The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase’s Round of 6 begins Saturday, October 29th in the Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway. The contest is set to get underway at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be show on Fox Sports 1 for your viewing entertainment.
In the spring, the 2015 Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch took the checkered flag ahead of runner-up John hunter Nemechek. Kyle Busch Motorsport’s William Byron finished third, which was the highest finish for a contending Round of 6 driver.
In this year’s spring race at Martinsville, three of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase drivers finished in the top 10. William Byron took third, Timothy Peters came in fifth and Matt Crafton in seventh. Ben Kennedy finished just outside the top 10 in 11th, while Christopher Bell came in 19th. An accident relegated Johnny Sauter to 32nd.
William Byron made his only start at Martinsville this year. In that race, the young phenom led 79 laps along with his third place result. Apparently, Byron has brought his speed back to the famed “Paper clip” for the Texas Roadhouse 200.
The rookie recorded the third fastest time in the first practice round and backed that up with the fastest in the second. Byron is the favorite to drive on to victory in the Texas Roadhouse 200.
Christopher Bell, William Byron’s teammate, finished 19th in his only start at Martinsville Speedway in the spring. Currently, Bell sits second in the Round of 6 standings and looks to advance to the finale with a win on Saturday. The Kyle Busch Motorsport’s driver was the eighth fastest in the first practice and the tenth in the second.
Veteran driver Matt Crafton has made his way around Martinsville Speedway 29 different times. In those 29 career starts, he has collected two trips to Victory Lane. Crafton also has eight top fives, 17 top 10’s and a 10.6 average finish. Furthermore, the the defending fall race winner led 63 laps on his way to the Winner’s Circle at “The Paperclip” last year.
Ben Kennedy reeled in a fourth and a third place result in his first two starts at Martinsville Speedway. Unfortunately, Kennedy hasn’t found his way into the top ten in last last six efforts at the half mile speedway. Kennedy posted the the 17th fastest time in the first practice round and improved to the 11th in the second.
Red Horse Racing’s Timothy Peters, won his first career race in 2009 at Martinsville. Peters considers the famed venue to be his home town track. In 21 career starts at the Martinsville Speedway, Peters has one victory, seven top five’s, 14 top 10’s and a 12.0 average result. On Friday, he was the 20th fastest in the first practice and improved to 15th in the afternoon go-around.
Johnny Sauter looked good to kick-off the weekend for the Texas Road House 200. The veteran driver likes his chance to claim a victory in the Texas Roadhouse 200 and move on to the final.
The speedster nailed down the 6th fastest time in the first practice session. In fact, Sauter improved four spots to second in the last practice round. In Sauter’s 17 career starts at Martinsville Speedway, he has posted two trips to Victory Lane, five top five’s and eight top 10’s.
Sprint Cup rookie Chase Elliott, will drive a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series truck for the first time since 2013. He will take the wheel of the # 71 Chevrolet for Carlos Contreras for the Texas Roadhouse 200.
In nine CWTS starts, Chase Elliott boasts one victory, five top five’s and seven top 10 finishes. Elliott was the youngest race winner in NASCAR national series history at only 17 years, nine months four days. The record has since been broken by Erik Jones and Cole Custer.
NASCAR Next member Harrison Burton, will make his first career CWTS start in Saturday’s Texas Roadhouse 200. He will be driving the #18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Burton, who turned 16 on October 9th, raced full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this year. The greenhorn amassed one top five, five top 10’s and a pole in his 14 career starts.
