Playoff Clinch Scenarios: Looking to Darlington Raceway
One race into the seven-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs and GMS Racing‘s Sheldon Creed has already locked himself into the next round of the postseason with his win last weekend at Gateway. While the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off this weekend, the series will return next weekend at Darlington Raceway for the In It To Win It 200 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Already Clinched
The following driver has clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round of the Playoffs: Sheldon Creed.
Can Clinch via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance in the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 7th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, Stewart Friesen, Austin Hill or Carson Hocevar.
John Hunter Nemechek: Could only clinch with help
Ben Rhodes: Could only clinch with helpMatt Crafton: Could only clinch with helpStewart Friesen: Could only clinch with helpAustin Hill: Could only clinch with helpCarson Hocevar: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Todd Gilliland or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance in the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 6th winless driver in the standings.
John Hunter Nemechek: Could only clinch with helpBen Rhodes: Could only clinch with helpMatt Crafton: Could only clinch with helpStewart Friesen: Could only clinch with helpAustin Hill: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, Stewart Friesen, Austin Hill, Carson Hocevar, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, Chandler Smith.
RankDriverPointsRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff PtsPts From Cutoff1Sheldon Creed2,0712318In On Wins2John H. Nemechek2,0735949553Ben Rhodes2,0702119524Matt Crafton2,051004335Stewart Friesen2,049001316Austin Hill2,0392121217Carson Hocevar2,031002138Todd Gilliland2,0281315109Zane Smith2,018039-1010Chandler Smith2,010011-18
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Etc.
Sunoco Rookie Update — Niece Motorsports‘ Carson Hocevar continues to hold the 2021 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings lead with 2,031 points; up 21 points on Kyle Busch Motorsport‘s Chandler Smith with 2,010. Hocevar and Smith are the only two rookies to have earned a spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.
Hailie Deegan scores third-best finish by a female in the series — Team DGR‘s Hailie Deegan scored her career-best finish of seventh last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway — the third best finish by a female competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the first top-10 finish by a female not at Daytona International Speedway.
Deegan will be making her second career start next weekend at Darlington Raceway. Earlier this season she became the seventh different female competitor to compete at Darlington Raceway in the series; joining Jennifer Jo Cobb (2010, 2020), Johanna Long (2011), Deborah Renshaw (2004), Kelly Sutton (2004), Teri MacDonald (2003) and Tina Gordon (2003).
The best finish by a female competitor in the Truck Series at Darlington Raceway is 14th by Jennifer Jo Cobb on August 14, 2010 — it was Cobb‘s series track debut.
Deegan finished 20th in her series debut at Darlington earlier this year.
— NASCAR —
