There are only two more weekends of racing the the NASCAR 2021 season.  After taking a break for the past three weeks, the Camping World Truck Series returns to kick off a triple header weekend of racing and a double header of Saturday racing with the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway.

The last time the Truck Series was on the track was at the circuits largest track in Talladega where all eight of the playoff drivers were involved in on track incidents.  This week the drivers will take to one of the smallest track at just a half mile around.

In the final race before the championship race, none of the eight playoff drivers have secured their spot in the final four.  Currently John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, and Sheldon Creed are above the cut line; while Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith, Carson Hocevar, and Zane Smith are all below the cut line.  But Martinsville is known for plenty of beating and banging and anything can happen…and usually does.

With 37 Truck Series races at Martinsville under his belt, Matt Crafton is the only multi race winner in the field with playoff driver with more than one win.

The winner earns one of the most coveted prizes on the circuit – a grandfather clock.

Five time race winner John Hunter Nemechek sits on the pole and will bring the field to green with Todd Gilliland starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the United Rentals 200:
John hunter Nemechek
Todd Gilliland
Ben Rhodes
Sheldon Creed
Matt Crafton
Chandler Smith
Stewart Friesen
Carson Hocevar
Zane Smith
Austin Hill
Ryan Truex
Tate Fogleman
Chase Purdy
Danny Bohn
Grant Enfinger
Cory Roper
Derek Kraus
Spencer Boyd
Tyler Ankrum
Bret Holmes
Austin Wayne Self
Johnny Sauter
Hailie Deegan
Timmy Hill
Josh Berry
Kris Wright
Tanner Gray
Corey Heim
Colby Howard
Parker Kligerman
Sage Karam
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Dawson Cram
Jack Wood
Josh Reaume
Spencer Davis
Chris Hacker
Jesse Iwuji
Taylor Gray
Roger Reuse

Stages one and two of the race are 50 laps each with stage three lasting 100 laps for a total of 200 laps around the half mile track.

The drivers can run around 140 laps on a single load of fuel.

Cup Series driver Kurt Busch joins Vince Welch and Michael Waltrip in the FOX Sports broadcast booth for today’s race.

Parker Kilgerman has to start the race from the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the truck.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag start of the race but it is Todd Gilliland who gets out in front for the lead with Sheldon Creed in second; John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

Lap four, Todd Gilliland has a lead of nearly half a second on Sheldon Creed; John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, and Ben Rodes round out the top five.

Cory Roper gets loose on the track but the track stays green.

Lap seven, Todd Gilliland continues to lead the race but is now over a half a second infront of Sheldon Creed.

Lap 10, the top five remains Todd Gilliland, Sheldon Creed, John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, and Ben Rhodes.

Lap 20, Todd Gilliland has led every lap so far with Sheldon Creed in second; John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

Leaders have begun lapping slower trucks; thefre are 32 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 25, Todd Gilliland has pulled out to a two second lead on Sheldon Creed.

The teams have four sets of tires in the pits for todays race.

Lap 27, Todd Gilliland has a two second lead on Sheldon Creed, John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, and Matt Crafton round out the top five.

Lap 29, Hailie Deegan has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire after contact with Parker Kligerman.

Lap 31, Sheldon Creed has cut into Todd Gilliland’s lead; which is now down to just one second.

Lap 32, Chase Purdy gets slow on the track, but the track stays green.  Purdy takes his truck to the garage with no power.

Lap 40, Todd Gilliland has pulled out to a lead of over three seconds on Sheldon Creed; there are 24 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 42, Todd Gilliland continues to increase his lead and is now three and a half seconds in front of Sheldon Creed; John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, and Matt Crafton round out the top five.

Chandler Smith is reporting some handling issue with his truck.  He is currently in the lowest spot of the eight playoff drivers in 13th.

The first caution flag of the race comes out with just five laps remaining in stage one when Cory Roper spins out and hits the wall.  Roper reports that he locked it up.

Todd Gilliland wins stage one under caution.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Todd Gilliland
Sheldon Creed
John Hunter Nemechek
Ben Rhodes
Matt Crafton
Zane Smith
Stewart Friesen
Johnny Sauter
Carson Hocevar
Austin Hill

Chandler Smith is the only playoff driver who did not earn any stage points.  Below the cut line, Smith is in a must win situation.

The drivers come down pit road for service.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 57 and holds on to the lead with John Hunter Nemechek taking second and Sheldon Creed in third; Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

There are 26 trucks on the lead lap with Colby Howard off the track and Chase Purdy out of the race.

Matt Crafton is reporting brake issues in his truck.

Lap 64, Todd Gilliland has a lead of over half a second on John Hunter Nemechek; Sheldon Creed, Johnny Sauter, and Ben Rhodes round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 66 when Jack Wood is stopped on the track after spinning out.

A few drivers come down pit road for service and adjustments.  Josh Berry’s crew had the hood up on his truck.

Chandler Smith is also reporting some very tight and brake issues.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 72 from the inside lane but it is John Hunter Nemechek who gets out in front for the lead. 

Lap 74, Todd Gilliland passes John Hunter Nemechek for the lead; Sheldon Creed, Johnny Sauter, and Zane Smith round out the top five.

Lap 77, Todd Gilliland has a half second lead on John Hunter Nemechek with 26 trucks on the lead lap

Colby Howard has returned to the track 30 laps down.

The third caution flag of the race comes out on lap 81 for debris on the track.

Several drivers bring their trucks down pit road for service but the leaders stay out.  Carson Hocevar’s crew made some radical changes to his truck.  Chandler Smith is still reporting some tight issues in his truck.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 86 from the inside lane.  This time, Gilliland gets out in front quickly to hold on to the lead.  The caution flag comes out for a multi-truck incident on lap 88.  Bret Holmes, Corey Roper, Ryan Truex, Tanner Gray, and Josh Reaume were all involved in the crash.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag restart with just five laps remaining in stage two.  Gilliland edges out John Hunter Nemechek for the lead; Sheldon Creed, Johnny Sauter, and Matt Crafton round out the top five.

With a lead of over half a second, Todd Gilliland wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Todd Gilliland
John Hunter Nemechek/
Sheldon Creed
Johnny Sauter
Matt Crafton
Ben Rhodes
Taylor Gray
Zane Smith/
Carson Hocevar
Stewart Friesen

At the halfway point of the race, none of the playoff drivers have locked in a spot in the final four.

Drivers come down pit road for service which includes a number of adjustments.  John Hunter Nemechek wins the race off of pit road.

After staying out on the track, Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 110 and edges out Zane Smith for the lead.

Lap 112, Zane Smith passes Carson Hocevar for the lead; Stewart Friesen, Corey Heim, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five.

Jennifer Jo Cobb gets turned around and brings out the sixth caution flag of the race on lap 116.  The safety crews come to her aid when she cannot get the truck refired.

Todd Gilliland is mired back in eleventh place after pitting at the end of the stage.

Chandler Smith reports that his tires have no grip.

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 124 but it is Carson Hocevar who takes the lead; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, Corey Heim, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five

Lap 125, Zane Smith passes Carson Hocevar for the lead.

Drivers are trying to get three wide across the narrow track.

Johnny Sauter slaps the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 129, Todd Gilliland has entered the top 10 after pitting at the end of stage two.

John Hunter Nemechek gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag on lap 131 after making contact with Austin Wayne Self.  Nemechek’s truck is stopped on the track and he can’t get it refired; he is asking for a push.  There is significant damage to the truck.

When the race began, John Hunter Nemechek had led in the points standings; after hitting the wall, he has dropped to third just 17 points above the cut line.

Now out of the race, John Hunter Nemechek has lost more points and is in danger of falling below the cut line.  Per NASCAR rules, he must go to the infield care center to get checked out.

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 141 and edges out Carson Hocevar to take the lead.  Carson Hocevar and Stewart Friesen battle for second.

The caution flag comes out on lap 142 when Jack Wood spins out.

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with 54 laps remaining in the race.  Smith and Carson Hocevar battle for the lead with Zane Smith getting out in front.  Todd Gilliland is up to sixth place.

Sane Karam brings out the ninth caution flag of the race after hitting the wall in his Truck Series debut.  Karam gets the truck moving again but has to come down pit road for repairs.

NASCAR has charged Carson Hocevar with jumping the restart and will have to serve a pass through penalty. 

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 154 with Corey Heim alongside.  Zane Smith battles Corey Heim for the lead with Smith getting out in front; Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith, and Todd Gilliland rounding out the top five.

Todd Gilliland passes Chandler Smith for fourth.

The tenth caution flag comes out on lap 157 when Parker Kligerman spins out but avoids the wall after some contact with Johnny Sauter.  He gets the truck moving again.

Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with Todd Gilliland alongside on the outside lane with just 37 laps remaining in the race.  Smith gets out in front but Todd Gilliland comes up on the outside to battle for the lead.

The top five are Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, Stewart Friesen, Corey Heim, and Chandler Smith.

Thirty to go, Todd Gilliland is on leader Zane Smith’s bumper and looking to take the lead.

Currently John Hunter Nemechek is just six points above the cut line.

With 27 laps to go, Todd Gilliland passes Zane Smith for the lead.  John Hunter Nemechek is now 15 points above the cut line.

Johnny Sauter brings out the caution flag with just 23 laps to go when he spins out and hits the wall after some contact with Parker Kligerman.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 17 laps to go.  Gilliland edges out Zane Smith for the lead.

The top five are Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith and Tanner Gray.

The caution flag comes out with 15 laps to go after a multi-truck incident.  Josh Berry, Corey Heim, Matt Crafton, and Grant Enfinger were all involved.  Grant Enfinger bumps Matt Crafton from behind and causes a spin to begin the crash.

Sheldon Creed also has an on track incident and had to make a trip down pit road.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the green flag restart with just eight laps remaining in the race.  Gilliland gets out in front for the lead; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, Tanner Gray, and Chandler Smith round out the top five.

Five to go and the drivers are getting three wide.

The 13th caution flag comes out when Dawson Cram hits the wall after some contact form Corey Heim.  The race is going into over time.

Thirteen caution flag is the most ever for a Truck Series playoff race.

Todd Gilliland brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout with Stewart Friesen on the outside lane.  Drivers are three wide in a battle for the lead with Todd Gilliland edging out for the lead before being spun out just as Zane Smith takes the white flag.

The race ends under caution with Zane Smith getting the win for a spot in the final four.  Smith was in a must win situation.  This was Smith’s first win of the season.

John Hunter Nemechek makes the final; Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton round out the top four.  Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith, Sheldon Creed, and Carson Hocevar have all be eliminated from the playoffs.

The unofficial results of the United Rentals 200:
Zane Smith
Austin Hill
Chandler Smith
Parker Kligerman
Matt Crafton
Ben Rhodes
Taylor Gray
Tanner Gray
Sheldon Creed
Corey Heim
Timmy Hill
Carson Hocevar
Kris Wright
Danny Bohn
Spencer Boyd
Chris Hacker
Stewart Friesen
Tate Fogleman
Hailie Deegan
Austin Wayne Self
Grant Enfinger
Bret Homes
Dawson Cram
Derek Kraus
Todd Gilliland
Tyler Ankrum
Jack Wood
Josh Berry
Spencer Davis
Jesse Iwuji
Johnny Sauter
Sage Karam
Ryan Truex
Josh Reaume
Roger Reuse
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Cory Roper
Colby Howard
John Hunter Nemechek
Chase Purdy

With many hurt feelings, there are “discussions” and confrontations all around the track.