Daniel Dye finished eighth in Saturday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Richmond International Raceway, but he was a little better in key moments and that made all the difference as the DeLand driver gained enough ground to qualify for the 10-team playoffs that begin in two weeks.
Dye entered the Clean Harbors 250 in 11th place, five points behind Tanner Gray, who finished 10th in the playoffs. He finished just four points faster than Gray, who finished 12th.
But sixth and third places at the end of stages 1 and 2 made the difference for Dye: he received 13 bonus points, putting him 12 points ahead of Gray in 11th place in the overall standings. Gray was not in the top 10 at any of the stage changes and therefore did not receive any bonus points.
DAYTONA 500 BOOK Celebrate the fast-paced history of the Daytona 500 with a new book; foreword by Richard Petty
Dye drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in his second full-time season of Truck Series racing.
Ty Majeski won the race on Saturday in a Ford.
Reset Truck Series ranking
Here is the ranking of the new drivers at the end of the regular season and before the playoffs:
1. Corey Home: 2041
2. Christian Eckes: 2038
3. Ty Majeski: 2023
4. Nick Sanchez: 2018
5. Rajah Caruth: 2009
6. Grant Enfinger: 2007
7. Tyler Ankrum: 2007
8. Taylor Gray: 2003
9. Ben Rhodes: 2002
10. Daniel Dye: 2001
NASCAR Truck Series playoff format
After a week off, the playoffs begin on August 25th at the historic Milwaukee Mile.
In contrast to the Cup Series playoffs, the trucks compete in seven playoff races. After three races, the field of 10 playoff teams is reduced to eight. After three more races, there are only four left for the championship finale on November 8 in Phoenix.
