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Meet the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoff field
By Dustin Albino for NASCAR.com | Tuesday, August 10, 2021
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The 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoff field is set with the 10 drivers that will compete for the title in the elimination-style postseason that kicks off Aug. 20.
The Truck Series Playoffs consist of three rounds -- the Round of 10, Round of 8 and Championship 4. The Round of 10 consists of races at Gateway, Darlington and Bristol after which two drivers are eliminated. The Round of 8 consists of races at Las Vegas, Talladega and Martinsville after which four drivers are eliminated. The Championship 4 race will be held at Phoenix on Nov. 5.
The Truck Series Playoffs consist of three rounds -- the Round of 10, Round of 8 and Championship 4. The Round of 10 consists of races at Gateway, Darlington and Bristol after which two drivers are eliminated. The Round of 8 consists of races at Las Vegas, Talladega and Martinsville after which four drivers are eliminated. The Championship 4 race will be held at Phoenix on Nov. 5.
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1. John Hunter Nemechek: 2,049 points
No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 5 wins (Las Vegas, Richmond, Charlotte, Texas, Pocono)/Regular-season champion
Outlook: Nemechek bet on himself by moving back to the Truck Series instead of running mid-pack in the Cup Series, hoping to be competitive on a weekly basis. He began the season with the slogan #Here4Wins, and Nemechek has done just that. He enters the playoffs with more than double the amount of playoff points from second place, putting him in a prime position to make it to Phoenix.
No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 5 wins (Las Vegas, Richmond, Charlotte, Texas, Pocono)/Regular-season champion
Outlook: Nemechek bet on himself by moving back to the Truck Series instead of running mid-pack in the Cup Series, hoping to be competitive on a weekly basis. He began the season with the slogan #Here4Wins, and Nemechek has done just that. He enters the playoffs with more than double the amount of playoff points from second place, putting him in a prime position to make it to Phoenix.
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2. Austin Hill 2,021 points
No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 2 wins (Knoxville, Watkins Glen)
Outlook: Surprisingly, Hill picked up his two regular season victories on a dirt track and road course. Unfortunately for the No. 16 team, neither are in the playoffs. However, Hill has a two-race win streak entering the postseason opener at Gateway. This team has everything it takes to make it to Phoenix, and hoping to improve on its Round of 8 appearance from 2020, despite winning the regular-season title that year.
No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 2 wins (Knoxville, Watkins Glen)
Outlook: Surprisingly, Hill picked up his two regular season victories on a dirt track and road course. Unfortunately for the No. 16 team, neither are in the playoffs. However, Hill has a two-race win streak entering the postseason opener at Gateway. This team has everything it takes to make it to Phoenix, and hoping to improve on its Round of 8 appearance from 2020, despite winning the regular-season title that year.
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3. Ben Rhodes 2,019 points
No. 99 ThorSport Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 2 wins (Daytona, Daytona Road Course)
Outlook: Rhodes kicked off the 2021 season with a bang, winning the first two races at Daytona. Since then, the No. 99 team has defined consistency, as he enters the playoffs with an 8.9 average finish – on pace to be the best of his career. Of his six full-time seasons, hands down, this is Rhodes’ best shot at hoisting the championship.
No. 99 ThorSport Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: 2 wins (Daytona, Daytona Road Course)
Outlook: Rhodes kicked off the 2021 season with a bang, winning the first two races at Daytona. Since then, the No. 99 team has defined consistency, as he enters the playoffs with an 8.9 average finish – on pace to be the best of his career. Of his six full-time seasons, hands down, this is Rhodes’ best shot at hoisting the championship.
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4. Todd Gilliland 2,015 points
No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Reached playoffs by: 1 win (Circuit of The Americas)
Outlook: The 2021 regular season seems to have been Gilliland’s breakthrough, picking up his second career victory – the first for Front Row Motorsports – at COTA. With seven races remaining in the season, the 21-year-old has already set his new career high for top-five finishes in a single season (seven) and holds an 8.4 average finish. Darkhorse? Maybe.
No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Reached playoffs by: 1 win (Circuit of The Americas)
Outlook: The 2021 regular season seems to have been Gilliland’s breakthrough, picking up his second career victory – the first for Front Row Motorsports – at COTA. With seven races remaining in the season, the 21-year-old has already set his new career high for top-five finishes in a single season (seven) and holds an 8.4 average finish. Darkhorse? Maybe.
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5. Sheldon Creed 2,011 points
No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: 1 win (Darlington)
Outlook: The defending series champion is having some tough luck trying to recapture his crown this season. Compared to last year, Creed enters the postseason with two fewer wins and less consistency (14.7 average finish) from 2020. But, come playoff time last season, the No. 2 team turned up the wick, leading 60-plus laps in four playoff races.
No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: 1 win (Darlington)
Outlook: The defending series champion is having some tough luck trying to recapture his crown this season. Compared to last year, Creed enters the postseason with two fewer wins and less consistency (14.7 average finish) from 2020. But, come playoff time last season, the No. 2 team turned up the wick, leading 60-plus laps in four playoff races.
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6. Zane Smith 2,009 points
No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked fifth before the standings were re-seeded
Outlook: By no means has the 2021 season been a sophomore slump for Smith, but he hasn’t cracked the winner’s circle in the first 15 races of the season. The No. 21 team also has just one top-five finish to its credit; having led only 47 laps. Smith proved last year he can win and race for points, which might be what he must do to make the Championship 4 for the second straight season.
No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked fifth before the standings were re-seeded
Outlook: By no means has the 2021 season been a sophomore slump for Smith, but he hasn’t cracked the winner’s circle in the first 15 races of the season. The No. 21 team also has just one top-five finish to its credit; having led only 47 laps. Smith proved last year he can win and race for points, which might be what he must do to make the Championship 4 for the second straight season.
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7. Matt Crafton 2,004 points
No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked sixth before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Remember the last time Crafton entered the playoffs with zero wins? He went on to win the whole thing in 2019. The three-time Truck Series champion is hoping to repeat that performance, but his production this year has been down from past years. Entering the seven-race stretch with seven top 10s, Crafton is on pace to score his fewest top-10 finishes since 2007.
No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked sixth before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Remember the last time Crafton entered the playoffs with zero wins? He went on to win the whole thing in 2019. The three-time Truck Series champion is hoping to repeat that performance, but his production this year has been down from past years. Entering the seven-race stretch with seven top 10s, Crafton is on pace to score his fewest top-10 finishes since 2007.
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8. Carson Hocevar 2,002 points
No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked ninth before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Not bad for a rookie, eh? Hocevar has been close to victory lane on multiple occasions this season, and he has a best finish of second (Charlotte) to show for it. He’s shown speed at multiple intermediate tracks this season, so keep an eye on the No. 42 team during the playoffs. He’s also in a tight Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle with Chandler Smith.
No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked ninth before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Not bad for a rookie, eh? Hocevar has been close to victory lane on multiple occasions this season, and he has a best finish of second (Charlotte) to show for it. He’s shown speed at multiple intermediate tracks this season, so keep an eye on the No. 42 team during the playoffs. He’s also in a tight Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle with Chandler Smith.
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9. Chandler Smith 2,001 points
No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked 11th before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Speaking of Smith, the No. 18 team put together a charge late in the regular season to make the playoffs in his rookie campaign. Compared to his KBM teammate Nemechek, it’s been a tough season. But clearly, the speed is in the trucks to potentially sneak out a victory, continuing that late-season surge.
No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked 11th before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: Speaking of Smith, the No. 18 team put together a charge late in the regular season to make the playoffs in his rookie campaign. Compared to his KBM teammate Nemechek, it’s been a tough season. But clearly, the speed is in the trucks to potentially sneak out a victory, continuing that late-season surge.
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10. Stewart Friesen 2,001 points
No. 52 Halmar Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked 10th before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: After missing the playoffs in his first year as part of the Toyota family, Friesen returns to the postseason in 2021. However, his 14 laps led and four top-10 finishes are the fewest of all playoff drivers. He’s hoping some of his dirt racing success translates to the final seven races of 2021.
No. 52 Halmar Racing Toyota
Reached playoffs by: Points, ranked 10th before standings were re-seeded
Outlook: After missing the playoffs in his first year as part of the Toyota family, Friesen returns to the postseason in 2021. However, his 14 laps led and four top-10 finishes are the fewest of all playoff drivers. He’s hoping some of his dirt racing success translates to the final seven races of 2021.
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