The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series makes way to the Pocono Raceway at high noon on Saturday for the running of the CRC Brakleen 150. Pocono is a unique triangle-shaped tri-oval track that is 2.5 miles in length. 60 laps will make up the 150-mile advertised distance for Saturday’s Truck Series event. The CRC Brakleen 150 is a short race so any mistakes either on track or in the pits will ruin a drivers’ day.
Here are 5 drivers to consider for the CRC Brakleen 150.
Kyle Busch -140- Kyle Busch will come down from the Cup Series to have some fun with the Truck Series guys on Saturday afternoon. Kyle will roll off from the 22nd position for Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150 since he didn’t run last weekend at Nashville. In 4 career starts at Pocono in the Truck Series, Kyle has 3 top 5 finishes including 2 wins. Starting on row 11 shouldn’t be of any concern Kyle will be in a top 3 truck heading into Pocono. Expect Kyle to be around or in the top 5 by the end of stage 1 on Saturday.
John Hunter Nemechek +500- John Hunter will fire off from the 7th starting spot on Saturday afternoon for the Truck Series race at Pocono. Disappointing weekend for John and the guys at Kyle Busch Motorsports at Nashville one week ago after having to start 34th and only ended up with a 10th place finish. Track position will not play as much into the starting this weekend at Pocono and we should see a bounce back. Nemechek has 4 wins on the season in the Truck Series and the speedbump at Nashville one week ago should not slow the team down.
Todd Gilliland +1200- Gilliland will start Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150 on the pole after a nice 2nd place effort at the Nashville Superspeedway one week ago. Todd has reeled off 7 top 10 finishes over the last 8 Truck Series events including the victory at COTA in Austin, Texas on the road course in May. Gilliland started 8th and finished 4th at Pocono in the Truck Series event in 2020 and there is a great chance Gilliland and team can keep the momentum rolling on Saturday afternoon for the CRC Brakleen 150.
Austin Hill +1400- Hill rides into Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150 3rd in the 2021 Truck Series standings and will roll off from the 4th starting spot on. Austin has 9 top 10 finishes including 4 top 5 finishes to date in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2021, after starting off slow at Daytona back in February. Austin started 3rd and finished 2nd in the Truck Series event held in 2020 at Pocono and over the last 4 races has 4 top 10 finishes in a row. Great value here on Austin Hill for Saturday’s Truck race at Pocono.
Zane Smith +1400– Zane Smith will take the green flag in the CRC Brakleen 150 from the 2nd starting spot. 2021 has been a quieter year than 2020 for Zane but performance is starting to get better for the team. Zane has reeled off 4 top 10 finishes in a row, best effort of 2021 coming one week ago at the Nashville Superspeedway a track Zane had never raced at. Smith is another that comes in a great value for Saturday’s Truck Series race and starting on the front row helps the chances for a win.
AUTHOR: Jeff Jeter
