The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series rolled into Michigan International Speedway for race No. 16 of the 2019 season. It wasn’t just another race for the truckers, rather it was the last regular-season race of the season before the Playoffs begin at Bristol Motor Speedway Thursday night.
The Corrigan Oil 200 featured exciting action throughout the race especially at one point when the top four were fighting for a spot in the Playoffs.
Driver Matt Crafton was hoping there would be no new winner at Michigan or he’d be facing elimination for the championship. And thankfully for him, there was not, which means Crafton will have the opportunity to fight another day for the championship. But he will have some work to do and must improve his performance if he wants to be at Homestead for the finale.
With that said, here is a look at this week’s power rankings.
- Grant Enfinger – To no one’s surprise, Enfinger was able to lock up the regular-season title after Stage 1 was finished. Winning the title was definitely given to the right driver after he has been so consistent all season long, only having one DNF and an average finish of 7.6 and 236 laps led. Saturday’s race at Michigan was no different for Enfinger and the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team. The Alabama native qualified ninth for the first time since Charlotte in May and consistently finished inside the top-10 during both stages. Enfinger finished sixth and third in both stages, respectively, to ultimately finish seventh. With the title, the ThorSport driver earned an additional 15 points for the Playoffs.
Previous Week Ranking – Second - Sheldon Creed – It was oh so close for Creed and his No. 2 GMS Racing team. The California native fell one spot short in hopes of making the Playoffs. He had to win in order to fight for the championship and will have to wait another year for the opportunity. Still, it wasn’t without effort by the No. 2 GMS team. Creed started 18th, finished ninth in Stage 2, led three times for nine laps and was contending for the win late in the race. Unfortunately, Creed wound up second and will not be able to compete for the championship.
Previous Week Ranking- Third - Tyler Dippel – What a run it was for Dippel and his No. 02 Youngs Motorsports team. You don’t normally see this team run up front and challenge for the win, but you did on Saturday. Dippel qualified 17th, did not record any stage finishes but found himself in contention to win late in the race. However, despite the strong run, Dippel ran out of time and wound up third. What a story it would have been if the New York native would have won and made the Playoffs.
Previous Week Ranking – Fifth - Brett Moffitt – It was a great turnaround for Moffitt and his No. 24 GMS Racing team after a difficult Eldora outing where he finished 29th. The Grimes, Iowa native started eighth, finished fourth in Stage 1 and won Stage 2. Moffitt only led twice for nine laps but still salvaged a fourth place finish.
Previous Week Ranking- Not Ranked - Stewart Friesen – It was a dismal day for the most part for Friesen and his No. 52 Halmar Racing team after scoring a big win at Eldora the week before. The Canadian had a disappointing effort of 20th with no top-10 stage finishes. But with the help of cautions toward the end, Friesen was able to bring the truck home in seventh place. Otherwise, the Canadian was really nowhere to be seen in the race. The Halmar Racing driver is going to have to work on his qualifying game in the Playoffs if he wants to win and advance with the races being so short.
Previous Week Ranking – First
Fell Out
1. Todd Gilliland – Championship hopes ended when Gilliland got caught up in a wreck with four to go and ran out of time to even have a chance to win the race. The Kyle Busch Motorsports driver had a strong run going, leading 14 laps, finishing fifth and eighth in both stages. Ultimately, Gilliland wound up not finishing the race and was 24th in the final running order.
Previous Week Ranking – Fourth
Honorable Mention
1. Ray Ciccarelli – A job well done to the Ellicott City, Maryland native who finished ninth which gave him his career-best finish to date in his own equipment. Ciccarelli was able to miss all the carnage throughout the race.
