• Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
• NASCAR Wire Service -

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to jumpstart Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway

After an adrenaline-charged weekend in Kansas, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is set to kickoff Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 on Friday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio.

The 1.366-mile track has hosted 11 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, producing 8 different winners and 7 different pole winners. Two races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by John H. Nemechek in 2022.

Here’s a look at the drivers who have etched their names in the Darlington Raceway record books:

• Race record: Bobby Hamilton 133.645 mph (03/14/2003)
• Qualifying record: Cole Whitt 173.933mph (03/12/2011)
• Most races: Matt Crafton (11)
• Most poles: Carl Edwards, Jason Leffer, Timothy Peters, Jack Sprague, Cole Whitt, John H. Nemechek, and Corey Heim (1)
• Most wins: Bobby Hamilton, Kasey Kahne, Sheldon Creed (2)
• Most top fives: Matt Crafton, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Musgrave, Grant Enfinger, and Carson Hocevar (3)
• Most top 10s: Matt Crafton (7)
• Laps led: Sheldon Creed (193)
• Laps Completed: Matt Crafton (1,624)

The Buckle Up South Carolina 200 will be broken up into three stages. The first two stages will be 45 laps each and the final stage will be 57 laps for a race total of 147 laps (200.8 miles).

Practice will begin Saturday, May 10 at 3:05 p.m. ET on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 3:35 p.m. ET.

Plenty of CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers to watch at ‘Too Tough to Tame’ track

Two previous winners are entered in this weekend’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway, but they’re not the only drivers who have had consistently great performances at the ‘Lady in Black’.

Christian Eckes:The breakout star behind the wheel of the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet is one of only a handful of drivers who have consistently ran in the top 10 each week this season – the only exception being at Atlanta (32nd) due to brake failure. In three starts at Darlington, Eckes has recorded one win (2023), two top fives, two top 10s, and has led 84 laps. The 23-year old is the most recent Darlington winner.

Ben Rhodes:The reigning 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion has had a slow start to the year – collecting only one top-10 finish at COTA. The driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford has made five starts at Darlington posting one win (2020), two top-five, and two top-10 finishes. Rhodes finished 18th at the 1.366-mile track last season.

Matt Crafton:The only driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to make all 11 previous Darlington starts knows the ‘Lady in Black’ all too well. In those starts, the driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Ford has posted three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 47-year old finished 12th at the ‘Too Tough to Tame’ track in 2023.

Corey Heim:The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ most recent winner is on course for another incredible season having finished in the top-10 in all eight races this season. In three starts at the ‘Lady in Black,’ the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota has recorded one pole (2023) and one top-10 finish. The Marietta, Georgia native has also led 68 laps. Heim finished eighth at the 1.366-mile track last season.

CRAFTSMAN Truck Series celebrate blasts from the past at Darlington

This weekend is NASCAR’s official throwback weekend, and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers are thrilled to show off their paint schemes at Darlington.

Take a look at some of the paint schemes that have been announced so far:

Christian Eckes’s No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet will pay tribute to Brownie King, a pioneer driver from the 1950-60’s who raced on the Daytona Beach course and in the inaugural Daytona 500.

Corey Heim’s No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota will pay homage to legend Cale Yarborough and his iconic 1974 Southern 500 scheme.

Taylor Gray’s No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota will throwback to Mark Green's Hensley Racing Busch Series car, honoring its former Crew Chief and Team Manager, Jeff Hensley.

Tanner Gray’s No. 15 TRICON Garage Toyota will celebrate his 2018 title-winning Gray Motorsports NHRA Pro Stock scheme from when he became the youngest driver to ever become an NHRA Drag Racing champion.

Daniel Dye’s No. 43 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet will pay tribute to Kyle Petty’s 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix which he raced in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Tyler Ankrum’s No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet is inspired by Russ Wheeler’s car from the 1990 Days of Thunder movie.

Nick Sanchez’s No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program, paying homage to all those who came before him.

Bayley Currey’s No. 41 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet will give a nod to the team’s General Manager, Cody Efaw’s late father and his 1980’s ZERO Dirt Late Model.

Thadd Moffitt’s No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet will represent the STP 25th anniversary vehicle Bobby Hamilton debuted while driving for Petty Enterprise’s.

Layne Riggs’ No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford will throw it back to the RC Cola truck that launched his father’s career in the Truck Series.

Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota will pay homage to Jimmie Johnson’s 2010 Coke 600 paint scheme.

Dean Thompson’s No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota will honor the racer who taught him to drive a stock car, multi-time Irwindale Track Champion and five-time ARCA Menards Series West winner “Flyin” Ryan Partridge.

Jack Wood’s No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet will celebrate the NASCAR Hall of Famer Tim Flock and his co-driving monkey Jocko Flocko.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.

Two NASCAR Cup Drivers pulling double duty at Darlington – Of the 32 entries in this weekend’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200, two NASCAR Cup drivers will attempt double duty.

Kyle Busch, the winningest driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, will run his fifth race on his select-tour behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet this weekend. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series Darlington race winner has never made a start at the ‘Lady in Black’ in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Ross Chastain will pilot the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. The 32-year old from Alva, Florida has made two previous CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Darlington finishing 13th at the 1.366-mile track in 2023 and 26th in 2022.

Dawson Sutton set to make debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway – Pro Late Model driver Dawson Sutton is set to team up with Rackley W.A.R. at North Wilkesboro Speedway to pilot the No. 26 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet.

Stepping into a race car for the first time in 2022 during the U.S. Legends Cars Series to compete nationally on asphalt and dirt, Sutton was a quick study – scoring wins and consistent podium finishes in the series under the direction of Joe Ryan (Joe Ryan Racecars) and Ron Hornaday Jr.’s driver development program.

In his first full-time late model season (2023), Sutton stacked up four pole awards, two wins, and 16 top fives, including five runner-up results. He capped it off with the Pro Late Model Rookie of the Year honors at Nashville’s historic Fairgrounds Speedway in his No. 26 Chevrolet.

“This is no doubt a huge step for Dawson in his driving career and speaks volumes of his development,” said Rackley W.A.R. co-owner Willie Allen.

“He’s wrapped his mind around learning and growing his skillset in the race car, and the entire race team is really pumped to add him to our North Wilkesboro roster with Ty Dillon. We are super excited about the growth of our program. Team Chevrolet has been a huge help in Dawson’s development with us and we are extremely thankful for our relationship with those folks all around.”

• Drivers Entered: 32
• Laps Scheduled: 147
• Laps Actual: 150 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
• Margin of Victory: 0.315 Seconds
• Time of Race: 2 Hours 0 Minutes 33 Seconds
• Average Speed: 101.983
• Cautions: 7 for 37 laps
• Lead Changes: 12
• Green Flag Passes: 900 (8.0 passes per green flag lap)