NASCAR
Who Will Make Up the 10 Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Spots?
2023 will be an interesting year to say the least for the NASCAR Truck Series. For starters, Craftsman Tools returns as title sponsor, for the first time since 2008. In addition, Kyle Busch Motorsports switches to Chevrolet, while TRICON Garage takes their spot with Toyota. ThorSport Racing also moves back to Ford, and welcomes Hailie Deegan to their lineup. With all of these changes, what will the 10 seats look like in the Truck Series Playoffs? By manufacturer, here are 10 drivers who are likely to make up the championship contenders for 2023.
Chevrolet
Team Chevrolet will debut several new faces for the 2023 Craftsman Trucks campaign. While they retain GMS Racing, Niece Motorsports, and Rackley WAR, they also gain the Kyle Busch Motorsports powerhouse, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and a new team at Rev Racing.
The winningest organization in Craftsman Truck Series history, Kyle Busch Motorsports is in rare territory for 2023. Fielding two full-time entries, Chase Purdy will be in the No. 4. The flagship No. 51 meanwhile will be an all-star truck with a rotation of drivers, featuring Busch himself for five races. While Purdy is winless in two years of Truck competition, it is hard to imagine a Playoffs without any KBM representation. KBM is also sitting at 98 wins in their Truck Series history; the century mark is very attainable for them in 2023. The 4 should have a few winning opportunities, as Purdy and Jack Wood both hope to build up their driver stock in 2023.
Chase Purdy’s No. 61 Bama Buggies Toyota Tundra before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
GMS will see perennial contender Grant Enfinger return, alongside young teammates Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye. Caruth and Dye both embark on their first full-time seasons after graduating from ARCA. Expect Enfinger to lead this team with wins and a potential championship-caliber season in the 23. For the rookies, a Playoff berth would mark a successful season, but both drivers lack experience on-track in Trucks.
Grant Enfinger’s No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Speaking of ARCA, reigning champion Nick Sanchez will also be a Craftsman Trucks rookie for Rev Racing. The new startup team will be closely aligned with KBM. A contender in nearly every ARCA event over the past two years, Sanchez appears to be the next hot prospect for Chevrolet. With veteran crew chief Danny Stockman leading this new team, the No. 2 should have race-winning pace. Consistency delivered Sanchez his 2022 title, as he was only outside of the top-10 four times in 20 races. Expect similar consistency to have Sanchez knocking on the door of a rookie Playoff berth.
Nick Sanchez’s No. 48 Borchetta Bourbon Xfinity Chevrolet Camaro before the Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 29. Sanchez would finish this race in seventh. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
As of mid-December, the only driver confirmed back at Niece Motorsports is Carson Hocevar. Despite still being winless in 54 career Truck starts, he has made the Playoffs each of the last two years. Expect Hocevar to have a few more chances at that elusive first NASCAR win, as the 42 hopes to go far in the 2023 Craftsman Truck Playoffs.
Carson Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ford
A season ago, Ford was the least-represented manufacturer by far in the Craftsman Trucks. That didn’t matter one bit though, as the blue oval brigade’s lone Playoff team won the championship. Front Row Motorsports and Zane Smith return to back up their 2022 run that saw the regular season title and the overall championship. Smith and his No. 38 team set a high bar last year, with four wins and only four races outside of the top-10. Smith’s championship was beyond deserving, as the 38 showed incredible versatility winning on a superspeedway, a road course, an intermediate, and in the clutch at Phoenix.
This team will go through very little change, so it is not wrong to immediately label them as title favorites. To be the best, another truck team will have to beat the best from 2022, as Zane Smith will try and retain his berth with a second-straight championship. Expect more wins and another possible title to come from the 38 group in 2023.
Zane Smith’s No. 38 FR8 Auctions Ford F-150 before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Pointing his way into 2022’s Playoffs with little fanfare, Ty Majeski came alive when it mattered. The Thorsport driver earned his first two career wins in the Round of 8, eventually finishing last of the four contenders in Phoenix. Now in a Ford, winning could become a common occurrence for the Wisconsin native. Being on the doorstep of a championship last year, Majeski could make further inroads to the big trophy in 2023.
Ty Majeski’s No. 66 TSPORT Toyota Tundra before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
The only driver 7-7 in making the Truck Series Playoffs, Matt Crafton shows no signs of slowing down for 2023. Entering year 23 on the Craftsman Truck tour, the three-time champion still aspires to join Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. as a four-time winner. Back with the Ford camp, Crafton took a Ford F-150 to his most recent title in 2019. The California veteran has proven that wins aren’t necessary for a championship. The bright yellow No. 88 should be in contention for wins and perhaps a record-tying title.
Matt Crafton’s No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota Tundra before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
As the defending series champion, Ben Rhodes saw one win at Bristol Dirt and a close championship runner-up effort in 2022. Returning to Thorsport for his eighth Craftsman Truck season, Rhodes aims to return to the big stage in Phoenix. The 99 has been the picture of consistency for two years now; don’t imagine much to change results-wise for the Kentucky native.
Ben Rhodes’ No. 99 Tenda Toyota Tundra before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Toyota
Picking up his first win since 2019, 2022 saw Stewart Friesen earn 13 top-10s en route to sixth in the championship. Entering year four with Toyota, Friesen should be able to build upon his incredible run from a season ago. The 52 should become a more regular sight in victory lane.
Halmar Friesen Racing should also be a two-truck operation more times than not in the new year, as Jessica Friesen and Layne Riggs both anticipate starts in the No. 62.
Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
In the newly rebranded TRICON Garage effort, Corey Heim should be a strong title threat. The 2022 Rookie of the Year, Heim won two times in a part-time schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Now moving to the No. 11 Tundra, Heim is in position to be Toyota’s next big star.
Corey Heim’s No. 51 JBL Audio Toyota Tundra before the Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 13. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Between KBM’s reorganization and the manufacturer seat swapping with other major teams, it’s been quite the offseason for the truckers. In just a matter of weeks at Daytona, a lot of new faces and teams will be in new places. Ahead of 2023, these 10 drivers appear in the best position to battle it out for the championship.
Written by Peter Stratta
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