NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: American Ethanol 200
The Place: Iowa Speedway
The Date: Friday, June 19
The Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 175 miles (200 laps)
Jones Starts Weekend Of Double-Duty in Corn State
Erik Jones returns to Iowa Speedway for Friday’s American Ethanol 200 as the defending race-winner and continues to search for his first victory of 2015. Jones’ 2014 triumph at the short track was his first of three wins last season. The 19-year-old Michigan native has a busy weekend ahead. He will run at Iowa before heading to Chicagoland Speedway for Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race.
Jones led the most laps at Gateway (84) after starting from the pole, but had another tough-luck finish when electrical issues caused him to place 23rd.
On the season, Jones leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in average start (2.5), average mid-race position (2.1), average running position (3.8), number of fastest laps (333), laps led (480) and driver rating (124.7). Despite his statistical dominance, he ranks fourth in the Camping World Truck Series standings, 33 points behind Matt Crafton.
Custer Tries To Muster The Speed For A Second Straight Victory
Cole Custer’s performance at Gateway was the opposite of lackluster.
The 17-year-old NASCAR Next driver won his first race of the season after he cleared Tyler Reddick on a restart with five laps left at the 1.25-mile track and sped away to Victory Lane.
Custer will try to muster enough speed for his second straight win in Friday’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. The race marks the youngster’s fourth of the season on his limited schedule for JR Motorsports.
Custer finished eighth in his lone Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa last year, but captured a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory at the 7/8-mile track in 2013.
Hawkeye: Timothy Peters Has Sights Set On Third Iowa Victory
The Camping World Truck Series’ only two-time winner at Iowa, Timothy Peters looks to tie Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the most wins (three) at the track in a NASCAR national series. Peters captured victories at Iowa in 2012 and 2013, but claims only one top-ten in his other six starts there – an eighth-place finish in 2009.
Peters is coming off a sixth-place showing at Gateway as he tries to improve his ninth-place standing in the Camping World Truck Series standings. He sits in a tight pack making up the fifth-tenth spots: John Wes Townley, Cameron Hayley (-6), Spencer Gallagher (-9), Daniel Hemric (-14), Peters (-15) and Ben Kennedy (-22).
Ray Black Jr. Readies To Give 100 Percent For Dad On Father’s Day
Ray Black Jr. became interested in racing after playing video games on PlayStation at the age of 14.
Ray’s dad, “Captain” Ray Black helped his son get started in racing once he realized Ray was serious about getting involved with the sport. The Floridians spent a lot of time together researching Sunshine State racing series, visiting local tracks and gaining knowledge from people involved with motorsports. Together, they both went to driver/crew chief school to learn even more about racing.
Captain Black served as crew chief in Ray’s first race, an event they ended up winning. Following the race, Captain Black wanted someone to know exactly what he/she was doing as crew chief and moved into a supportive role.
“I definitely would not be where I am in racing without my dad,” Black said. “Right from the start, he supported me and did everything he could to help me get started in the sport.
“He only had one rule for me when it came to racing – do it with 100 percent effort. I’d like to think his philosophy still sticks with me today.”
Like Father, Like Son: Nemechek Hopes To Give Dad Father’s Day Win
The Nemechek’s will spend Father’s Day Weekend at their favorite place in the world – a race track.
John Hunter Nemechek will try to capture his family’s NEMCO Motorsports team a victory in Friday’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway, one week after taking over permanently for his father Joe in the No. 8 Chevrolet.
John Hunter will make the 16th start of his Camping World Truck Series career after recording a career-best fourth-place finish at Gateway on Friday. He placed tenth in his lone start at Iowa last year and will try to give Joe a win for Father’s Day.
Nemechek, a NASCAR Next member, has a promising career ahead of him, but has a way to go to catch up with some of the numbers Joe has posted. Joe Nemechek boasts 20 career NASCAR national series wins in 1,115 starts and was the 1992 XFINITY Series champion.
Reddick Gains Ground In Points Championship Race
To win a championship, a driver must capitalize on the misfortune of others.
Tyler Reddick did just that last Saturday night at Gateway.
Going into the race, Reddick trailed Crafton in the standings by 25 points. Now, he only sits 12 points behind Crafton.
Crafton was well on his way to another top-three finish when John Hunter Nemechek got loose, made contact with Crafton and sent him into the wall. Crafton ended the night with a 21st-place finish.
Reddick – whose stated pre-season goal was to win the championship – coasted to an eighth-place finish, taking advantage of Crafton’s tough luck.
In eight starts this season, Reddick boasts two wins, five top fives and six top-tens. He leads the Camping World Truck Series with a pass differential of 61.
Rookies Run Wild At Gateway
Last Saturday’s race marked a banner day for many of the Sunoco Rookies in the Camping World Truck Series.
Spencer Gallagher and John Hunter Nemechek both posted career-best finishes with showings of second and fourth. Fellow rookie Daniel Hemric continued his hot streak with a ninth-place result – his third consecutive top-ten finish. Austin Theriault came in tenth for his third top-ten in four starts.
Despite his disappointing finish, Erik Jones won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award and led a race-high 84 laps.
Jones continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings with 110 points, followed by Cameron Hayley (-28), Hemric (-37), Gallagher (-38) and Justin Boston (-44).