Much can change in a few months, wouldn’t you agree? At least, this can be said for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field, which has seen plenty of shifts up and down the order since our last Power Rankings installment.
Layne Riggs has been Layne Riggs. Chandler Smith has compiled two wins. Other drivers apart from the Front Row Motorsports teammates are jockeying for postseason positioning with two regular-season races remaining. So, how has it all shaken out since the last ranking? Let’s look, with NASCAR.com’s John Crane ranking the top 10 Craftsman Truck Series drivers with the closing stretch upon us.
RELATED: Craftsman Truck Series standings | Craftsman Truck Series schedule
Analysis: Straight out of the Michael Jordan playbook, the 24-year-old Riggs took his P3 position in the previous ranking personally. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports pilot has finished outside the top 20 once over the last seven races (23rd, Lime Rock) and even led 48 of 100 laps that day. He has finished fourth or better in every other contest, with four victories in that span. His 443 laps led over the last seven contests further add to Riggs’ dominance since late May. With a 100-point cushion atop the standings, Riggs is well on his way to what looks to be a deep postseason run.
Analysis: It has been a tale of two extremes for Smith of late. On one hand, he has three finishes of 22nd or worse over the last seven contests. Then again, the other four races have resulted in finishes of fifth or better, including a dominant — and historic — victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway in July. Crazily enough, Smith’s average start (11.7) and average finish (11.8) in 2026 are identical to last year’s marks. With Smith slated to depart Front Row’s truck program in 2027, the 24-year-old will have one more shot at title glory with the team.
Analysis: The demotion from first to third in this ranking shouldn’t be seen as a slight against Honeycutt; it’s more so a testament to how strong the Riggs-Smith tandem is. If there is a driver to get in the way of the pair, though, it’s the No. 11 Tricon Garage driver. His 158 stage points rank second among full-time drivers, and his 9.6 average finish ranks first. Yeah, don’t doubt Honeycutt for a second, even if he has dipped here.
Analysis: In the same vein as Riggs and Smith, Ruggiero is right there behind his Tricon Garage teammate in Honeycutt in terms of productivity. To quote Cris Collinsworth: Now here’s a guy who has finished 20th or better in every race this season save for one (25th, St. Pete) and has the second-best average start among all full-timers (7.4, trailing Honeycutt’s 6.4). With a not-too-shabby 11.4 average finish, there is a reason Ruggiero has already clinched a Chase berth. The $1 million question: Can he force his way into the trio above and more?
Analysis: You’re looking at the other driver aside from the four above who has already clinched a Chase position. While the 25-year-old has yet to find Victory Lane — something he did eight total times in 2023-24 — the No. 91 driver has still been a force, tallying the second-most laps led among full-timers (173). Granted, Eckes hasn’t led a circuit since Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May, but with five finishes of ninth or better in the last seven races, he’s still getting the job done.
Analysis: Enfinger is finally a Truck Series victor once more, prevailing at Lime Rock Park in July to claim his first win since October 2024 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The victory has been a part of a solid stretch for the 41-year-old veteran, with only two finishes outside the top 20 in the last seven races after having six such results over the first nine contests. Whether or not the 2023 Truck title runner-up can find another gear beyond this remains to be seen, but there is at least a fair dose of momentum here.
Analysis: Just when it looked like Majeski was about to break out in a victorious way — look no further than his Dover Motor Speedway runner-up in May — the 2024 Truck Series champion laid an egg the following week with a P33 result at Charlotte. The yo-yo has continued to wax and wane for the No. 88 driver, alternating finishes inside and outside the top 15 through Lime Rock. That said, the Wisconsin native has rattled off two consecutive top-10 finishes (10th, North Wilkesboro; third, IRP). When will the big moment occur, though?
Analysis: A return to this ranking installment is in order for the 35-year-old Hemric. Recent production certainly warrants it; save for a P34 finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the No. 19 pilot has finished inside the top 20 in six of the past seven races. Extrapolate it further, and Hemric has finished inside the top 20 in nine of the past 11 contests. A win has yet to transpire as it did for the racing veteran last year (Martinsville spring), but for now, this stretch suffices.
Analysis: The 2021 and 2023 Truck Series champion continues to hang about in this ranking, though a prolonged stretch of elite results continues to elude the 29-year-old pilot. The No. 99 ThorSport Racing driver has three finishes of 21st or worse in the last seven races and is averaging 23 points per race during that stretch. Only one top five and no laps led in that same span continues to illustrate the bumpy ride of late. Rhodes’ past accolades provide some benefit of the doubt, but that can only go so far.
Analysis: Keeping it steady has been the way of the 43-year-old Friesen this season. With average start and average finish marks not too far apart from each other (15.2 vs. 16.2), the No. 52 driver has been able to hold the line as the 10th and final driver inside The Chase bubble. Three consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to Lime Rock in July certainly help, but there is no letting up; Tyler Ankrum and Jake Garcia, among others, are not far behind.
