NASCAR
Who Can Break into the Craftsman Truck Series Chase?
A pair of short track sprints are all that separates the Craftsman Truck Series from their Chase cutoff. 16 races into the 2026 campaign, only Richmond Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway remain on deck. At the time of this writing, half of the Chase field is already locked in. These two bullrings will decide the last five title contenders. A lot of hungry drivers are left on the cusp of fighting for a championship over this fall’s seven-week stretch. Here are the last men currently in the green and challengers who hope to rally over the next two races.
Ty Majeski +81 points
2024 Truck Series champion Ty Majeski remains winless since taking the big trophy 41 races ago. The last year-plus for the ThorSport Racing veteran has seen five runner-up results, including two so far in 2026. Now in the iconic Menards No. 88 ride, Majeski’s season has been as up and down as possible. Majeski is batting a perfect .500 with eight top-10s in 2026, but these are interspersed with poor results between each high point. His last two starts between North Wilkesboro and IRP were his first back-to-back top-10s of the year. This proves just how hot and cold the No. 88 has been.
Currently ranked sixth in points, Majeski bridges the gap between title favorites and long shots. With such a large cushion above the cut line, Majeski should lock in after Richmond in a few weeks. Experience in a postseason environment should benefit team 88 in the coming weeks, as they go against championship heavyweights.
Ty Majeski’s No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 on the grid at Rockingham Speedway before the Black’s Tire 200 on Friday, April 3, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ben Rhodes +43 points
Falling right behind his ThorSport teammate in points is fellow past Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes. The No. 99 Ford has had a much steeper mountain to climb so far in 2026, with only five top-10s so far. Rhodes’ high water mark of this season was third in St. Petersburg, coming all the way back in February. Since then, the two-time champ has only been in the top-10 three times in 13 starts. None of these promising results have come over Rhodes’ last three races.
Consistency has been a point of contention for Rhodes and this Ford team — a microcosm of ThorSport as a whole recently. Rhodes is still sitting pretty to make The Chase for an eighth time. The Kentucky driver has an uphill battle ahead though to chase down championship number three.
Ben Rhodes’ No. 99 Campers Inn RV Ford F-150 on the grid at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Grant Enfinger +26 points
The only 2026 race winner on this list, Grant Enfinger broke his long victory drought a few weeks ago at Lime Rock Park. This victory vaulted the No. 9 Chevrolet up into the 10-man Chase, where he’s since stayed eighth in points.
Enfinger and the CR7 Motorsports team have been trending upwards in recent months, possibly turning towards a late season surge. One of the most tenured men on the Truck Series grid, Enfinger is no stranger to coming to life for postseason runs that have ended on a championship doorstep.
Grant Enfinger’s No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet Silverado on the grid at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Daniel Hemric +14 points
From one Truck Series veteran to another, Daniel Hemric is above water for another Chase run. The picture of consistency for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Chevrolet No. 19 has six top-10s on the year. Hemric’s highlights include two top-10s in the last four races. One of those starts was San Diego, where Hemric was a season-best second on the Coronado streets.
The four-truck team eyes Hemric being their second man into the Chase. A past O’Reilly Series champion, Hemric could be a possible snake in the grass for the seven-week run.
Daniel Hemric’s No. 19 Cloyes Rotomaster Chevrolet Silverado on the grid at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Stewart Friesen +8 points
The namesake behind Halmar Friesen Racing, Stewart Friesen has turned heads in his ninth full-time Truck campaign. Daytona in February marked his first NASCAR start since a horrific dirt modified crash last July. The airborne incident left Friesen with multiple broken bones including his pelvis, hip, and right leg. The No. 52 Toyota’s seen six top-10s this year, including Friesen’s last three starts.
Currently the last man in the Chase, Friesen does hold a slim eight-point gap over the cut line. The ball is now in Friesen’s court for the last coveted Chase berth. His sixth-place run at IRP last week saw this cushion grow from a tiebreaker. The No. 52 now has a bit of breathing room over the next two races. Any mistake from this team, however, could spell doom for a fifth career postseason showing.
Friesen’s future will likely remain in flux until the checkers fly at Loudon. In short, pressure has increased for every lap between now and then. As mentioned above with other drivers, experience and living in past Playoff scenarios should benefit Friesen. The past Championship 4 contender hopes to make some noise again in 2026.
Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra on the grid at Rockingham Speedway before the Black’s Tire 200 on Friday, April 3, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Tyler Ankrum -8 points
One of 2025’s Championship 4 drivers is the first man out of the Chase. Tyler Ankrum made it to the doorstep of the Truck Series’ ultimate prize last year. Now in 2026, the 25-year-old tries for another ticket to the dance. Victorious a year ago at Rockingham, the No. 18’s best result this season has been fifth at Nashville.
The coveted 10th in points spot is a virtual dead-heat between Ankrum and Friesen. Entering IRP tied, they left separated by eight markers. Friesen was able to pick up valuable stage points and beat Ankrum to last week’s finish. Despite that, this points battle is far from over. Friesen and Ankrum both have near-identical stat lines this season, meaning this fight could go down to the wire. Chevrolet No. 18 owns five top-10s and a 17.1 average finish. This is matched by Friesen with six top-10s and a 16.2 average finish. Four stages’ worth of points and two races are what remains between these two very hungry drivers, both gunning for another championship bid.
Tyler Ankrum’s No. 18 LiUNA Chevrolet Silverado on the grid at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Jake Garcia -32 points
Making a first Playoff appearance last year, Jake Garcia hopes to double it up in the 2026 Chase. ThorSport’s driver No. 98 has seen five top-10s on this season, putting him 12th in points but within striking distance of 10th. Garcia’s game plan for the next two races must be to maximize points at all costs if he is to erase his 32-marker deficit.
It is admittedly a long shot, but not impossible, to make up this much ground in two races. Should Garcia fall in the right positions to capitalize and others stumble, 32 points could evaporate in no time. Garcia’s been struck out of the top-10 in four-straight races. Richmond and New Hampshire are prime opportunities for the 98 to find the front again.
Jake Garcia’s No. 98 Quanta Ford F-150 on the grid at Rockingham Speedway before the Black’s Tire 200 on Friday, April 3, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Less than 400 miles remain in the Craftsman Truck Series regular season, with half of the Chase berths up for grabs. The race to the Chase is slowly starting to wind down and drama is high. Two physical short tracks are all that stand between five hopeful drivers being called Chase contenders. Truckers will return to action going around Richmond Raceway on Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images
