Johnny Sauter Claims NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Title; William Byron Gets Record Seventh Win

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Johnny Sauter won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with a third-place finish in Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leaving race winner William Byron to consider what might have been.

As Byron and Tyler Reddick battled for the lead, Sauter passed Championship 4 contender Matt Crafton for third-place on lap 119 of 134 at the 1.5-mile track. Sauter then pulled away to claim the championship as Crafton faded to seventh in the closing laps.

Byron, the polesitter, claimed his rookie-record seventh victory of the season to salve the wound of last week at Phoenix, where a blown engine late in the final Round of 6 race knocked him out of the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase. Continue reading

Daniel Suarez Wins First NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race as Chase Final is Set

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William Byron’s bitter disappointment proved a boon for two of his Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates in Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.

When the engine in Byron’s No. 9 Toyota expired on lap 141 of 150 – ending the championship run for the series’ most prolific winner this year – Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez took over the race lead and went on to score the first NCWTS victory of his career.

Byron’s elimination from the inaugural Camping World Truck Series Chase also helped teammate Christopher Bell, who claimed the last berth in the Championship 4 with a seventh-place finish. Bell joins second-place finisher Johnny Sauter, third-place Matt Crafton and fifth-place Timothy Peters with a chance to win the title next Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway (8 p.m. ET on FS1). Continue reading

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 Clinch Scenarios

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Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Smokey Mountain/Curb Records Toyota, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2015 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Smokey Mountain/Curb Records Toyota, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2015 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Johnny Sauter has secured his place in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami next weekend, Below are the clinch scenarios for the rest of the Round of 6 drivers as they prepare for the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend.

William Byron (0 Wins, 3052 Points) – Would clinch on points with 30 Points (Third and no laps led, fourth and led at least one lap, fifth and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Christopher Bell (0 Wins, 3051 Points) – Would clinch on points with 31 Points (Second and no laps led, third and led at least one lap, fourth and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Matt Crafton (0 Wins, 3048 Points) – If there is a winner who has been eliminated or is currently in a transfer spot, would clinch on points with a second place finish. With a win, would clinch a spot on wins.  Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.

The following drivers can only guarantee a spot With a win.  The could still clinch on points with a new winner and help:

Timothy Peters (0 Wins, 3047 Points)

Ben Kennedy (0 Wins, 3035 Points)

Michael Annett and Pilot Flying J to Join JR Motorsports in 2017

Michael Annett, driver of the #46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 5, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Michael Annett, driver of the #46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 5, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images


JRM Expanding Lineup to Four Full-Time Teams in NXS Competition

JR Motorsports will expand its NASCAR XFINITY Series program to four full-time teams in 2017, as the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned company has signed a multi-year agreement with driver Michael Annett and Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America.  Annett will compete full-time for an NXS championship with JRM’s No. 5 Pilot Flying J entry next year.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett will join a 2017 JRM roster that already includes full-season drivers Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, and rookie William Byron.  JR Motorsports will run a fifth car, the No. 88 entry, in select races with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne.

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Late Pass Gives Johnny Sauter Victory in Texas Truck Race

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You might say Johnny Sauter is on a roll.

Then again, that might be an understatement.

Passing Matt Crafton near the start/finish line with two laps left in Friday night’s Striping Technology 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, Sauter pulled away to win his second straight race in the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase. Continue reading