NCWTS: UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Preview

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will invade the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the UNOH 175. The event will mark the 17th race of the season for the series and the Chase for the Camping World Truck Series championship opener. Austin Dillon, who is not entered into the 175-lap race, is the defending race winner.

The entry list features 32 drivers. Some of these include Jennifer Jo Cobb, Cody Coughlin, Alon Day, Stewart Friesen, Kaz Grala, Austin Hill, Matt Mills, Brett Moffitt, Akinori Ogata, Caleb Roark, Ryan Truex, Timothy Viens and Josh Wise. No trucks will DNQ as 32 are entered.

William Byron enters the Camping World Truck Series Chase opener as one of the hottest drivers this year. Byron scored five wins through the first 16 regular season races.

“I think it’s going to be intense, especially with it being the first Chase race anyone has ever done in the Truck Series,” said Byron in a release. “I think drivers will start out pretty conservative, but by the end the intensity is going to ramp up since winning is the only way to be locked into the next round. I think New Hampshire is one of my better race tracks. I really like it and hopefully that translates to some speed this weekend. We need to get our Liberty University Tundra fast in practice to make sure we qualify well because track position is pretty important there. We want to start out the Chase with a really solid run and just have the right focus and mentality as we get going”

Byron finished the regular season with eight top five and 10 top 10 finishes through the first 16 races. The North Carolina native has yet to start a race from the pole position.

Matt Crafton will begin NASCAR’s Playoffs looking to capture his third career Camping World Truck Series championship. Crafton became the first driver to claim back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014. The California native finished third in last year’s standings.

“I always love going to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. You need speed for the long straightaways, but breaking, and getting through, and off the tight paperclip-shaped corners, is where you win or lose – it’s a lot like Phoenix,” said Crafton in a team release. “We just need to get a win there this weekend. We’ve been good in the past – third in 2014 and second last year. We just need one spot better this year. Especially since it’s the first race of the Chase. We were able to win early in the first round, so doing it this weekend would take some pressure off for the next two races. This Chase puts an emphasis on winning, especially from this point on.”

Crafton enters the Chase with two victories, five top five and 11 top 10 finishes through the first 16 races. Crafton holds four top five and eight top 10 finishes through 13 races at New Hampshire.

Daniel Hemric is one of the favorite underdogs going into the Chase for the Camping World Truck Series championship. Hemric was one of the two drivers who got into the playoffs via points standings. Along with Hemric, Timothy Peters also got into the Chase via points.

“I’m really excited to be kicking off the Chase at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. We’re bringing a truck I feel really good about, and I think we are exceptionally prepared going into this race,” said Hemric. “Our team has been looking ahead and preparing for these final seven races all year, because, ultimately, that trophy depends on them. I’m looking at each round of the Chase as a mini point season: we’re coming into each and every race looking to win, but we have to play it smart in each round and not make any big mistakes that could take us totally out of contention.”

Hemric enters the Chase with eight top five and 13 top 10 finishes.

The UNOH 175 will air live on FOX Sports 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET. on Saturday. Radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Channel 90.

Brett Winningham
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