Up to Speed: JEGS 200 at Dover Preview

BySeth Eggert, Staff Writer

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regulars have won half of the races so far in the 2018 season. For the fifth race of the season, the series visits 1.0-mile high-banked Dover International Speedway. Teams using the NT1 Spec Engine versus those using OEM engines, no Cup drivers, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the fifth race of the season at Dover.

Coverage for the JEGS 200 is scheduled to start Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. ET. Dover has been on the Truck Series schedule since the 2000 season, and has just once been fifth on the schedule, in 2016. In 18 races at the 1.0-mile Concrete Oval, 15 drivers have claimed victory. The last four races Dover have produced four different winners.

The last time the Truck Series visited Dover International Speedway, Johnny Sauter earned the victory in exciting fashion. He held off his GMS Racing teammate Kaz Grala to win by 0.270 seconds. Five drivers that finished in the top-10 that day are entered in Saturday’s race. Matt Crafton and Sauter are the only former winners entered in the race.

By the Numbers

What: JEGS 200, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Five

Where: Dover International Speedway – Dover, Delaware (Opened: 1969)

TV/Radio: Fox Sports 1, 5:00 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 1.0-Mile High-Banked Concrete Oval

Banking: 24 degrees in turns, 9 degrees on the straightaways.

Race Length: 200 Laps, 200 Miles (Three Stages, 45/90/200)

2017 Race Winner: Johnny Sauter – No. 21 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet Silverado (Started 11^th, 33 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Ryan Blaney (22.718 seconds, 158.465 mph – 5/29/2015).

Storylines Heading into the JEGS 200:

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

• Todd Gilliland returns in the No. 4 Pedigree Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Joe Nemechek returns in the No. 8 ACME Grocery Store Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports.
• Reed Sorenson will be in the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado for Premium Motorsports after sponsorship woes have sidelined Robby Lyons.
• Tanner Thorson will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the No. 20 GoShare Chevrolet Silverado for Young’s Motorsports.
• Josh Reaume returns in the No. 33 Toyota Tundra for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• Todd Peck will be in the No. 50 Fluidyne Chevrolet Silverado for Beaver Motorsports.
• Harrison Burton returns in the No. 51 Dex Imaging Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• David Gilliland will be in the No. 54 Frontline Enterprises / Crosley Brands David Gilliland Racing – CROSLEY Group Toyota Tundra.
• Camden Murphy returns in the No. 63 Chevrolet Silverado for MB Motorsports.
• Parker Kligerman returns in the No. 75 Food Country USA Chevrolet Silverado for Henderson Motorsports.
• Jesse Little returns in the No. 97 Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, May 3

• NCWTS Practice 1 (2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.)

Friday, May 4

• NCWTS Qualifying (1:05 p.m. on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS JEGS 200 (5:00 p.m. – 200 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)