Up to Speed: Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200 at Gateway Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

For the 10^th race of the season, the series visits the unique 1.250-mile Gateway Motorsports Park for the Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200. Teams using the NT1 Spec Engine versus those using OEM engines, drivers making their debuts, 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 Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200 is scheduled to start Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. Gateway has been on the Truck Series schedule from 1998 through 2010, and continuously since the 2014 season. This is the first time that the track is the 10^th race of the Truck Series season. In 17 races at the 1.250-mile Oval, 16 drivers have claimed victory. Ford last won at the track in 1999.

The last time the Truck Series visited Gateway Motorsports Park, John Hunter Nemechek earned the victory in exciting fashion. Nemechek grabbed the lead on the final restart, as he had at Iowa Speedway leading the last six laps. He beat Chase Briscoe to the line by 1.635 seconds. Seven drivers that finished in the top-10 that day are entered in Saturday night’s race. Nemechek is the only former winners entered in the race.

Through nine races, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regulars have won seven of the races so far in the 2018 season.

By the Numbers

What:Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 10

Where: Gateway Motorsports Park – Madison, Illinois (Opened: 1967, Oval Opened 1997)

TV/Radio:Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 1.250-Mile Oval

Banking: 11 degrees in turns 1 & 2, 9 degrees in turns 3 & 4.

Race Length: 160 Laps, 200 Miles (Three Stages, 35/70/160)

2017 Race Winner:John Hunter Nemechek – No. 8 D.A.B Constructors / TBC Chevrolet Silverado (Started second, 46 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Chase Briscoe (32.888 seconds, 136.828 mph – 2017).

Storylines Heading into the Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200:

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

• Todd Gilliland will have Royal Canin 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.
• Bobby Reuse will be in the No. 15 WCIparts.com Chevrolet Silverado for Premium Motorsports.
• Tate Fogleman will make his Truck Series debut in the No. 20 Over Kill Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado for Young’s Motorsports.
• Chad Finley will attempt to make his first Series start since 2015 in his No. 42 Auto Value Certified Service Centers Chevrolet Silverado.
• Christian Eckes returns to the No. 46 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports
• Riley Herbst will make his Truck Series debut in the No. 51 Advance Auto Parts Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Zane Smith will make his Truck Series debut in the No. 54 Crosley Brands / LaPaz Margarita Mix Toyota Tundra for David Gilliland Racing – CROSLEY Group.
• Jesse Little returns in the No. 97 Rustic Rub Co. Ford F-150 for JJL Motorsports.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Saturday, June 16

• NCWTS Practice 1 (3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 2 (5:35 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.)
• NCWTS Practice 3 (7:35 p.m. – 8:25 p.m. on Fox Sports 2)

Saturday, June 16

• NCWTS Qualifying (5:25 p.m. on Fox Sports 2)
• NCWTS Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200 (8:30 p.m. – 160 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)