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Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series: 2019 Season in Review
By Terrin Waack | Published: 16 Dec, 2019 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Ten different drivers visited Victory Lane throughout 23 races. Six of those winners ended up in the eight-driver playoff field. But only one title contender was crowned the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series’ champion at the end of the 2019 season.
Scroll through to see how the top 12 drivers’ years played out.
Scroll through to see how the top 12 drivers’ years played out.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
12. Harrison Burton
No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Burton completed his first full-time season in the Gander Truck Series with seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10 performances to bring him to an average finish of 12.0.
2020 outlook: Burton will move up to the Xfinity Series and drive the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota next season. He enters the circuit with nine starts – highlighted by a top five and five top 10s.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
11. Todd Gilliland
No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
2019 wins: 1 (Martinsville Speedway-fall)
2019 highlight: Gilliland had his first career win this season at Martinsville, leading the final 11 laps to the checkered flag. Overall, he accomplished six top fives and 14 top-10 runs, good for an average finish of 10.6.
2020 outlook: Gilliland’s plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
10. Sheldon Creed
No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Creed wrapped up his first full-time season in the Gander Truck Series with four top-five and 11 top-10 showings, along with a 11.6 average finish. He was a runner-up twice in back-to-back races – Eldora Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.
2020 outlook: Creed will return to GMS Racing Chevrolet next season in the Gander Truck Series. Numbers haven’t been revealed yet, but it’s likely Creed will be back in the No. 2 Chevrolet.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
9. Ben Rhodes
No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Rhodes now has four full seasons in the Gander Truck Series under his belt. This was a down year without a win or a playoff berth, but Rhodes still had 13 top-10 finishes, which ties his career high.
2020 outlook: Rhodes’ plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
8. Tyler Ankrum
No. 17 DGR-Crosley Racing Toyota
2019 wins: 1 (Kentucky Speedway)
2019 highlight: Ankrum earned the Rookie of the Year honor after a season that featured a first career victory, three top-five runs and an average finish of 15.3 in 20 starts.
2020 outlook: Ankrum will move from DGR-Crosley Racing to GMS Racing but remain in the Gander Truck Series. He will drive the No. 26 Chevrolet.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
7. Grant Enfinger
No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Enfinger had his best finish (second) in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and won the regular season title. He ended up with 10 top-five and 18 top-10 showings, in addition to two poles.
2020 outlook: Enfinger’s plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
6. Johnny Sauter
No. 13 ThorSport Racing Ford
2019 wins: 1 (Dover International Speedway)
2019 highlight: Sauter extended his career win streak to four seasons with the victory at Dover. Overall, he had four top fives and 11 top-10 showings.
2020 outlook: Sauter’s plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
5. Austin Hill
No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota
2019 wins: 4 (Daytona, Michigan, Las Vegas Motor Speedway in playoffs, Homestead-Miami Speedway)
2019 highlight: Hill notched his first, second, third and fourth career wins all this season. He was eliminated from title contention after the Round of 6 but went on to win the finale in Miami anyway. He also won the Daytona opener to bookend the year with wins.
2020 outlook: Hill will return to the Gander Truck Series with the No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
4. Stewart Friesen
No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 2 (Eldora, ISM Raceway at Phoenix in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Friesen not only secured his first career win this season, he backed it up with a second trip to Victory Lane. He also managed the best average finish among full-time drivers with an 8.5 mark.
2020 outlook: Friesen will return to Halmar Friesen Racing’s No. 52 entry in the Gander Truck Series, except now he’ll be driving a Toyota rather than a Chevrolet with trucks bought from Kyle Busch Motorsports.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
3. Brett Moffitt
No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 4 (Iowa Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway in playoffs, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Moffitt scored the first pole of his career and then went on to add two more. He also had the best average starting position (4.5) and most top-five performances (13) among full-time drivers as he reached the Championship 4 for a second straight year.
2020 outlook: Moffitt will return to the GMS Racing next season in the Gander Truck Series. Moffitt will wheel the No. 23 Chevrolet.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
2. Ross Chastain
No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet
2019 wins: 3 (Kansas Speedway, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Pocono Raceway)
2019 highlight: Chastain switched his championship eligibility midway through the season from the Xfinity Series to Gander Trucks – only to go and finish second in the final point standings. Also, prior to this season’s three victories, Chastain had never won a Gander Truck Series race. He led the most laps (591) and had the most top 10s (19) among full-time drivers, too. Oh, and Chastain was voted the circuit's Most Popular Driver.
2020 outlook: Chastain is moving up to the Xfinity Series to compete for a title in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
1. Matt Crafton
No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Crafton won his third Gander Trucks title and is now within one championship of series-leader and Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. Overall, Crafton had seven top-five and 18 top-10 runs with an average finish of 8.8.
2020 outlook: Crafton is expected to return behind the wheel of the No. 88, though, ThorSport Racing has not announced its lineup for next season. At the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte, North Carolina, in November, Crafton expressed no interest in moving leagues or retiring any time soon.