NASCAR
Truck Series Championship 4 Has Mix of Youth and Old Guard
After a 22-race season, it all comes down to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Camping World Truck Series. After setting the stage this past weekend in Phoenix, the 2018 Truck Series Championship 4 is ready for battle. Of these 4 drivers, 1 is a 40-year old veteran, while the others are all 26 or younger. Each of these 4 drivers has a chance at the series championship. Only 200 miles of Friday night racing stands between them and the ultimate prize.
Johnny Sauter
Making his 3rd-straight appearance in the Truck Series Championship 4, Johnny Sauter is the title favorite. The winner of the inaugural Truck Series Playoffs in 2016, Sauter has been the man to beat all season long. The 21 team has 6 wins in 2018, a career high for Sauter. Johnny’s most recent triumph came in the Round of 6 race at Martinsville, where he led 148 of 200 laps. His 2 finishes since then have been 11th at Texas, and 7th at Phoenix. Although Sauter has not been up front in the last 2 races, experience may pay off big for the past champion at Homestead.
Justin Haley
The youngest competitor in the 2018 Truck Series Playoffs, 19 year old Justin Haley has 2 postseason wins. Haley’s most recent victory came at Texas, after leader Todd Gilliland ran out of fuel on the last lap. As Sauter’s teammate, Haley has a great source of knowledge for managing the pressure of racing for a championship.
Haley’s team has not shown lots of speed in 2018. Rather, the 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet has capitalized on other’s misfortunes to win big. In his 3 wins this year combined, Haley has only led 42 laps. In his 2 Playoff wins, Haley made last-lap passes for the lead.
Even though his teammate is very capable of dominating at Homestead, Haley will likely have to win in another method. Haley may not lead many laps at Homestead. However, if the race comes down to a late restart, then Haley could be in position to gain from other’s misfortunes.
Brett Moffitt
The king of closing out races, Brett Moffitt is in a similar situation to Justin Haley. Moffitt hasn’t been able to dominate races, but has taken the lead late and won several times in 2018. That’s exactly how Moffitt won this past week’s race at Phoenix, only taking the lead with 3 laps left. Including Phoenix, Moffitt has 5 victories in 2018, which is second only to Sauter for the series-high win total.
Once again, if Homestead comes down to a late race sprint, then Moffitt could be in a great position. At Phoenix, Moffitt restarted 3rd with 3 to go, and made a daring 3-wide pass for the lead in turn 1. Moffitt knows how to stay patient in these races, and when to push the issue. The Truck Series’ newest ‘closer’ could close out 2018 by winning the big trophy at Homestead.
Noah Gragson
Other than Johnny Sauter, Noah Gragson and the Kyle Busch Motorsports 18 truck have been the fastest all season long. Leading the Truckers in both laps led and stage wins, Gragson has only lacked in winning. Noah does have 1 win in 2018, coming at Kansas Speedway back in May. The 18 team has had the speed KBM is known for all throughout 2018, but a lack of execution has kept this team from multiple trips to victory lane. In his first trip to the Truck Series Championship 4, Gragson looks to deliver KBM their 3rd Driver’s Championship.
After a Round of 6 that saw Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton eliminated, the Truck Series Championship 4 is set. Johnny Sauter has all the experience as the past champion, as well as the most speed. However, any of the 3 remaining young drivers could score an upset win at Homestead. Tune in Friday night for the Ford Ecoboost 200, to see who will win the 2018 Camping World Truck Series championship.
