BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Layne Riggs, driver of the #38 Love's Travel Stops Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Layne Riggs, driver of the #38 Love's Travel Stops Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All News Truck Series News

NASCAR Craftsman Series News & Notes – Off Week

September 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics & Busch Beans
The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway
Track Length: 0.533 Mile Concrete Oval
The Date: Thursday, September 11
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Purse: $782,900
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 133.25 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 65), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 130), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)

Looking Ahead: Bristol Motor Speedway Storylines and Insights:

  • Next week marks the 30th running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the track has hosted at least one race every season since joining the schedule in 1995.
  • 2025 is the 10th season of Playoffs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2016-2025).
  • Bristol serves as the second track of the seven-race NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs and the second race of the Round of 10: Darlington, Bristol and New Hampshire, two drivers will be eliminated after New Hampshire.
  • The NCTS Playoff Outlook following Darlington: Corey Heim (Advances next Round on Darlington win), Layne Riggs (+38 up on cutline), Daniel Hemric (+33), Grant Enfinger (+30), Tyler Ankrum (+22), Ty Majeski (+16), Rajah Caruth (+4), Jake Garcia (+2), Chandler Smith (-2 back from the cutline) and Kaden Honeycutt (-7).
  • Corey Heim’s eight wins in 2025 are the most through 19 races all-time, the first driver to accomplish the feat.
  • Corey Heim’s 19 career wins passes Dennis Setzer for seventh most all-time in the Truck Series.
  • Heim at 83 starts is the fastest driver to reach 19 NCTS wins since August 2010 (Kyle Busch – Bristol:  77 starts).
  • Heim is the youngest driver to reach 19 NCTS wins (previous record: Kyle Busch – Bristol 08/10:  25 y: 03 m: 16 d.)
  • Heim is the fifth driver to win eight or more NCTS races in a single season, first since 2010 (Kyle Busch).
  • Corey Heim is the fifth driver to win at 17 or more NCTS tracks.
  • Heim is the first driver to lead in each of the first 19 races of a NCTS season.
  • Current Playoff drivers have won five of the last six Bristol races – Chandler Smith (2021, 2025), Ty Majeski (2022), Corey Heim (2023) and Layne Riggs (2024).
  • Grant Enfinger moved up +3 spots in the Playoff standings – the largest positive move in the points following Darlington (from 7th to 4th).
  • Chandler Smith moved down -6 spots in the Playoff standings – the largest negative move in the points following Darlington (from 3rd to 9th).
  • All four drivers straddling the Playoffs’ Round of 8 cutline – Caruth (+4), Garcia (+2), Smith (-2), Honeycutt (-7) –finished inside the top-10 at Bristol earlier this season – Smith (1st), Garcia (6th), Honeycutt (8th) and Caruth (9th).
  • TRICON Garage leads the series in wins this season with eight victories – all by Corey Heim.
  • The NCTS has produced 218 lead changes through the first 19 races of the season – third-most all-time.

NCTS Clinch Scenarios For Bristol Motor Speedway (Playoff Race #2):

Already Clinched

  • The following driver has clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: Corey Heim.

Can Clinch Via Points

  • If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 57 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 Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Ty Majeski or Rajah Caruth.
    • Layne Riggs: Could only clinch with help
    • Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
    • Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
    • Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
    • Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help
    • Rajah Caruth: Could only clinch with help
  • If there is a new winner from Jake Garcia or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 57 points above the 6th winless driver in the standings.
    • Layne Riggs: Could only clinch with help
    • Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
    • Grant Enfinger: Could only clinch with help
    • Tyler Ankrum: Could only clinch with help
    • Ty Majeski: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

  • The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
    • Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, Jake Garcia, Chandler Smith, Kaden Honeycutt

NASCAR & World Wide Technology Raceway, Etc.

Historical & Significant Events at World Wide Technology Raceway:

  • Wayne Meinert first developed the original St. Louis Raceway Park in 1967 as a 1/8 mile drag strip.
  • In 1971, a quarter mile track was added, and the facility was renamed to St. Louis International Raceway.
  • In 1985, a 2.6 mile road course was added with only a few small elevation changes, and incorporated parts of the drag strip, the new track hosted Trans Am Series, Can-Am and a variety of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) regional and national events.  A 1/20 mile dirt oval opened the same year.
  • In 1995, the track was purchased by promoter Chris Pook who immediately began a demolition project of all the existing tracks, which had been renamed Gateway International Raceway in 1988.
  • Pook, who had previously promoted the Formula 1 and CART races of the Long Beach Grand Prix, began construction of a new oval, an infield road course and NHRA sanctioned drag strip.
  • The first major event held at the facility was a CART Series race on May 24, 1997. The event was held amid the controversy of open wheel racing’s split with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League.  The race was won by Paul Tracy.
  • The first NASCAR event at the track was held on July 26, 1997, a Xfinity Series race won by Elliott Sadler.
  • The first CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race was on September 19, 1998, and was won by Rick Carelli.
  • At the beginning of 1998, Dover Motorsports, Inc. purchased the track from Chris Pook.
  • In 2010 Dover Motorsports, Inc., officially announced that Gateway was closing and ceasing operations on November 3, 2010.
  • In 2011, retired race car driver and real estate developer Curtis Francois, announced the purchase and re-opening of the 160-acre facility for the 2012 season.  The track was renamed Gateway Motorsports Park.
  • In November 2013, Gateway MSP and NASCAR announced the return of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the 2014 season.
  • Gateway MSP increased to more than 200 acres and is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region, encompassing a ¼ mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip, 1.25 mile NASCAR oval track, 1.6 mile road course, a world class karting facility, improved grandstands and fan pavilion.
  • Gateway Kartplex, a purpose built karting facility, is located inside turns one and two of Gateway Motorsports Park.
  • The 1.25 mile oval was repaved in the Summer of 2017 after the Truck race.  The IndyCar series was the first to compete on the new pavement in August 2017.
  • In early 2019, Gateway Motorsports Park and World Wide Technology, a market-leading technology solution provider, formed a long-term naming rights commitment, renaming the motorsports facility “World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.” The multi-faceted racing venue serves as home to NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region, where WWT was founded and is headquartered.  WWT also becomes the official technology partner of the track and will use the venue to advance development programs for the company and its community outreach initiatives.  The track plans to utilize the many advanced assets and knowledge that WWT and their partners are developing in an ever-evolving marketplace. Whether it’s STEAM initiatives, technological enhancements for fan experience, or community outreach and diversity, the raceway will serve as a cutting-edge proving ground.
  • September 2021 NASCAR announced that the Cup Series would race at WWTR for the first time in June 2022.

Latest News & Events at World Wide Technology Raceway:

  • Country star Jon Pardi and rising country star Ella Langley will headline the fourth annual Confluence Music Festival when it returns to the St. Louis region Sept. 6-7 as part of NASCAR Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • Pardi and Langley join Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers for the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 7. They will be joined on multiple stages by more than 30 national and local acts including Saturday, Sept. 6, headliners Adam Wainwright and Tim Dugger, who will perform after the NASCAR Xfinity Series 200 mile event.
  • The Confluence Music Festival is a showcase of innovation, talent and live entertainment. The festival attracts fans from across the country in welcoming NASCAR, the premiere form of motorsports in the United States, to WWTR.
  • The Confluence Music Festival concerts are free with admission to the daily NASCAR racing activities.
  • In addition to the racing and music, the event weekend features interactive entertainment displays, a STEM education showcase, car displays, autograph sessions, and live interviews with NASCAR drivers and St. Louis-area sports legends.

— NASCAR —