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Buckle Up South Carolina 200

Friday, May 10th, 2024

Darlington Raceway, Darlington, SC

Previous race at Darlington Raceway
  • 17 Chevrolet
  • 8 Ford
  • 7 Toyota

  • 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.”

  • Friday, May 10th, 2024
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
Opportunistic Ross Chastain claims emotional NASCAR Truck Series win at Darlington

Taking advantage of a late caution, Ross Chastain surged ahead during an overtime restart and held off charging Nick Sanchez to win Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway.

Moonlighting from the NASCAR Cup Series in a race delayed more than two hours by rain, Chastain, driving for Niece Motorsports, led only the last three laps after seizing the top spot from Ty Majeski on the overtime restart on Lap 149.

Sanchez finished second, 0.315 seconds behind Chastain. Defending series champion Ben Rhodes was third, followed by Christian Eckes. Majeski, who chose the top lane for the final restart, faded to fifth.

“We have been trying to win at Darlington,” said Chastain, who picked up his fifth Truck Series victory and his first of the year in his second start. “This is where my career changed, my life changed forever.

“It’s so cool—we won Darlington.”

It was at the Lady in Black in 2018 that Chastain first turned heads in the NASCAR world. Driving a handful of NASCAR Xfinity Series races for owner Chip Ganassi, he won the pole at Darlington and swept the first two stages before an accident relegated him to a 25th-place finish.

But at that point, he had made his mark, and on Friday night, Chastain completed the circle.

Sanchez won the pole for Friday’s race but had to start from the rear after his team replaced a right rear hub on his No. 2 Chevrolet. On the final restart, he surged from the inside of the third row into second place but couldn’t catch Chastain before the finish.

Majeski lamented his lane choice after the fact.

“I should have taken the inside,” said Majeski, who held a lead of more than five seconds before Jack Wood hit the outside wall with five laps left to cause the seventh caution and force overtime.

“It sucks when you’re in position to win with a truck like that. We were so good on the long run and not so good on the short run. It would take 10-15 laps for this thing to get going, and then the thing was just lights-out.

“But it came down to a short run, and I didn’t execute like we needed to.”

Corey Heim, the series leader entering the race, swept the first two stages with 77 laps led, but after a Lap 98 restart, the No. 5 Toyota of Dean Thompson broke loose beneath Heim’s No. 11 Tundra at the exit from Turn 2 and ignited a wreck that severely damaged the trucks of Heim, Rajah Caruth, Layne Riggs and Matt Crafton.

Caruth, who was eliminated along with Heim, Thompson and Crafton, had started from the rear after scraping the wall during qualifying earlier in the day but had worked his way up to second by pitting for fresh tires midway through Stage 2.

“It’s real tight there off of (Turn) 2, and the 5 just kind of lost it there,” Caruth said after exiting the infield care center. “We had a really fast truck. We’ll get ‘em next time.”

Heim surrendered the series lead to Eckes and trails by 14 points.

Racing for the first time in a truck at Darlington, Kyle Busch was challenging Heim for the lead on Lap 2 when his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet snapped loose on the backstretch and nosed into the inside wall.

Busch lost seven laps on pit road as his crew tried to make repairs. After he returned to the action, Busch pounded the Turn 1 wall and exited the race in 32ndplace.

That result marked a dubious distinction for the all-time Truck Series winner with 66 victories to his credit. Before Friday night, Busch had never finished last in a Truck Series race.

“The truck was wrecked—there’s no reason it should have been back on the race track,” Busch told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass after the second accident.

  • 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)
Ben Rhodes celebrates in victory lane
Avondale, Arizona - November 3, 2023 : Ben Rhodes, driver of the #99 Kubota Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, finishing first of the Championship 4 drivers in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Craftsman 150 at Phoenix Raceway.
Chris GraythenGetty Images

Race weekend links appear as data becomes available.

Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway Practice results
# DRIVER MAKE RNK SPD TME BHND LAP LAPS OA RNK OA AVG 5- 10- 15- 20- 25- 30- 10-LAP FRM TO
7 Kyle Busch Chevrolet 25 160.036 30.728 1.188 3 20 3 31.565 30.930 31.112 31.382 0 0 0 158.067 2 11
9 Grant Enfinger Chevrolet 3 164.501 29.894 0.354 1 27 28 32.206 30.555 31.239 31.629 31.913 32.129 0 157.537 1 10
88 Matt Crafton Ford 12 162.388 30.283 0.743 2 23 17 31.876 30.615 32.151 32.290 0 0 0 152.961 8 17
56 Timmy Hill Toyota 27 159.600 30.812 1.272 1 11 7 31.701 31.257 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
25 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 11 162.501 30.262 0.722 1 15 11 31.806 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
45 Ross Chastain Chevrolet 8 162.964 30.176 0.636 2 20 1 31.558 30.482 30.925 31.303 31.558 0 0 159.056 1 10
41 Bayley Currey Chevrolet 15 162.281 30.303 0.763 2 18 5 31.616 30.792 31.185 0 0 0 0 157.730 1 10
76 Spencer Boyd Chevrolet 31 155.803 31.563 2.023 2 10 30 32.292 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
42 Matt Mills Chevrolet 28 159.455 30.840 1.300 2 22 8 31.734 30.983 31.203 0 0 0 0 157.613 1 10
02 Mason Massey Chevrolet 29 158.229 31.079 1.539 2 16 25 32.111 32.202 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
1 Colby Howard Toyota 19 161.593 30.432 0.892 2 25 20 31.923 30.774 32.338 0 0 0 0 152.078 12 21
52 Stewart Friesen Toyota 14 162.297 30.300 0.760 2 23 16 31.873 30.567 31.074 0 0 0 0 158.309 1 10
99 Ben Rhodes Ford 17 162.056 30.345 0.805 2 19 2 31.563 30.598 31.043 0 0 0 0 158.457 1 10
18 Tyler Ankrum Chevrolet 9 162.807 30.205 0.665 2 28 24 32.070 30.747 31.184 31.508 31.750 31.962 0 157.761 1 10
19 Christian Eckes Chevrolet 1 166.473 29.540 0.000 1 21 6 31.694 30.423 30.920 31.333 31.621 0 0 159.118 1 10
77 Chase Purdy Chevrolet 24 160.271 30.683 1.143 2 22 21 31.950 31.051 31.428 0 0 0 0 156.506 1 10
98 Ty Majeski Ford 7 163.029 30.164 0.624 2 26 10 31.786 30.370 32.088 32.298 0 0 0 153.265 11 20
15 Tanner Gray Toyota 2 164.981 29.807 0.267 1 24 22 31.991 30.278 30.919 31.370 31.738 0 0 159.134 1 10
11 Corey Heim Toyota 22 161.233 30.500 0.960 3 23 4 31.586 30.844 31.135 31.316 31.489 0 0 157.969 1 10
33 Lawless Alan Ford 13 162.302 30.299 0.759 2 18 27 32.151 32.564 32.714 0 0 0 0 150.326 9 18
5 Dean Thompson Toyota 10 162.807 30.205 0.665 3 25 19 31.912 30.639 31.084 31.380 31.646 31.912 0 158.247 2 11
32 Bret Holmes Chevrolet 26 159.839 30.766 1.226 2 18 26 32.121 31.251 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
91 Jack Wood Chevrolet 20 161.588 30.433 0.893 2 23 31 32.295 30.844 31.458 31.836 0 0 0 156.401 1 10
17 Taylor Gray Toyota 18 161.710 30.410 0.870 2 26 18 31.880 31.518 31.732 31.856 32.002 0 0 154.995 5 14
46 Thad Moffitt Chevrolet 32 151.115 32.542 3.002 3 14 32 33.107 32.770 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
2 Nicholas Sanchez Chevrolet 21 161.259 30.495 0.955 2 27 23 32.067 30.845 31.210 0 0 0 0 157.592 1 10
71 Rajah Caruth Chevrolet 23 161.011 30.542 1.002 1 24 29 32.251 31.257 31.550 0 0 0 0 155.908 1 10
13 Jake Garcia Ford 6 163.413 30.093 0.553 1 15 9 31.734 32.165 32.214 0 0 0 0 152.669 6 15
22 Mason Maggio Ford 30 156.631 31.396 1.856 3 7 13 31.833 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 0
38 Layne Riggs Ford 5 163.468 30.083 0.543 2 19 12 31.821 30.604 32.230 0 0 0 0 152.602 8 17
43 Daniel Dye Chevrolet 4 163.816 30.019 0.479 2 20 14 31.843 30.536 32.176 0 0 0 0 152.848 7 16
66 Conner Jones Ford 16 162.227 30.313 0.773 2 18 15 31.851 30.673 31.169 0 0 0 0 157.826 1 10