NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Preview
The stage is set for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Friday night, where Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, Carson Hocever and Ben Rhodes will compete for the title. What do the NASCAR betting odds make of their chances? Who do we think will be doing a burnout after the checkered flag waves?
Will Heim Buck Trend for Regular-Season Champions?
It’s been an incredible season for Corey Heim at TRICON Garage. The 21-year-old has finished outside the top-10 twice this season and has an astounding streak of 16-straight top-10s. He’s finished inside the top-five every playoff race but one, the opener at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Number of races with a 100.0+ driver rating in 2023 (Truck Series)
1. Corey Heim – 16
2. Christian Eckes – 12
3. Carson Hocevar – 11
4. Ty Majeski – 11
5. Zane Smith – 10
6. Ben Rhodes – 9
7. Grant Enfinger – 6
8. Stewart Friesen – 4
9. Nicholas Sanchez – 3
10. Matt Crafton – 3… pic.twitter.com/8swnUE0iKS— Trey Ryan (@TreyRyan99) October 31, 2023
For all intents and purposes, he has consistently been the best driver in the field. But that doesn’t always guarantee a championship, as the regular-season champion has won the championship twice in the series’ seven-year playoff history. That said, the NASCAR betting odds have rightfully tabbed him as a co-favorite, with +150 odds to secure his first championship.
Hocevar Looks for Truck Series Glory Before Departing for Cup
No one has flown up the NASCAR ranks this year like Carson Hocevar, running his third full-time truck schedule for Niece Motorsports.
Despite zero starts outside the Truck series entering the year, he impressed in part-time efforts in the Cup Series for Spire Motorsports and Legacy Motor Club. So impressive, in fact, that he’ll forgo the Xfinity Series next year and compete full-time for Spire in Cup.
His impressive season in the Trucks has surely helped his cause. He’s scored three wins in 11 top-fives. Like Heim, Hocevar has been excellent in the playoffs, with one finish worse than sixth, an 11th at Talladega. However, he has yet to find success at Phoenix, with a best finish of ninth in four starts, including one DNF.
A finish in the back end of the top-10 will surely not be enough for the phenom to win the championship. NASCAR betting odds have his title chances on par with Heim’s at +150.
Enfinger Looks To Send GMS Off with a Bang
While the future looks bright for Heim and Hocevar, the same cannot be said for Grant Enfinger. The 38-year-old journeyman has settled in as a Trucks regular for the last seven seasons.
When the checkered flag waves at Phoenix, it will signify the end of GMS Racing’s time in the series, leaving Enfinger without a ride for 2024. What better way to impress potential future employers by taking home his first title?
He is not the biggest longshot, per the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship betting odds (+500), but we believe he stands the least chance to do so. He’s won three times, but has finished outside the top-10 nine times
It’s been a down year for GMS, with Enfinger the only of their three drivers to make the playoffs.
One thing Enfinger has that Heim and Hocevar do not is experience. He made the championship race in 2020, where he finished 13th, the worst of the four contenders. We don’t expect to see Enfinger in victory lane Friday night, though it would be quite the story.
The No. 23 team is headed to the #Championship4 with positive momentum.@GrantEnfinger has finished in the top five in three of the last five races. pic.twitter.com/AwfwTPysL8
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) November 1, 2023
Is Ben Rhodes Being Overlooked?
Rhodes enters the championship race in an unfamiliar position: the underdog. NASCAR betting odds has him at +600 to win his second championship.
It is justified, however, as he’s had his worst season since 2019. Worst should be used lightly, though, as he still boasts a win, six top-fives and 13 top-10s. He’s had a rough go of it in the playoffs, finishing no better than 16th in the opening three races and barely advancing.
Je may be peaking at the right time in the last three races, with a seventh at Bristol and back-to-back runner-up finishes at Talladega and Homestead. And similar to Enfinger, he has the experience that his biggest competition (Heim and Hocevar) lacks.
This is his third straight final four appearance. He won the championship in 2021 with a third-place finish and fell just short last season, finishing as the bridesmaid to Zane Smith. If you are looking to get good value, we prefer Rhodes to Enfinger.
Rhodes To Upset the Field
This all begs the question: Who is our pick to win the championship? Based on results alone, Heim has been the standout, with no signs of letting up during the playoff stretch. There is no reason to believe he won’t be in contention with the season on the line.
As history has shown us, the favorite often doesn’t win. The series is filled with inexperienced drivers, leading to crashes and cautions, which could set up a late-race restart. We’ve seen numerous wild finishes to the season in recent years, leaving the door wide open for an upset. And that’s where we think the experience and poise of Rhodes will pay off, as he will win his second Truck Series championship.
NASCAR Pick: Ben Rhodes +600 to win the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship
10 started the journey. Four remain. Championship 4 @NASCAR_Trucks @benrhodes @CoreyHeim_ @CarsonHocevar @GrantEnfinger #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/JGOunVT6t7
— William Nagel (@William_Nagel_) October 30, 2023
