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The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has become the developmental base of the NASCAR National Series. With many of its drivers starting their careers in the series, many teams have also moved from the Truck Series to the Xfinity Series.
With the ever-changing landscape of NASCAR, it’s interesting to look at those Craftsman Truck Series Teams that could take that step to the next level of racing.
A staple of the series since its first full-time season in 1998, ThorSport Racing has continued to find success two decades later. The team currently fields four full-time entries in the Truck Series, including three-time Truck Series Champion Matt Crafton and two-time Champion Ben Rhodes.
While the team entered two Xfinity Series races in 2008, it could step out of its comfort zone and go at it again. The teams most recent champion, Ben Rhodes, is only 27 years old. The youth of its star driver, combined with the lack of Ford teams in the Xfinity Series, could allow ThorSport to move up with a competitive team, given that they would be willing to take the risk.
This one takes a bit of out-of-the-box thinking. However, Spire Motorsports would be an interesting fit in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Already a three-car Cup Series operation, the team recently bought Kyle Busch Motorsports shop and has continued to grow its Truck Series program.
The program began in 2022, fielding entries for Chevrolet drivers, including Austin Hill, William Byron and Chase Elliott. Last season, the team followed course and fielded entries for Chevrolet drivers at all levels.
Now, with the assets of KBM, the team has two full-time entries and one part-time entry that continues the tradition of giving a spot to Chevrolet drivers.
Full-time drivers Rajah Caruth and Chase Purdy have shown consistent speed throughout the season. Rajah is fifth in points and won his first career race this season. If Spire wants to continue its accession in NASCAR, adding an Xfinity Series team could be the next step.
Another team in a boat similar to Spire, Front Row Motorsports, continues ascending the long road to the top of NASCAR. The once-back marker team now fields two, soon to be three, competitive Cup Series teams and one full-time Truck Series team.
Ford’s Tier-One competitive support has helped the team take a much-needed step in competition at the top level. However, before Ford’s Tier-One support, the team was already running a top-level Truck Series team.
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Beginning in 2020 with driver Todd Gilliland, the team has won eight races and the 2022 Truck Series Championship with Zane Smith. From 2008 to 2010, the team ran a full-time and part-time Xfinity Series schedule.
If a return were in store, its ties to Ford could benefit both the manufacturer and the team. Ford would gain one more team in the Xfinity Series garage, while FRM would gain a developmental line through all three NASCAR National Series.
Bill McAnally’s race team originally fielded truck entries in 2000 and 2001. The team entered eight races in those two seasons, but driver Brendan Gaughan only achieved one top-five finish, a third-place finish at Mesa Marin Raceway.
The team returned to the series in late 2018; driver Derek Kraus was behind the wheel of the number 19 Toyota, a ride he would take part-time in 2019 and full-time in 2020. The team saw minimal results in 2020 and 2021.
With a transition to Chevrolet and expansion to a second team for 2022, the team began to fall to the back of the field. In 2023, Derek Kraus would be replaced by Christian Eckes. The team would make monumental strides this season, with Eckes winning four races.
This season, the team has fielded four full-time entries and has all three full-time drivers in the top-12 points. As the team continues to grow, an ascension to the Xfinity Series could be in the future. For now, the team will continue establishing its seat at the Truck Series table.
The team, formerly known as David Gilliland Racing, began racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2018 as a Toyota Racing Development team. Fielding mostly TDR developmental drivers making part-time starts, the team got its first win in 2019.
The team joined Ford in 2020, where Tanner Gray would be the first driver to run a full season. The time with Ford would see wins from Ryan Preece and Todd Gilliland, though significant changes would be in store for 2023.
That season, the team, now known as Tricon Garage, returned to Toyota and fielded full-time entries for Dean Thompson, Tanner Gray, and Corey Heim. Heim had a breakout season, winning three races but coming up short of the championship.
The team currently fields four trucks for Corey Heim, Tanner Gray, and Taylor Gray, with one car open for young TRD drivers. Now, having won multiple races, Tricon fields legitimate Championship contenders.
With the great work the team has done for TRD in just two short seasons, young drivers, and the team’s continuing competitive growth, Tricon Garage is a prime candidate for Xfinity Series competition in the future.
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