Up to Speed: Chevrolet Silverado 250 at CTMP Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

For the 17^th race of the season, the series travels North of the border to begin the 2018 Playoffs at the 2.459-mile Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for the Chevrolet Silverado 250. Road course ringers, teams using the NT1 Spec Engine versus those using OEM engines, the possibility of racing in the rain, stage racing, and the Playoffs are just some of the storylines heading into the 17^th race of the season at Mosport.

Coverage for the Chevrolet Silverado 250 is scheduled to start Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Canadian Tire Motorsports Park has been on the Truck Series schedule since the 2013 season. The 2.459-mile road course has never hosted the 17^th race of the Truck Series season before. In five races at Mosport, five different drivers have visited victory lane.

The last time the Truck Series visited Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Austin Cindric earned the victory in controversial fashion, booting Kaz Grala out of the lead on the final lap. While Grala recovered to finish third, Cindric cruised to a 3.481 second victory over Noah Gragson. Five drivers that finished in the top-10 that day are entered in Sunday’s race. John Hunter Nemechek is the only former winner entered in the race.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regulars have won 12 of the 16 races so far in the 2018 season.

By the Numbers

What: Chevrolet Silverado 250, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 17

Where: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park– Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada (Opened: 1961)

TV/Radio:Fox Sports 1, 2:30 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 2.459-Mile, 10-Turn Road Course

Banking: Varies

Race Length: 64 Laps, 157 Miles (Three Stages, 20/40/64)

2017 Race Winner:Austin Cindric – No. 19 Draw-Tite / Reese Brands Ford F-150 (Started on the pole, 32 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Austin Cindric (1:18.602 seconds, 110.539 mph – 9/2/2017).

The Playoff Picture:

CTMP marks the first race of the 2018 Playoffs for the Truck Series. After reseeding, Johnny Sauter holds a 15-point lead over Brett Moffitt, and a 31-point lead over the Playoff cutoff, held by Grant Enfinger. Noah Gragson is 20-points behind with Ben Rhodes 28 and Stewart Friesen 30-points behind.

While Enfinger is currently in the cutoff position, he is just two points ahead of Justin Haley. Matt Crafton, the last driver in on points, is eight points behind the cutoff.

Storylines Heading into the Chevrolet Silverado 250:

There are several storylines going into this weekend’s race to watch for:

• Justin Kunz will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the No. 0 Liqui-Molly Chevrolet Silverado for Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing.
• Todd Gilliland will have Frontline as the primary sponsor of his No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• John Hunter Nemechek returns in the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports.
• Alex Tagliani will make his first start of the season in the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado for Young’s Motorsports.
• Wendell Chavous will be in the No. 15 Sobriety Nation Chevrolet Silverado for Premium Motorsports.
• Max Tullman returns to the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado for Young’s Motorsports.
• Spencer Gallagher will make his first start of the season in the No. 25 Allegiant Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing.
• Jason White will make his series debut in the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• United States Navy Lt. Jesse Iwuji will make his series debut in the No. 34 BBMC Mortgage Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• DJ Kennington will make his first start of the season in the No. 49 APC Auto Parts Chevrolet Silverado for Premium Motorsports.
• Harrison Burton returns in the No. 51 Hunt Brothers Pizza Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Bo LeMastus will be in the No. 54 Crosley Brands Toyota Tundra for DGR – CROSLEY Group.
• Roger Reuse will make his series debut in the No. 97 WCIparts.com Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Saturday, August 25

• NCWTS Practice 1 (9:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (11:35 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.)
• NCWTS Qualifying (6:00 p.m.)

Thursday, August 16

• NCWTS Chevrolet Silverado 250 (2:30 p.m. – 64 laps, 157 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)