NASCAR Pole Position - February/March

Page 63

6 Camping World Truck Series Drivers to Watch

The youth movement is on in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Defending champion Sheldon Creed returns, but will he out-run all of his challengers again? BY AARON BURNS

Last season’s Truck Series championship battle saw Creed and fellow up-and-comers such as Zane Smith challenge the series’ longtime veterans, like Matt Crafton, with phenomenal results. Not only did Creed and Smith finish first and second in points, but only two drivers older than 30 – Crafton and

Sheldon Creed “The Showstopper”

Hailie Deegan Deegan is another

Grant Enfinger – visited the winner’s circle. Enfinger won four races a year ago and earned the pole for the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix, but the veteran Alabama driver led just two laps and finished 13th. He’ll be looking for more this season, as will other “Old Guard” drivers like Crafton

Brett Moffitt The 2018 series

John Hunter Nemechek Nemechek stepped

and Johnny Sauter. But they’re likely going to have their hands full with the defending champion and a new crop of youngsters. Here’s a look at six drivers who fans should follow from the season opener to the final checkered flag:

Chandler Smith Smith,

Zane Smith The OC’s finest – a

could again be the

rising star with

champion moves from

out of Front Row

Nemechek’s new

Huntington Beach,

show stealer. An

off-road roots.

GMS Racing to Niece

Motorsports’ mid-pack

teammate, is

California, native

accomplished off-road

The daughter of

Motorsports. Moffitt’s

NASCAR Cup Series

another young

– won twice and

racer, Creed proved last

motocross legend

proven he can win,

team and into Kyle

hot-shoe with the

finished second in

year that he’s mastered

Brian Deegan will

provided he has good

Busch Motorsports’

skills to win a title.

points to Creed on

the art of racing on

be in the spotlight

enough equipment.

title-contending Truck

Only 18, Smith’s

the strength of seven

asphalt. Only one driver

from the green flag

He’s got it with Niece,

organization. Expect

very good – and

top-five finishes and

– Matt Crafton – has

at Daytona. She

the team that guided

multiple wins this year.

he’ll only get better.

showings of third,

ever won back-to-

finished 16th in her

Ross Chastain to

There’s also plenty

A partial schedule

third and second to

back Truck Series

lone Truck Series

three victories in an

of reason to believe

with KBM in 2020

end the season. Can

championships. Creed

outing last season.

impressive 2019

Nemechek, who won

yielded two poles

he top his teammate

will have the speed, but

Don’t be shocked if

campaign. Moffitt

races with his father’s

and five top-five

and bring home

can he avoid trouble

she becomes the first

could deliver even

NEMCO team, could be

finishes in his last

the Truck Series

and prevail in the

female to win a Truck

more for Niece in

the champion when all

six starts. His first

championship this

playoffs once again?

Series race.

2021.

is said and done.

win is coming soon.

time around?

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

POLE POSITION MAG.COM

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