Up to Speed: Strat 200 Preview

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent

After two tough race weekends in a row, the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series moves on to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Austin Hill is still the only driver locked into the Playoffs after Kyle Busch earned a record-breaking win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Drivers still playing catch up, the draft, and Kyle Busch in the field once again are some of the storylines heading into the Strat 200.

Coverage for the Strat 200 is scheduled to start Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET. A second race date at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was added last season, making it the third race of the season. In 23 races at the 1.5-mile D-Shaped Oval track, 21 drivers have claimed victory. The last 13 races have produced 13 different winners.

The last time the Truck Series visited Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Grant Enfinger took the victory in dominant and thrilling fashion. Enfinger held off his teammate Matt Crafton, as well as Justin Haley and Johnny Sauter to win by 0.142 seconds. Six of the drivers that finished in the top-10 that night are entered in this weekend’s race.

Enfinger, Busch, Ben Rhodes, and Sauter are the only previous winners entered in Friday’s race.

By the Numbers

What: Strat 200, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Race 3

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nevada (Opened: 1996)

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

Track Size: 1.5-mile D-Shaped Oval

Banking: 12-20 degrees in turns

Race Length: 134 Laps, 200 Miles (Three Stages, 30/60/134)

2018 Race Winner: Kyle Busch – No. 51 Cessna / Beechcraft Toyota Tundra (Started on the pole, 55 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Mike Skinner (30.326 seconds, 178.065 mph – 2006).

Storylines Heading into the Strat 200:

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

• Stefan Parsons will make his first start of the season in the No. 1 Chevrolet Silverado for Beaver Motorsports.
• Korbin Forrister returns in the No. 7 Toyota Tundra for All Out Motorsports.
• Anthony Alfredo will be in the No. 15 Ceco Building Systems Toyota Tundra for DGR – Crosley.
• Ryan Reed will make his first Truck Series start since 2012 in the No. 17 Dexcom Toyota Tundra for DGR – Crosley.
• Josh Reaume will have YouTuber Mr. Beast as the primary sponsor of his No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• Jesse Iwuji will make his first start of the season in the No. 34 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.
• Timothy Peters returns in the No. 44 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
• Ross Chastain will be in the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
• Kyle Busch will be in the No. 51 CESSNA Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Scott Stenzel will be in the No. 63 Chevrolet Silverado for Copp Motorsports.
• Jesse Little will be in the No. 97 Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, February 28

• NCWTS Practice 1 (2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (4:05 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.)

Friday, March 1

• NCWTS Qualifying (5:10 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NCWTS Strat 200 (9:00 p.m. – 134 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)