Seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff races begin on Sunday. The Milwaukee Mile hosts the series’ first postseason event, and given the strong playoff field, it’s uncertain who will win the championship.
Before a champion is crowned in Phoenix, however, the ten playoff drivers must fight their way through the round of the last ten. After that, two drivers will be eliminated from championship contention.
Where will the first round take place?
Milwaukee (August 25), Bristol (September 19) and Kansas (September 27) will host the Round of 10 this year. Last year in Milwaukee, it was Grant Enfinger who took the checkered flag, while Corey Heim and Christian Eckes won at Bristol and Kansas, respectively. The vast differences between the facilities will present a unique challenge for the Truck Series field, making it difficult for even the favorites to make it past the first round.
Where will the second round take place?
The round of eight begins with a superspeedway race at Talladega before concluding with events at Kansas and Martinsville. The three tracks featured in the penultimate round of the postseason couldn’t be more different. Last year, it was Brett Moffitt and Eckes who won the races at Talladega and Kansas, respectively, with Martinsville returning to the Truck Series playoff schedule for the first time since 2021.
Where will the championship race take place?
NASCAR’s championship weekend returns to Phoenix for the fifth consecutive year in 2024, and the Truck Series championship race will be the first race of the weekend. The 2023 Truck Series championship race was extremely chaotic, with Eckes winning the race and Ben Rhodes taking the title.
The one-mile oval track may not always offer the most exciting action, but don’t be surprised if 2024 sees another chaotic championship event.
What do the points look like?
Heim (+39) and Eckes (+36) are at the top of the playoff standings, but things are different near the cut line. Taylor Gray is currently the last driver standing, one point ahead of reigning Truck Series champion Rhodes. Daniel Dye is last on the playoff driver grid, and five points behind the cut line, he will have his work cut out for him on his way to advancing.
Who are the title favorites?
Eckes and Heim have easily outperformed the rest of the 2024 Truck Series field, but Ty Majeski shouldn’t be written off either. Majeski and the No. 98 team have won the last two Truck Series races, and the abundance of short tracks in the playoffs benefits him. Enfinger is also a sure candidate for an at-large appearance, having finished just one spot away from the championship in 2023.
Who are the playoff underdogs?
If a two-time champion can be considered an underdog, Rhodes shouldn’t be written off. In both 2021 and 2023, Rhodes sneaked into the Truck Series field just in time to claim the title. TRICON Garage’s Gray could also make a stealthy run, as the 19-year-old has shown steady improvement throughout the season.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoffs begin on August 25 with the LiUNA! 175 at the Milwaukee Mile. The green flag will be waved shortly after 4:00 p.m. ET.
