer and short-track stock car racing promoter at Concord Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Fairgrounds.

·       Turner, a Virginian who amassed his money in the lumber industry, became one of the first drivers on the NASCAR circuit after the sanctioning body debuted in 1949.

·       Together, they built their dream of a 1.5-mile superspeedway on the outskirts of the Queen City and, on June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was contested at the new facility.

·       In 1961, like many superspeedways of the era, the track fell into Chapter 11 reorganization from which it eventually emerged despite lagging ticket sales. After his departure from the speedway in 1962, Smith pursued other business interests in Texas and Illinois. Working within Ford Motor Company’s dealership program, Smith became quite successful and began purchasing shares of stock in Charlotte Motor Speedway. By 1975 Smith had again become the majority stockholder in the speedway, regaining control of its day-to-day operations.

·       He hired H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler as general manager and the two began to implement plans for needed improvements and expansion.

·       During the ensuing years, Smith and Wheeler demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction, building a facility that continuously established new industry standards. Thousands of grandstand seats and luxury suites were built. Food concessions and restroom facilities were added and modernized to increase the comfort of race fans. Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility connected to the speedway’s grandstands, was erected and opened in 1988. The building houses the speedway’s corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop, leased office space and The Speedway Club, an exclusive dining and entertainment facility.

·       In 1984, under the direction of Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the only sports facility in America to offer year-round living accommodations when it built 40 condominiums high above turn one. Twelve additional condominium units were added in 1991.

·       Another innovation was a $1.7 million, 1,200-fixture permanent lighting system developed by MUSCO Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows or obtrusive light poles.

·       The lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Charlotte Motor Speedway to be the first modern superspeedway to host night auto racing.

·       Ever cognizant of the competitors as well as the spectators, the speedway added a new $1 million, 20,000-square-foot NASCAR Cup Series garage area in 1994.

·       Other additions and improvements include the development of the speedway’s 2,000-plus acres. In addition to the speedway, the property, some of which is leased, includes an industrial park that serves as home to several motorsports-related businesses, a modern landfill facility operated by BFI and a natural wildlife habitat.

·       In addition to the 1.5-mile quad oval, the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex includes a 2.25-mile road course and a six-tenths-mile karting layout in the speedway’s infield; a quarter-mile asphalt oval utilizing part of the speedway’s frontstretch and pit road; and a one-fifth-mile oval located outside Turn 3 of the superspeedway.

·       Two NASCAR Cup Series races, two NASCAR Xfinity Series races and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race are among the major events held at the speedway. The Richard Petty Driving Experience and the NASCAR Racing Experience also use the track extensively throughout the year.

·       Other events on the various tracks include a summer short-track series for Legend Cars and Bandoleros and World Karting Association regional, national and international races.

·       In May 2000, The Dirt Track at Charlotte, a state-of-the-art, four-tenths-mile clay oval was completed across U.S. 29 from the speedway. The stadium-style facility has nearly 14,000 seats and plays host to Dirt Late Models, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Monster Trucks and the prestigious World of Outlaws World Finals.

·       Corporations such as Lowe’s Home Improvement, Coca-Cola, Sprint and Nationwide have rented the speedway to film television commercials or to entertain employees and clients with food, music and race car rides.

·       Motion pictures such as “Days of Thunder,” “Speedway,” “Stroker Ace” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” and even music videos like Tracy Lawrence’s “If the Good Die Young” have been filmed at the speedway. In 2006, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the first motorsports facility to host the world premiere of a major motion picture. More than 30,000 fans along with stars such as Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy were on hand for the debut of “CARS,” an animated hit from Disney/Pixar. Additional rental dates are reserved for race team testing and automobile manufacturer research.

·       Charlotte Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the nation’s largest car shows and swap meets, the Charlotte Auto Fair in April and September. With track rentals and events, the speedway is used more than 300 days per year for all of its attractions, which includes Speedway Christmas – a holiday-themed light show spanning three miles over the speedway’s infield, grandstands and concourse which in 2017 attracted a record 120,000 cars from mid-November through Dec. 31.

·       The track added a new garage area for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a state-of-the-art media center and additional restrooms and showers for use by those enjoying the action from the speedway’s infield. In 2012, the speedway opened first-of-its-kind corporate hospitality in the infield. Six elevated Pit Road Suites, located directly behind pit road, offer fans the best view in motorsports, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.

·       Charlotte Motor Speedway added the Bellagio of drag strips to its complex with the completion of zMAX Dragway in 2008. The state-of-the-art facility has been praised as the finest drag racing facility in the world by both fans and competitors alike, and opened to a sellout crowd of more than 30,000 for the NHRA Carolina Nationals in September 2008.

·       Building on the basic philosophy of putting fans first, Charlotte Motor Speedway continues to be the world’s leader in entertainment within its unrivaled motorsports complex.

·       In 2011, the speedway revamped its Fan Zone, a paved, 10-acre area located right outside the speedway’s main entrance. During major events, the Fan Zone provides fans with hours of fun, from the Fanatics NASCAR merchandise tents to interactive games and displays and the Play Zone, a kid-friendly area with bounce houses, face painters and a petting zoo.

·       That same year, Charlotte Motor Speedway revolutionized the fan experience by installing the world’s largest HDTV along the backstretch of the legendary superspeedway. At an incredible length of 200 feet wide, standing 80 feet tall and weighing 165,000 pounds, the video board covers an expansive 16,000 square feet. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 have clear viewing angles of the gigantic board that features 720P high-definition visuals illuminated by more than nine million light emitting diode, or LED, lamps.

·       Charlotte Motor Speedway ushered in a new chapter of its illustrious history in 2018, when the 2.28-mile, 17-turn ROVAL™ road course oval debuted in the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. The unique circuit hosted the first road course race in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Featuring twisting, left-right turns, chicanes on the frontstretch and backstretch and a 45-foot elevation change, the ROVAL™ quickly gained a reputation as one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks. It remains the only road course in NASCAR in which race fans can see every turn from the main grandstands.

·       Since its inception in 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway has always put fans first. After more than six decades of innovative firsts in entertainment and fan engagement, the speedway known as America’s Home for Racing continues to be an iconic trailblazer in sports, entertainment and fan amenities.

NASCAR & Charlotte, Etc.

Latest News & Events at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

·       U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will join military representatives from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Navy, to serve as grand marshals for the 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600 when NASCAR returns to America’s Home for Racing on the eve of Memorial Day. Hegseth, who was sworn in as the nation’s top defense official in January, oversees the Department of Defense and serves as the principal defense policy maker and advisor to the President. Prior to his service in the Trump administration, Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University in 2003. He participated in a number of active-duty deployments during his time in service, including operations in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth also served in multiple staff positions in the National Guard and has authored several books.

·       Mission accomplished. Ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 each Memorial Day Weekend, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 set out to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by pairing Coca-Cola Racing Family and other drivers alongside units from different branches of service. Defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Christopher Bell and fellow Coca-Cola Family Racing drivers Joey Logano, Daniel Suárez, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott visited regional military bases to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve. The campaign included visits to Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, Arlington National Cemetery, Naval Station Norfolk and U.S. Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach. Mission 600 serves as a prelude to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s patriotic pre-race salute to the troops prior to the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend. With representation from all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the salute embodies the patriotism and service of the nation’s men and women in uniform.

·       The 43rd annual Speedway Children’s Charities Gala presented by Sonic Automotive, EchoPark Automotive and Sonic Powersports is set for May 21 at the all-new Ten Tenths Clubhouse. Poised to be one of the most memorable nights in SCC’s storied history, the gala will honor “The King” himself, Richard Petty – a legend whose impact on motorsports is as iconic as his trademark hat. Set in the stunning new Ten Tenths Clubhouse, a venue that blends motorsports legacy with automotive luxury, this event offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, setting the perfect stage to honor a towering figure in racing history, all while raising vital funds for area children in need. Headlining the evening will be GRAMMY Award-winning group Old Crow Medicine Show, whose string of hits from “Wagon Wheel” to “Sweet Amarillo” is sure to bring down the house.

·       Few feats in motorsports demand more grit, stamina and sheer determination than “The Double” – the daring attempt to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Sunday, May 25, Hendrick Motorsports standout Kyle Larson will once again chase 1,100 miles, looking to conquer what the team has dubbed “The Hendrick 1100.” Larson first attempted the challenge in 2024, but rain dampened the effort, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500 and ultimately ending his chance at completing all 1,100 miles. This year, Larson returns hungrier than ever with eyes set on redemption and a place in motorsports history.

COURTESY NASCAR COMMUNICATIONS