This week the Craftsman Truck Series returns to open a doubleheader weekend at Kansas Speedway for the Heart of America 200.  After a two week break, this weekend begins a stint of five straight races for the Truck Series.

Thirty-six teams have brought trucks to Kansas for the 36 starting spots including the Melon Man Ross Chastain, “Rowdy” Kyle Busch, and the debut of ARCA Series driver Toni Breidinger driving the Tricon Garage number one truck with Victoria’s Secret as her primary sponsor.  Justin Carroll is also making his Truck Series debut.  Johnny Sauter returns to the Truck Series.

Kyle Busch Motorsports is still sitting on a total of 99 team wins with Kyle Busch and Chase Purdy looking to finally notch that 100th with for KBM.

There have been 25 previous races on the mile and a half track of Kansas Speedway and Matt Crafton has been a part of every one of them.  His las race win came at Kansas in 2020.

After a 20 minute practice session the drivers take to the track to make a qualifying run with Tim Viens the first driver on the track.  He posts a time of 38.521 seconds around the mile and a half truck.

Daniel Kye is the first driver to break the 32 second mark with a time of 31.258 seconds.

Spencer Boyd failed to make a qualifying run.

Rookie driver Nick Sanchez posts a qualifying time of 31.159 seconds.

Jake Garcia inches closer to the 31 second mark with a time of 31.059 seconds to take over P1 with nine truck remaining to make a qualifying run.

Beating Jake Garcia by just eleven thousandths of a second, Chase Purdy posted a time of 31.046.

After leading practice, Christian Eckes broke the 31 second mark with a time of 30. 932 seconds.

After 35 of the 36 drivers made a qualifying run, Christian Eckes wins the pole and will bring the field to green with Kyle Busch starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Heart of America 200:
Christian Eckes
Kyle Busch
Chase Purdy
Jake Garcia
Ben Rhodes
Nick Sanchez
Zane Smith
Tanner Gray
Ty Majeski
Daniel Dye
Grant Enfinger
Corey Heim
Rajah Caruth
Stewart Friesen
Colby Howard
Haielie Deegan
Ross Chastain
Matt DiBenedetto
Taylor Gray
Carson Hocevar
Matt Crafton
Dean Thompson
Tyler Ankrum
Toni Breidinger
Kris Wright
Brennan Poole
Johnny Sauter
Bret Holmes
Josh Reaume
Tyler Hill
Nick Leitz
Justin Carroll
Mason Maggio
Lawless Alan
Tim Wiens
Spencer Boyd

Ross Chastain, Lawless Alan, and Matt Crafton will start the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the trucks.

Stages one and two of the race are 30 laps each with stage three lasting 74 laps for a total of 134 laps around the mile and a half track.  Drivers can run 50 to 55 laps on a single load of fuel.

Kevin Harvick joins Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip in the FOX broadcast booth for tonight’s race.

The drivers will start the race in daylight but will finish the race under the lights.  And the sun will be an issue until it sets.

Christian Eckes brings the field down for the green falg start of the race from the inside lane with Kyle Busch on the outside.  Eckes launches out in front for the lead as drivers get three wide across the track.

Christian Eckes leads lap one.

The top five are Christian Eckes, Ben Rhodes, Kyle Busch, Chase Purdy, and Zane Smith.

Lap four, Christian Eckes has already pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Ben Rhodes.

Lap five, Ross Chastain has entered the top 20 after starting the race from the back of the field.

Lap six, Christian Eckes has a narrow lead on Ben Rhodes; Kyle Busch, Chase Purdy, and Zane Smith round out the top five.

Lap seven, Ben Rhodes blows by Christian Eckes to take the lead.

Lap eight, Christian Eckes tries to battle with Ben Rhodes to retake the lead.

Lap 10, Ben Rhodes has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Christian Eckes; Kyle Busch, Chase Purdy, and Zane Smith round out the top five.

Lap 16, Ben Rhodes holds his half second lead on Kyle Busch; Christian Eckes, Zane Smith, and Chase Purdy round out the top five.

Lap 17, Zane Smith passes Christian Eckes for third.

Tim Viens is off the track with 32 trucks on the lead lap.

Lap 19, Ben Rhodes leads the race with Kyle Busch in second; Zane Smith challenges Kyle Busch for second.

Nick Leitz brings out the first caution flag on lap 20 when he spins out on the track.  He keeps it off the wall.

The top five are Ben Rhodes, Kyle Busch, Zane Smith, Chase Purdy, and Grant Enfinger.

With just seven laps remaining in stage one, several of the drivers come down pit road for service including leaders Ben Rhodes and Kyle Busch. 

Daniel Dye was charged with an uncontrolled tire and will restart the race from the back of the field.

After staying out on the track, Zane Smith brings the field down for the green flag two lap shootout to end stage one.  Drivers get three wide across the track with Zane Smith in the lead.

Kyle Busch comes up on the inside to take second.

Kyle Busch comes up on the outside to challenge Zane Smith for the lead.  With a push from Ben Rhodes, Kyle Busch wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one :
Kyle Busch
Ben Rhodes
Zane Smith
Grant Enfinger
Chase Purdy
Rajah Caruth
Tyler Ankrum
Corey Heim
Carson Hocevar
Hailie Deegan

Drivers come down pit road for service.

Ton Breidinger is charged with speeding on pit road.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the inside lane on lap 36 Grant Enfinger on the outside.

Getting a push from Ben Rhodes, Kyle Busch gets out in front to hold on to the lead with Grant Enfinger in second and Ben Rhodes in third; Tyler Ankrum and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

Rajah Caruth passes Carson Hocevar for fifth.

Lap 40, Grant Enfinger battles with Kyle Busch for the lead.  Enfinger is the new leader.

Lap 42, Kyle Busch is looking to challenge Grant Enfinger to retake the lead; so far Enfinger has held him off.

Lap 42, Hailie Deegan did a slide job on Carson Hocevar and nearly lost the truck right in front of Hocevar.

Lap 44, Corey Heim passes Hailie Deegan for ninth.

Lap 45, Grant Enfinger has a quarter of a second lead on Kyle Busch; Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Rajah Caruth round out the top five.

Lap 48, Ty Majeski passes Kyle Busch for second.

Lap 49, Ben Rhodes passes Kyle Busch for third.  Busch has reported a tight condition in his truck.

The second caution flag of the race comes out for Kris Wright when he spins out and makes a run through the grass before getting the truck moving again on lap 49.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.  Carson Hocevar had a slow stop due to the crew having to make repairs after contact with Hailie Deegan.

Ty Majeski brings the field down for the green falg restart with six laps remaining in stage two.  Majeski takes the lead with Kyle Busch in second.

Corey Heim comes up form the inside and takes second place.

Five laps to go, Corey Heim passes Ty Majeski for the lead; Rajah Caruth, Zane Smith, and  Stewart Friesen round out the top five.

Lap 57, Ty Majeski retakes the lead over Corey Heim; Rajah Caruth (on old tires), Zane Smith, and Christian Eckes round out the top five.

Ty Majeski wins stage two for his first stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ty Majeski
Grant Enfinger
Corey Heim
Rajah Caruth
Zane Smith
Christian Eckes
Tyler Ankrum
Chase Purdy
Stewart Friesen
Dean Thompson

Lap 62, Ben Rhodes and Kyle Busch came down pit road after on track contact to make repairs while pit road was still closed.  They will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Drivers come down pit road for service while some others stay out on the track. 

With over 70 laps in stage three, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage for fuel.

Grant Enfinger brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 67.  Getting a push from Tyler Ankrum, Enfinger gets out in front with a big lead.

Lap 68, Grant Enfinger leads the race with Matt DiBenedetto in second; Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

Colby Howard and Tim Viens are out of the race.  There are 32 trucks on the lead lap.

After some contact from Ty Majeski, Raha Caruth gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag on lap 73.

Only a handful of drivers come down pit road for service with 59 laps remaining in the race.  The drivers are looking to make it to the end of the race on this stop.

Grant Enfinger brings the field down for ther green flag restart from the inside lane with Nick Sanchez on the outside on lap 78.  Drivers immediately spread out three and four wide and brings out the caution flag.  Carson Hocevar, Chase Purdy, Christian Eckes, Matt DiBenedetto, and Dean Thompson were all involved.

Rajah Caruth has been checked and released from the infield care center. 

Grant Enfinger brings the field down for the green flag restart with Nick Sanchez alongside on lap 85.  Drivers spread out three and four wide.  Grant Enfinger, Nick Sanchez, and Stewart Friesen make it a three wide battle for the lead with Stewart Friesen getting out in front.

Lap 87, Corey Heim comes up on the inside to take the lead from Stewart Friesen

The top five are Corey Heim, Stewart Freisen, Nick Sanchez, Zane Smith, and Grant Enfinger.

With 45 laps remaining in therace, Corey Heim has a lead of over half a second on Zane Smith; Stewart Friesen, Nick Sanchez, and Grant Enfinger round out the top five.

After numerous pit stop for repairs, Kyle Busch has entered the top 10.

Kris Wright spins out again and gets into the wall bringing out the seventh caution flag on lap 93.  He is stopped on the grass.  When Wright’s truck came back down the track he barely missed Josh Reaume. 

There are 26 trucks on the lead lap.

Zane Smith wins the race off of pit road.

After staying out on the track, Tanner Gray bring the field down for the green flag restart with just 36 laps remaining in the race with Tyler Hill right behind, who also stayed out.  Drivers get three wide right away.  Zane Smith takes the leas with Corey Heim in second.

Corey Heim comes up on the inside and passes Zane Smith to take the lead.

With 35 laps to go, the top five are Corey Heim, Zane Smith, Grant Enfinger, Ross Chastain, and Nick Sanchez.

Lap 101, Corey Heim has a narrow lead on Zane Smith; Grant Enfinger, Nick Sanchez, and Stewart Friesen round out the top five.

As Zane Smith is battling with Corey Heim for the lead Grant Enfinger comes up on the outside and takes the lead.

Thirty to go, Grant Enfinger leads the race with Corey Heim in second; Zane Smith, Nick Sanchez, and  Stewart Friesen round out the top five.  Ross Chastain is in sixth and Kyle Busch is in eighth.

Stewart Friesen kisses the wall but the track stays green.

Kyle Busch reports that his truck is “plowing” and tells the crew that they might as well throw the truck away.

With 25 to go, Grant Enfinger has a lead of over half a second on Corey Heim; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.

With 22 laps to go, Grant Enfinger has a near one second lead on Corey Heim; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.

Twenty to go, Grant Enfinger continues to extend his lead and is now over a second out in front of Corey Heim; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Nick Sanche round out the top five.

Toni Breidinger, Dean Thompson, and Taylor Gray all ran the double header today; racing in the ARCA race and the Craftsman Truck Series race.

With just 13 laps to go, Grant Enfinger has pulled out to a lead of nearly two seconds on Corey Heim; Zane Smith, Stewart Friesen, and Nick Sanchez round out the top five.

Ty Majeski is slowed on the track with a flat tire.  He makes it to pit road and the track stays green.

Nine to go, Grant Enfinger has a lead of over two seconds on Corey Heim.

There are 17 trucks on the lead lap.

Seven to go, Grant Enfinger has a near two second lead on Corey Heim with just 14 trucks on the lead lap.

Three to go, Grant Enfinger continues to lead the race and pass slower traffic with just 13 trucks on the lead lap.

Grant Enfinger takes the white flag.

Grant Enfinger leads 65 laps to win the race and join the ranks of the playoff drivers.  Enfinger has now won eight races at eight different tracks.

The unofficial results of the Heart of America 200:
Grant Enfinger
Corey Heim
Zane Smith
Stewart Friesen
Ross Chastain
Nick Sanchez
Kyle Busch
Jake Garcia
Taylor Gray
Tyler Ankrum
Matt Crafton
Hailie Deegan
Daniel Dye
Bret Holmes
Toni Breidinger
Ben Rhodes
Lawless Alan
Tanner Gray
Johnny Sauter
Brennan Poole
Nick Leitz
Tyler Hill
Justin Carroll
Josh Reaume
Ty Majeski
Spencer Boyd
Mason Maggio
Kris Wright
Matt DiBenedetto
Christian Eckes
Carson Hocevar
Dean Thompson
Chase Purdy
Rajah Caruth
Colby Howard
Tim Viens