NASCAR Pole Postion 2018 Playoff Edition

SPECIAL

PLAYOFF EDITION

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

@NPPMAG

PLAYOFF CONTENDERS FOR ALL THREE TOP NASCAR SERIES MARTIN TRUEX JR. + KYLE BUSCH + KEVIN HARVICK + CHRISTOPHER BELL + BRETT MOFFITT

TRACKS OF THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS

how the monster energy nascar cup series playoffs work i past champions 5 FAVORITES MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES I NASCAR XFINITY SERIES I NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RGB RED= R220 G6 B6

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CONTENT

10. PAST CHAMPIONS

04

how the monster energy nascar cup series playoffs work

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5 REASONS TO LOVE THE NASCAR PLAYOFFS

14. 5 FAVORITES TO WIN THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES TITLE 12. FAVORITE FINDS NASCAR POLE POSITION RACE FAN GUIDE AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

08. TRACKS OF THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS

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48. 5 FAVORITES TO WIN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES TITLE

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56. 5 FAVORITES TO WIN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES TITLE

16.

PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

PRESENTED BY

64. ON THE RISE: MATT DIBENEDETTO POLE POSITION MAG.COM

03

NASCAR PLAYOFFS How the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Work

S

ixteen drivers qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with entry based on having a win or their position in the standings following the 26-race regular season.

While baseline point totals are reset equally heading into the playoffs, a driver earns five playoff points for every race win, and one playoff point for every stage win, during the regular season. Drivers can continue to amass playoff points once the playoffs commence, adding to their regular season totals.

A driver’s playoff points carry over to each new round – except the Championship Round – provided he is still championship-eligible.

The driver leading the point standings at the end of the regular season starts the playoffs with an additional 15 playoff points. In fact, the top-10 drivers in points after the regular season are all awarded playoff points on a descending scale.

The number of playoff drivers in contention for the championship decreases after every three playoff races, from 16 to start the playoffs; 12 after playoff Race No. 3; eight after playoff Race No. 6; and four after playoff Race No. 9.

A win by a championship-eligible driver in any playoff race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next round. The positions for each round that aren’t filled based on wins in the previous round are filled based on point totals at the end of the previous round.

HOW THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES PLAYOFFS WORK

The first three races of the playoffs are known as the Round of 16 and are held this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway and the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway, respectively.

The ROVAL, a new 17-turn road course where the field of championship-eligible drivers decreases to 12, is the first of three playoff elimination races.

The next three races make up the Round of 12 and are held at Dover International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway, respectively.

At Kansas, the playoff field is whittled to eight.

Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and ISM Raceway make up the Round of 8, which culminates with four drivers leaving Arizona in title contention. The champion is the highest finisher among the four title contenders in the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

HOW THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES PLAYOFFS WORK THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES IS IN its third season with an elimination-style playoff format, and the Truck Series playoffs utilize a format different from those used in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Consisting of seven races, the Truck Series playoffs feature eight drivers and two elimination rounds. A win during the regular season guarantees a driver entry into the Truck Series playoffs, as long as that driver is in the top 30 in series points.

The first round, called the Round of 8, consists of races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (a road course), Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. If a driver wins a race

04

POLE POSITION 2018

in the Round of 8, the driver automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions that have not been filled by winners are filled based on points.

Each driver who reaches the Round of 6 – consisting of races at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and ISM Raceway – needs to win to automatically advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The remaining available positions that have not been filled by winners are filled based on points.

The drivers in the Championship 4 will have their point totals reset and made equal, and the highest finishing Championship 4 driver in the season finale at Homestead is champion.

THE 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs feature 12 drivers and two elimination rounds, with four drivers competing straight up for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A win during the regular season guarantees a driver entry into the playoffs, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points. The rest of the playoff field is set based on points.

The first round, called the Round of 12, consists of races at Richmond Raceway, the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway.

All drivers start with equal points, plus any additional playoff points earned for race wins and stage victories in the regular season.

If a driver wins a race in the Round of 12, he automatically advances to the next round. The remaining available positions that have not been filled by winners will be filled based on points.

Each driver who advances to the Round of 8 (Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and ISM Raceway) will start the round with equal points – plus any playoff points accumulated during the regular season or the Round of 12. Drivers who win in the Round of 8 automatically advance to the Championship 4. The remaining positions that have not been filled by winners are based on points at the end of the Round of 8.

The highest finishing Championship 4 driver at Homestead is the champion.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

ClearMinis Cle

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^It's possible while taking Nexium® 24HR. Use as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn. Do not take for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor. Not for immediate relief. †May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. All Nexium® 24HR products have the same effectiveness.

The stylized No. 3 and the RCR checkered flag logo are registered trademarks of RCR Enterprises, LLC. Ty Dillon’s name, likeness, signature and the TD stylized logo are registered trademarks of Ty Dillon. All trademarks and the likeness of the No. 3 race car are used under license from their owners.

NASCAR PLAYOFFS 5 Reasons to Love the NASCAR Playoffs For many NASCAR fans, the playoffs are undoubtedly the most exciting time of the year. For the drivers in pursuit of a championship, no time is more stressful. Stressors aside, there are many reasons to love the playoffs – especially in NASCAR’s premier division, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Here are the top five reasons:

1

THE SCHEDULE SHAKEUP: The Monster Energy Series’ Round of 16 has an allnew look this season.

Out are Chicagoland Speedway (which hosted the playoff opener from 2011-17), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (which lost its fall race date) and Dover International Speedway (now the first race in the Round of 12). This year, the Round of 16 consists of races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway and a new 17-turn road course formally dubbed the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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POLE POSITION 2018

2

THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4: It’s one race featuring four championship contenders all on equal points footing, with no bonus points up for grabs.

The first driver among the four finalists to cross the finish line when the checkered waves at HomesteadMiami Speedway is the Monster Energy Series champion. Does it really get any better than this? NASCAR knocked a home run with its implementation of a winner-take-all Championship Race in 2014. Expect 2018 to be no exception.

3

TALLADEGA, AKA ‘THE WILD CARD’: Want intense racing? Try a race at wild, wacky and notoriously unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway situated smack dab in the middle of the Monster Energy Series playoffs. Talladega, a 2.66-mile track widely considered the most treacherous of all venues on the Monster Energy Series tour, is the second race in the Round of 12 and has consistently proven to be a game-changer in terms of which drivers ultimately advance to the Round of 8.

4

THE ELIMINATION RACES: If you like witnessing aggression, tune in or buy a ticket for any of the three elimination races in which the Monster Energy Series playoff field will be reduced by four drivers.

This year’s elimination races are being run at the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and ISM Raceway, respectively. All three tracks are poised to crush some drivers’ dreams while propelling others further down the path to a possible championship.

5

THE SURPRISES: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs usually produce a major surprise or two.

In 2014 – the first year of the elimination-style format and winner-takeall Championship Race – Ryan Newman came one position short of the championship, despite going the whole season without a win. The following year, Martin Truex Jr. – then considered a major underdog – surprised almost everyone by reaching the Championship 4 with a single-car team.

Who will be the biggest surprise of this year?

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR PLAYOFFS Tracks of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Playoffs THE RESULTS OF THE RACES AT THESE 10 FACILITIES WILL DECIDE THE 2018 CHAMPION LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY LENGTH: 1.5 MILES (267 LAPS = 400.5 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 1,572 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 2,275 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: 20 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: 9 DEGREES FIRST RACE: MARCH 1, 1998 – LAS VEGAS 400 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: KURT BUSCH, 196.378 MPH, MARCH 4, 2016 RACE RECORD: BRAD KESELOWSKI, 154.633 MPH, MARCH 9, 2014 RICHMOND RACEWAY LENGTH: 0.75 MILES (400 LAPS = 300 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 860 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 1,290 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: 14 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: VARIES FROM 2 TO 8 DEGREES FIRST RACE: APRIL 19, 1953 – RICHMOND 200 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: JEFF GORDON, 130.599 MPH, SEPT. 6, 2013 RACE RECORD: DALE JARRETT, 109.047 MPH, SEPT. 6, 1997

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY ROVAL LENGTH: 2.28-MILE, 17-TURN ROAD COURSE (109 LAPS = 248.5 MILES) FIRST RACE: SEPT. 30, 2018 – BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL 400 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: INAUGURAL EVENT RACE RECORD: INAUGURAL EVENT

DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY LENGTH: 1 MILE (400 LAPS = 400 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 1,076 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 1,076 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: 24 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: 9 DEGREES FIRST RACE: JULY 6, 1969 – MASON-DIXON 300 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: BRAD KESELOWSKI, 164.444 MPH, MAY 30, 2014 RACE RECORD: MARK MARTIN, 132.719 MPH, SEPT. 21, 1997 TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY LENGTH: 2.66 MILES (188 LAPS = 500 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 4,000 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 4,300 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: 33 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: VARIES FROM 2 TO 16.5 DEGREES FIRST RACE: SEPT. 14, 1969 – TALLADEGA 500 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: BILL ELLIOTT, 212.809 MPH, APRIL 30, 1987 RACE RECORD: MARK MARTIN, 188.354 MPH, MAY 10, 1997

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POLE POSITION 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

KANSAS SPEEDWAY LENGTH: 1.5 MILES (267 LAPS = 400 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 2,207 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 2,685 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: VARIES BETWEEN 17 AND 20 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: VARIES BETWEEN 5 AND 10 DEGREES FIRST RACE: SEPT. 30, 2001 – PROTECTION ONE 400 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: KEVIN HARVICK, 197.612 MPH, OCT. 3, 2014 RACE RECORD: DENNY HAMLIN, 144.122 MPH, APRIL 22, 2012 MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY LENGTH: .526 MILES (500 LAPS = 263 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 800 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 800 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: 12 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: 0 DEGREES FIRST RACE: SEPT. 25, 1949 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: JOEY LOGANO, 100.201 MPH, MARCH 28, 2014 RACE RECORD: JEFF GORDON, 82.223 MPH, SEPT. 22, 1996 TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY LENGTH: 1.5 MILES (334 LAPS = 501 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 1,330 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 2,250 FEET BANKING IN TURNS 1 AND 2: 20 DEGREES BANKING IN TURNS 3 AND 4: 24 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: 5 DEGREES FIRST RACE: APRIL 6, 1997 – INTERSTATE BATTERIES 500 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: KURT BUSCH, 200.951 MPH, NOV. 3, 2017 RACE RECORD: GREG BIFFLE, 160.577, APRIL 14, 2012 ISM RACEWAY LENGTH: 1 MILE (312 LAPS = 312 MILES/500 KILOMETERS) BACKSTRETCH: 1,179 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 1,551 FEET BANKING IN TURNS 1 AND 2: 9 DEGREES BANKING IN TURNS 3 AND 4: 11 DEGREES FIRST RACE: NOV. 6, 1988 – CHECKER 500 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: JIMMIE JOHNSON, 143.158 MPH, NOV. 15, 2015 RACE RECORD: TONY STEWART, 118.132 MPH, NOV. 7, 1999 HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY LENGTH: 1.5 MILES (267 LAPS = 400.5 MILES) BACKSTRETCH: 1,760 FEET FRONTSTRETCH: 1,760 FEET BANKING IN TURNS: VARIES BETWEEN 18 AND 20 DEGREES BANKING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS: 4 DEGREES FIRST RACE: NOV. 14, 1999 – PENNZOIL 400 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES QUALIFYING RECORD: BRAD KESELOWSKI, 181.238 MPH, NOV. 14, 2014 RACE RECORD: JEFF GORDON, 142.245 MPH, NOV. 18, 2012

Playoff Schedule

DATE Sept. 16 Sept. 22 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18

TRACK Las Vegas Motor Speedway Richmond Raceway Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Dover International Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Kansas Speedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway ISM Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

EVENT South Point 400 Federated Auto Parts 400 Bank of America ROVAL 400 Dover 400 1000Bulbs.com 500 Hollywood Casino 400 First Data 500 AAA Texas 500 Can-Am 500 Ford EcoBoost 400

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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NASCAR PLAYOFFS

PAST CHAMPIONS

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIPS SEASONS Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Lee Petty David Pearson Cale Yarborough Darrell Waltrip Tony Stewart Herb Thomas Tim Flock Buck Baker Joe Weatherly Ned Jarrett Terry Labonte Red Byron Bill Rexford Rex White Bobby Isaac Benny Parsons Bobby Allison Bill Elliott Rusty Wallace Alan Kulwicki Dale Jarrett Bobby Labonte Matt Kenseth Kurt Busch Brad Keselowski Kevin Harvick Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr.

7 7 7 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 1954, 1958, 1959 1966, 1968, 1969 1976, 1977, 1978 1981, 1982, 1985 2002, 2005, 2011 1951, 1953 1952, 1955 1956, 1957 1962, 1963 1961, 1965 1984, 1996 1949 1950 1960 1970 1973 1983 1988 1989 1992 1999 2000 2003 2004 2012 2014 2015 2017

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SEASON DRIVER

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THE 2018 PLAYOFF AND YEAR IN REVIEW MAGAZINES

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1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Jack Ingram Sam Ard Sam Ard Jack Ingram Larry Pearson Larry Pearson Tommy Ellis Rob Moroso Chuck Bown Bobby Labonte Joe Nemechek Steve Grissom David Green Johnny Benson Jr. Randy LaJoie Randy LaJoie Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Green Kevin Harvick Greg Biffle Brian Vickers Martin Truex Jr. Martin Truex Jr. Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards Clint Bowyer Kyle Busch Brad Keselowski Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Austin Dillon Chase Elliott Chris Buescher Daniel Suarez William Byron

WINS 7 10 8 5 1 6 3 4 6 2 2 2 1 2 5 5 7 6 6 5 4 3 6 6 9 4 1 9 6 2 6 0 3 2 3 4

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SEASON DRIVER 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Mike Skinner Ron Hornaday Jr. Jack Sprague Ron Hornaday Jr. Jack Sprague Greg Biffle Jack Sprague Mike Bliss Travis Kvapil Bobby Hamilton Ted Musgrave Todd Bodine Ron Hornaday Jr. Johnny Benson Ron Hornaday Jr. Todd Bodine Austin Dillon James Buescher Matt Crafton Matt Crafton Erik Jones Johnny Sauter Christopher Bell

WINS 8 4 3 6 3 5 4 5 1 4 1 3 4 5 6 4 2 4 1 2 3 3 5

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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SURECAN The award-winning SureCan was designed with all of your gas-powered machines in mind. With patented technology, the SureCan offers its user the best experience they have ever had with a fuel can. The flexible spout rotates down more than 180 degrees and fits perfectly into any machine’s fill location, while the thumb-release trigger on top controls the flow. By pulling straight back on the safety trigger and then down on the thumb button, fuel is released immediately while you stay in complete control.

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POLE POSITION 2018

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PULLRITE SUPERGLIDE Since its creation, the SuperGlide fifth wheel hitch has taken dominance in the market. It was the first, fully automatically turning fifth wheel hitch for short bed trucks. It remains the model all other competitors try to emulate... without the same results and quality of manufacture and innovation. Throw out those foreign-made, manual sliding hitches, or inferior domestic “want-to-be’s” and choose the industry standard leader. PullRite has been innovating, designing and manufacturing our hitches for over 40 year’s right here in the USA. And because we are the Short Box experts, we have a SuperGilde for every truck, including our newest hitch -- the “OE Puck Series SuperGilde”, that fits directly into Chevy/Ford/Dodge factory mounting systems. Don’t settle for second best.

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POLE POSITION MAG.COM

13

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

5 Favorites

TO WIN THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES TITLE

1

KEVIN HARVICK: Kevin Harvick started the year red-hot, piling up five victories in the first 12 races. He’s since cooled off, but not a lot. At press time, the 2014 Monster Energy Series champ ranked second in the standings and had six wins — tied with Kyle Busch for most in the series.

While no one is a lock for the Championship 4, Harvick comes pretty close.

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POLE POSITION 2018

2

KYLE BUSCH: Handily beaten

by Kevin Harvick in the first month of the season, Kyle Busch mashed the proverbial throttle in early April by going on a three-race winning streak, and he barely lifted over the remainder of the regular season. By far the most dominant of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas, Busch stands an excellent chance of capturing his second Monster Energy Series championship.

3

MARTIN TRUEX JR.: On pace to match or even surpass the numbers he laid down in last year’s championship season, Martin Truex Jr. has enjoyed another stellar Monster Energy Series campaign with his Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team.

What’s the biggest difference between 2017 and 2018 for Truex? Last season, he was the clear championship frontrunner. This season, he’s one of three.

4

CLINT BOWYER: Enjoying a renaissance kind of season, Clint Bowyer is finally back to his frontrunning ways after five years in the NASCAR wilderness. With wins in the first half of the season at Martinsville and Michigan, the second-year StewartHaas Racing driver proved that if anyone can hang with the “Big Three” of Harvick, Busch and Truex Jr., it’s probably him.

5

JIMMIE JOHNSON: So Jimmie Johnson hasn’t had a Jimmie Johnsonlike season – big deal.

He’s still a seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, he still has arguably the best crew chief in the sport – Chad Knaus – and he certainly hasn’t forgotten how to drive. If Johnson’s team can provide him with better cars in the playoffs than he had in the regular season, the sky is the limit.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Kyle Busch

18

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

11

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

PRIMARY SPONSORS: M&M’S, INTERSTATE BATTERIES, SKITTLES, SNICKERS MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: JOE GIBBS RACING

Arguably NASCAR’s best when it comes to pure driving talent, Kyle Busch has done nothing to diminish that reputation this season. Equipped with a fast car almost everywhere he’s been, Busch has been virtually unbeatable at many tracks and at least in contention at most others.

If Busch makes it back to Homestead as part of the Championship 4, he and his team, led by crew chief Adam Stevens, will be extremely tough for anyone to beat. “They out-execute what their car is capable of every single week,” teammate Denny Hamlin said.

16

POLE POSITION 2018

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Kevin Harvick

4

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

12

PRIMARY SPONSORS: BUSCH BEER, JIMMY JOHN’S, MOBIL 1 MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: STEWART-HAAS RACING

Prior to this year, Kevin Harvick had never won more than five races in a Monster Energy Series season. The veteran driver needed just over half of the schedule to eclipse that total. Yeah, it’s been that kind of campaign for the 2014 Monster Energy Series champion, whose nickname, “Happy,” has certainly been an appropriate moniker. If Harvick can avoid a major mishap in one of the elimination rounds, he’s all but assured of making the Championship 4. And if he can ascend NASCAR’s mountain for the second time, 2018 will no doubt go down as his greatest season.

18

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Martin Truex Jr.

78 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

5

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

PRIMARY SPONSORS: BASS PRO SHOPS, 5-HOUR ENERGY, AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: FURNITURE ROW RACING

Fresh off a dream season culminating in his first Monster Energy Series championship, Martin Truex Jr. seemed vulnerable to a letdown. It hasn’t happened. Truex has continued his front-running ways with his team that consists largely of the same cast that helped him to a career-high eight wins a year ago. While claiming a second consecutive championship won’t come easily for Truex, especially in light of how strong both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have been this season, it’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility for the native of Mayetta, New Jersey.

20

POLE POSITION 2018

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Clint Bowyer

14 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

6

PRIMARY SPONSORS: RUSH TRUCK CENTERS, HAAS AUTOMATION MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: STEWART-HAAS RACING

In the playoffs for the first time since 2015, Clint Bowyer has by virtually all accounts been one of the feel-good stories of the season to date. With wins in the first half of the schedule at Martinsville and Michigan, Bowyer returned to a place where he hadn’t been since 2012 – Victory Lane. Although not consistently on the level of Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. this season, Bowyer might have the best chance of making the Championship 4 among drivers who haven’t been part of this year’s power trio.

22

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

2nd

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Joey Logano

22 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

4

PRIMARY SPONSORS: SHELL/PENNZOIL, AAA MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: TEAM PENSKE

In the playoffs for the fifth time in six years, Joey Logano is thankful to be back after a surprising absence in 2017. Logano, a two-time Championship 4 qualifier, finished a career-best second in the standings in 2016. His 2018 season, while a major improvement over 2017, has been a mixed bag; he clinched a berth in the playoffs early with a win at Talladega but has lacked the speed to contend for wins on a regular basis. While making the Championship 4 for a third time seems possible, a championship this year could be a stretch.

24

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

2nd

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Erik Jones

20 PRIMARY SPONSORS: DEWALT, SPORT CLIPS, RESER’S MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: JOE GIBBS RACING

After a solid but unspectacular rookie campaign with Furniture Row Racing, Erik Jones replaced Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018. The move, which was not unexpected, said a lot about team owner Joe Gibbs’ faith in Jones – a JGR development driver who had essentially been on loan to Furniture Row. Gibbs’ confidence in Jones was further solidified in July at Daytona when Jones scored his first career Monster Energy Series victory. From late June through early August, Jones finished worse than seventh just once in a sevenrace stretch – a telltale sign of his progression.

26

POLE POSITION 2018

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Austin Dillon

3 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

2

PRIMARY SPONSORS: DOW, AMERICAN ETHANOL MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING

The first driver to punch a ticket to the 2018 Monster Energy Series playoffs, Austin Dillon did so in grandiose fashion with an electrifying victory in the Daytona 500. Dillon, whose two Monster Energy Series wins to date have come in two of the sport’s biggest races – the 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – would not have made the playoffs without his Daytona victory, however. To advance even beyond the Round of 16, the grandson of team owner Richard Childress will need to show much improvement from how he’s performed throughout most of the year.

28

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

11th

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Brad Keselowski

2

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

7

PRIMARY SPONSORS: MILLER LITE, DISCOUNT TIRE, ALLIANCE TRUCK PARTS MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: TEAM PENSKE

After making it to Homestead in 2017 as part of the Championship 4, Brad Keselowski was inconsistent out of the gate this year and that inconsistency has been a defining trait of the 2012 Monster Energy Series champion’s season. From the third race of 2018 through the end of the regular season, Keselowski never fell outside the top 10 in points – but he also never got higher than fourth. His No. 2 Ford will have to pick up the pace a bit to make a return appearance in the Championship 4.

30

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

31

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Kurt Busch

41

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

12

PRIMARY SPONSORS: HAAS AUTOMATION, MONSTER ENERGY MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: STEWART-HAAS RACING

While Kurt Busch’s season has lacked a defining moment like he had in 2017 with his victory in the Daytona 500, the 2004 champ has been stout enough. Top-10 finishes have certainly come a lot easier than top-five results but, as of press time, Busch had snared three poles – a testament to the kind of speed his Ford has carried on occasion. Busch, who recently turned 40, appears to be as happy both personally and professionally as ever, which certainly can’t hurt in the ultra-competitive world of playoff racing where drivers look for every edge.

32

POLE POSITION 2018

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Kyle Larson

42 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSORS: DC SOLAR, CREDIT ONE BANK MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: CHIP GANASSI RACING

Last season, Kyle Larson scored a career-high four Monster Energy Series victories – all in the regular season – and entered the playoffs on the shortlist of championship favorites. Instead, he failed to advance even beyond the Round of 12 thanks to an untimely engine failure in the elimination race at Kansas Speedway. This season, Larson hasn’t been nearly as fast nearly as often, but he’s hoping to have better luck on his side in the playoffs while finding some of the speed he showed so often in 2017.

34

POLE POSITION 2018

3

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

8th

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

35

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Denny Hamlin

11 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSORS: FEDEX, SPORT CLIPS MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: JOE GIBBS RACING

One of the best active drivers still in search of a Monster Energy Series title, Denny Hamlin has struggled this season relative to teammate Kyle Busch – one member of a trio of remarkably superior frontrunners. While Busch has often crushed the competition and made winning look easy at times, Hamlin has shown only rare instances of significant speed and spent many races without making virtually any real noise at all. Being a former championship runner-up and Championship 4 qualifier could give Hamlin a mental edge in the playoffs compared to some of his less seasoned counterparts, however.

36

POLE POSITION 2018

12

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

2nd

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

37

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Aric Almirola

10 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSORS: SMITHFIELD, MOBIL 1 MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: STEWART-HAAS RACING

After six up and down seasons with Richard Petty Motorsports, Aric Almirola joined StewartHaas Racing – one of the sport’s elite organizations – with hopes of taking the next big step in his career. So far, so good. While Almirola hasn’t been a threat to win on most weekends this season, he’s shown flashes of tremendous speed – the most memorable such occasion being the Daytona 500 when he led with half a lap to go before crashing as a result of a bump from Austin Dillon. SHR, Almirola says, is “everything I expected and more.”

38

POLE POSITION 2018

1

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

16th

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

39

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Ryan Blaney

12 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSORS: MENARDS, DEX IMAGING, PPG MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: PENSKE

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2017, Ryan Blaney made the NASCAR world stand at attention when he snagged Monster Energy Series career win No. 1 at Pocono and became the first Wood Brothers Racing driver to qualify for the playoffs. Following an offseason move to Team Penske, a Wood Brothers affiliate, the third-generation driver entered 2018 with much higher expectations. While nothing has come easy for Blaney this season, he’s one of several drivers capable of playing the role of championship spoiler if he peaks at the right time.

40

POLE POSITION 2018

1

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

9th

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

41

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Jimmie Johnson

48 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

15

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

PRIMARY SPONSORS: LOWE’S, KOBALT TOOLS MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

While the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team has been uncharacteristically mediocre this season, Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus can never be completely written off in a playoff, crunch-time scenario. After all, they haven’t won seven championships by accident. When it comes to clutch performances, no one is better. “I show up each week thinking that we have the capability to pull it off and still go to Victory Lane,” said Johnson, a winner of 83 NASCAR premier series races at press time. “That is that optimism that I refuse to lose.”

42

POLE POSITION 2018

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

7

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Chase Elliott

9 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSORS: NAPA AUTO PARTS, MOUNTAIN DEW, SUNENERGY 1, HOOTERS MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

More than halfway through his third season with Hendrick Motorsports and making his 99th start in NASCAR’s top division, Chase Elliott earned a long-awaited victory with a convincing drive at Watkins Glen in August. Elliott, who led a race-high 52 laps around the fast 2.45-mile road course, executed to near perfection over the closing laps as Martin Truex Jr. – the reigning Monster Energy Series champion – hounded the back bumper of his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro. Now no longer searching for his first win, Elliott begins his most legitimate bid yet for a Monster Energy Series championship.

44

POLE POSITION 2018

2

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

5th

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

45

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Alex Bowman

88 PRIMARY SPONSORS: NATIONWIDE, AXALTA MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

The relatively little known replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car this season, Alex Bowman started the year with a bang by winning the pole for the Daytona 500. As Hendrick Motorsports has made its cars better, Bowman has become a more consistent top-10 and even occasional top-five performer – which team owner Rick Hendrick has rewarded by extending Bowman’s contract through 2020. While a championship this season is probably a longshot, Bowman seems to possess the abilities and temperament to enjoy a bright future in the sport.

46

POLE POSITION 2018

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

47

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

5 Favorites

TO WIN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES TITLE

1

ELLIOTT SADLER: Four times a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship runnerup, including each of the past two seasons, Elliott Sadler is hungrier than ever to finally take home a NASCAR championship trophy. Sadler recently announced this will be his final full-time campaign and claiming the title would be a perfect way to cap the season – a season in which he’s been his usual non-flamboyant but consistent self.

48

POLE POSITION 2018

2

CHRISTOPHER BELL: A season after winning his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, Christopher Bell has enjoyed the kind of year about which most Xfinity Series rookies would dream.

Twenty races in, Bell led the standings and owned a series-high four wins among full-time Xfinity Series drivers. Will he be able to deliver a championship for Joe Gibbs Racing this soon?

3

COLE CUSTER: A promising young driver with a lot of talent, Cole Custer has enjoyed a superb sophomore season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The downside: At press time, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver was winless in the season’s 20 races to date. The good news for Custer was that he ranked second in the standings, trailing only fellow youngster Bell.

4

DANIEL HEMRIC: From the end of the season’s fourth race through the conclusion of the 20th, Daniel Hemric dropped out of the top five in points only one time. Though winless in nearly two full seasons of NASCAR Xfinity Series competition as of press time, the 2017 Championship 4 qualifier has the potential to hang around and make the championship battle a little more interesting.

5

JUSTIN ALLGAIER: Already a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 qualifier, Justin Allgaier is as battle-tested as drivers come in NASCAR’s No. 2 division. Though a little more inconsistent in 2018 than he would like, Allgaier went to Victory Lane twice in the season’s first 14 races and looked reasonably poised to make it back to Homestead-Miami Speedway for another shot at a title.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

Christopher Bell

20

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

PRIMARY SPONSORS: RHEEM, GAMESTOP MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: JOE GIBBS RACING

In 2017, Christopher Bell showed tremendous talent and potential by winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in just his second full season in NASCAR’s No. 3 series. Arguably even more impressive, however, was the fact that Bell – who comes from a dirt-track background – won a race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he made only eight starts. Going full time in the Xfinity Series this year, Bell has picked right up where he left off, capturing multiple victories and putting himself in a great spot to claim the series title.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

49

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Justin Allgaier

7

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES PRIMARY SPONSORS: BRANDT, BREYER’S MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: JR MOTORSPORTS

Justin Allgaier is two-for-two in playoff appearances, Championship 4 berths and third-place points finishes since NASCAR switched to a playoff format for the Xfinity Series in 2016. Will Allgaier’s third playoff appearance be the charm that culminates in a championship? Regardless of the outcome, Allgaier loves being a part of JR Motorsports – a four-car organization co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley. “The thing I love about our race team is that everybody that works at JR Motorsports has a passion for this sport,” Allgaier said.

50

POLE POSITION 2018

2

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

3rd

Tyler Reddick

9

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

PRIMARY SPONSORS: NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS, BURGERFI MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: JR MOTORSPORTS

This season’s lone newcomer to the four-car JR Motorsports stable co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tyler Reddick wasted no time making his presence felt or proving himself capable. A dramatic, razor-thin victory in the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona over teammate Elliott Sadler locked up Reddick’s berth in the playoffs and positioned the 22-year-old, former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver well for the weeks and months ahead. Although Reddick has dealt with some inconsistency this year, just winning at Daytona set a positive tone for the season.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

51

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Elliott Sadler

1

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES PRIMARY SPONSOR: ONEMAIN FINANCIAL MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: JR MOTORSPORTS

Four times a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship runner-up, including each of the past two seasons, Elliott Sadler desperately longs for the day when he will finally hoist the championship trophy in NASCAR’s No. 2 division.

Will this, at long last, be his year? At age 43, Sadler won’t have more opportunities – having announced this is his final season as a full-time NASCAR competitor – so there’s no time like the present. This much is even more certain: With the possible exception of a few rival drivers and teams, a Sadler championship would be celebrated throughout the NASCAR world.

52

POLE POSITION 2018

2

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

2nd

Cole Custer

00 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

1

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

5th

PRIMARY SPONSORS: HAAS AUTOMATION, CODE 3 ASSOCIATES MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: STEWART-HAAS RACING WITH BIAGI-DENBESTE The son of Stewart-Haas Racing executive Joe Custer, Cole Custer has enjoyed a steady ascent through the NASCAR ranks over the past few years. After successful part-time Camping World Truck Series seasons in 2014 and 2015, Custer went full time Truck Series racing in 2016 before moving into a NASCAR Xfinity Series ride for 2017. After a strong rookie season in the Xfinity Series, Custer has been just as stout in 2018. Having missed the Championship 4 a year ago, Custer has a good opportunity to be one of the four finalists this time.

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

53

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Daniel Hemric

21 NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

PRIMARY SPONSOR: SOUTH POINT HOTEL & CASINO MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING

In terms of consistency, Daniel Hemric has knocked it out of the proverbial park in nearly two years as a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver.

Winning has proven far more difficult. As of press time, Hemric was 0-for-53 in NASCAR’s No. 2 series – a confusing stat for a driver who does a great job of taking care of his equipment and finishing well on a regular basis. A year ago, Hemric made the Championship 4 but finished last at Homestead among the four championship finalists. To get there again, he will probably need a win.

54

POLE POSITION 2018

1

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

4th

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

5 Favorites

TO WIN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES TITLE

1

JOHNNY SAUTER: Johnny Sauter has finished second and first, respectively, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings the past two seasons.

That fact alone makes him worthy of championship consideration this year. Add in the fact that he’s been the dominant driver of the 2018 Truck Series season, and Sauter becomes not just worthy of championship consideration; he becomes the clear-cut favorite.

56

POLE POSITION 2018

2

MATT CRAFTON: Matt Crafton hasn’t had the kind of season to which he’s been accustomed, but the ThorSport Racing driver can’t be counted out as a threat for the championship. Not by a long shot. A winner of back-to-back Truck Series titles in 2013 and 2014, Crafton has the experience, skill and confidence to win a third championship.

The only question is whether he has the speed.

3

NOAH GRAGSON: A charismatic young driver who earned the attention of – and ultimately a ride from – Kyle Busch, Noah Gragson is both talented and free-spirited enough to become a serious player in the 2018 championship battle.

The only factor working against him may be experience, as he’s never been a part of the playoffs — much less a one-race, winner-takeall scenario like the Championship 4.

4

BRETT MOFFITT: Brett Moffitt’s first full season as a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver has been a largely successful one.

The former almost-fulltime Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver won at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Week Two, picked up two more wins by the season’s midway point, and has been ranked in the top five of the standings virtually from the outset of the 2018 campaign.

5

STEWART FRIESEN: An accomplished dirt-track racer with more than 260 victories dating back nearly two decades, Stewart Friesen ventured into the world of NASCAR two years ago as a part-time Camping World Truck Series driver. Now in his first full season in trucks, the Canadian driver has done remarkably well for his dearth of seat time at this level. Looking for a dark horse championship pick? Try Friesen.

BY JARED TURNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

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NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Brett Moffitt

16

PRIMARY SPONSOR: AISIN GROUP MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA TEAM: HATTORI RACING ENTERPRISES

After limited driving roles in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in three of the past four seasons, Brett Moffitt was looking for a steady ride in 2018 and he found it in the Camping World Truck Series with Hattori Racing Enterprises. Turns out, the move has been nothing but a positive one for the Iowa-born driver.

Fifteen races into the season, Moffitt had racked up four wins and looked the part of a serious championship contender. Whether he can ultimately pose a serious championship threat to Johnny Sauter remains questionable, however.

58

POLE POSITION 2018

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Grant Enfinger

98 PRIMARY SPONSORS: CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT, CURB RECORDS, PROTECT THE HARVEST MANUFACTURER: FORD TEAM: THORSPORT RACING

With veteran crew chief Jeff Hensley calling the shots, second-year Camping World Truck Series driver Grant Enfinger has displayed overall improvement from his rookie season of 2017 when he finished 11th in the standings.

With 14 races in the books, Enfinger was third in the standings on the strength of a stellar average finishing position of 8.2. Although Enfinger didn’t win in 2017 and, as of press time, had not won in 2018, he does know how to get to Victory Lane, having won at Talladega in 2016 while running just an eight-race schedule.

60

POLE POSITION 2018

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

0

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NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

PRE S E N T E D BY

Johnny Sauter

21

NUMBER OF PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

2

BEST PLAYOFF FINISH

PRIMARY SPONSORS: ALLEGIANT AIRLINES, ISM CONNECT MANUFACTURER: CHEVROLET TEAM: GMS RACING

When Johnny Sauter joined GMS Racing in 2016, many expected him to experience a transition period with his new team. Instead, Sauter became an immediate frontrunner and went on to score three wins on the way to a championship.

Continuing on that success in 2017, Sauter won four times and came up just one position shy of being a back-to-back champ. The next best thing for Sauter would be two championships in three years. That goal is both attainable and likely if he performs in the playoffs as he did in the 2018 regular season.

62

POLE POSITION 2018

1st

CHAMPIONSHIPS

1

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ON THE RISE

32

Matt DiBenedetto MOVING ON UP

P

rior to joining NASCAR’s premier series in 2015, Matt DiBenedetto dabbled in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, drove the full 2011 season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and spent most of 2009 in K&N. Over those two seasons, he earned three victories— positioning himself to move up through the ranks. DiBenedetto spent his first two Monster Energy Series seasons with BK Racing before joining GoFas Racing in 2017. As of press time, he owned four top-10 finishes.

Competing for a small team against NASCAR’s leading organizations, the efforts of Matt DiBenedetto and GoFas Racing have not been in vain.

Five top-20 finishes in the first 19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races of 2018 was a major accomplishment for DiBenedetto and his bunch, who finished a season-best seventh in the July race at Daytona International Speedway. It wasn’t the first time DiBenedetto has been a factor at a restrictor-plate race, however.

“It’s just an opportunity where it evens everybody out a little bit, so we can position ourselves right and then be there at the end,” DiBenedetto said. “The big pack evens out a lot of things, so we can have a good run here.”

After performing so well in his most recent trip to The World Center of Racing, DiBenedetto was ecstatic.

“I guess that was probably one of the craziest races I’ve ever taken part of,” he said. “I’m glad we survived and we seem to always position ourselves in a spot to be up front and competing for the win at the end of these speedway races at Daytona quite often.

We’ve got that down pat and I’m really, really glad we got a good run for [our sponsor] Zynga Poker. They’re a huge part of our team. They’ve stepped up and helped us a ton this year, so I’m pretty proud of that.”

FAVORITES

MAKING VIDEOS

DiBenedetto has become a pro at making short but effective videos for Twitter. Whether to praise his sponsors, court new ones or applaud his team, DiBenedetto seems to have the magic touch.

64

POLE POSITION 2018

CLIMBING THE RANKS

INFO OWNER ARCHIE ST. HILAIRE TEAM GOFAS RACING SPONSORS ZYNGA POKER, CAN-AM, WHOLEY, COSMO MOTORS, KEEN PARTS MANUFACTURER FORD CREW CHIEF RANDY COX

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