NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: UNOH 200
The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway
The Date: Wednesday, Aug. 17
The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 106.6 miles (200 laps)
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Pressure Mounts With Four Races Remaining Until NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase
The pressure is on with only four races remaining for winless NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers to lock up the final three berths for the Chase, beginning with Wednesday’s UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway (8:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
The Chase Grid shapes up as follows: William Byron (5 wins), Matt Crafton (2 wins), Johnny Sauter (1 win), Christopher Bell (1 win), John Hunter Nemechek (1 win), Daniel Hemric (31 points ahead of Ben Kennedy on the cutoff line), Timothy Peters (+31) and Cameron Hayley (+0, tiebreaker).
The first six drivers out are Ben Kennedy (-0, out via tiebreaker), Tyler Reddick (-1), Cole Custer (-5), Ben Rhodes (-18), Rico Abreu (-33) and Spencer Gallagher (-35).
Brad Keselowski Racing Goes For Another Bristol Win
Brad Keselowski Racing full-timers Daniel Hemric and Tyler Reddick, along with Austin Cindric, will attempt to earn the organization its third consecutive win at Bristol Motor Speedway in the UNOH 200.
BKR won at Bristol with Brad Keselowski in 2014 and Ryan Blaney in 2015.
Hemric (sixth on the Chase Grid, 31 points ahead of Ben Kennedy on the cutoff line) and Tyler Reddick (10th on the Chase Grid, one point behind Cameron Hayley for the final spot) could use a win to ensure their entrance into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs.
Hemric and Reddick placed fourth and eighth, respectively, at Bristol last year – their only starts at the high-banked short track.
Cindric is set to make his third career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start and first this season. He has won both of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts this year (at the VIRginia International Raceway and Watkins Glen International road courses).
Peters Is Only Past Bristol Winner In Field
Timothy Peters is the only driver entered in Wednesday’s UNOH 200 who has won the race before.
The No. 17 Red Horse Racing driver took the checkered flag at the .533-mile track in 2012. He almost repeated in 2013 when he led 125 laps, but finished runner-up.
In 11 career starts at Bristol, Peters claims three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He enters the race coming off a fourth-place showing at Pocono.
Peters currently sits seventh on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase Grid, 31 points ahead of ninth-place Ben Kennedy on the cutoff line.
Nemechek Hunts For Another Strong Bristol Showing
Count John Hunter Nemechek as a driver excited to go to Bristol Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Next alumnus has made two career starts at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile,” finishing third (2015) and sixth (2014). Nemechek has run well recently with three top-10 finishes in his last four starts: ninth (Pocono), 24th (Eldora), second (Kentucky) and sixth (Gateway). He clinched a NASCAR Camping World Chase berth with his win at Atlanta.
Regal Cinemas Partners With Ben Rhodes
Ben Rhodes, in conjunction with ThorSport Racing and Alpha Energy Solutions, has partnered with Regal Cinemas, a leading motion picture exhibitor owning and operating one of the largest theatre circuits in the United States, for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“At my age, when I’m not in my Toyota Tundra, I like to spend time with my girlfriend, Caitlynn,” Rhodes said. “We like to go on dates to the movies, so it’s pretty neat to partner with Regal Cinemas for my track debut at Bristol. Their theatres offer you a one-of-a-kind experience. From the digital projectors to the awesome sound systems, and variety of concessions, their theatres just make you feel like you are immersed in the movies. With so many convenient locations, I feel like we can always find a theatre near us, either on the road at a race, or close to home.”
The partnership is the first for Regal Cinemas – a Tennessee-based company – with a NASCAR team.
On the season, Rhodes claims two top fives, seven top 10s and an average finish of 13.0. He sits 12th on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase Grid – 18 points behind his teammate Cameron Hayley on the cutoff line.
