Up to Speed: Overton’s 225 at Chicagoland Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regulars have won eight of the 10 races so far in the 2018 season. For the 11^th race of the season, the series visits the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway for the Overton’s 225. Teams using the NT1 Spec Engine versus those using OEM engines, Brett Moffitt’s sponsorship woes, no Cup drivers, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the seventh race of the season at Iowa.

Coverage for the Overton’s 225 is scheduled to start Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. ET. Chicagoland has been on the Truck Series schedule since the 2009 season. This is the first time that the track is the 11^th race of the Truck Series season. In nine races at the 1.5-mile D-Shaped Oval, five drivers have claimed victory. Ford has never won at the track in the Truck Series.

The last time the Truck Series visited Chicagoland Speedway, Johnny Sauter earned the victory. Sauter took the lead with 28 laps to go and never looked back. He beat Chase Briscoe to the line by 2.005 seconds. Six drivers that finished in the top-10 that day are entered in Friday night’s race. Sauter and John Hunter Nemechek are the only former winners entered in the race.

By the Numbers

What:Overton’s 225, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 11

Where: Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet, Illinois (Opened: 2001)

TV/Radio:Fox Sports 1, 9:00 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 1.5-Mile D-Shaped Oval

Banking: 18 degrees in the turns, 11 degrees on the frontstretch, and 5 degrees on the backstretch.

Race Length: 150 Laps, 225 Miles (Three Stages, 35/70/150)

2017 Race Winner:Johnny Sauter – No. 21 ISM Connect Chevrolet Silverado (Started fourth, 28 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Spencer Gallagher (30.656 seconds, 176.148 mph – 9/16/2016).

Storylines Heading into the Overton’s 225:

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

• Mike Affarano will attempt to make his first race since the 2015 season in his No. 03 Calumet City Auto Parts / Stop Bullying Chevrolet Silverado.
• Todd Gilliland will have Mobil 1 as the primary sponsor of his No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Korbin Forrister returns in the No. 7 Now Matters More Toyota Tundra for All Out Motorsports.
• John Hunter Nemechek returns in the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports.
• Robby Lyons returns in the No. 15 Sunwest Construction Chevrolet Silverado for Premium Motorsports.
• Brett Moffitt is listed in the No. 16 Toyota Tundra for Hattori Racing Enterprises despite sponsorship concerns last weekend.
• Max Tullman will make his Truck Series debut in the No. 20 Yurpal.com Chevrolet Silverado for Young’s Motorsports.
• Brandon Jones returns in the No. 51 American Standard / Eljer / Menards Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Bo LeMastus returns in the No. 54 Crosley Brands \ Toyota Tundra for David Gilliland Racing – CROSLEY Group.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, June 28

• NCWTS Practice 1 (5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (6:35 p.m. – 8:25 p.m.)

Friday, June 29

• NCWTS Qualifying (5:40 p.m. on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS Overton’s 225 (9:00 p.m. – 150 laps, 225 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)