The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health 200 this weekend. Drivers are preparing to take on one of the most challenging race tracks in the NASCAR circuit. The speedway is considered challenging due to its unevenness and steep banking.
The 1.5 asphalt oval mirrors the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the similarities contribute to its difficulty. However, this isn’t the only challenge drivers will face on Friday. Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain are inching their returns in the truck series in the Baptist Health 200.
Kyle Larson will pilot the No. 07 for Spire Motorsports, and Ross Chastain with Niece Motorsports in the No. 44. Larson made his Craftsman Truck debut in 2012 with Turner Motorsports. He ran 16 races in 8 years, earning 4 career wins, 12 top-tens, and 2 poles. A more experienced Chastain debuted in 2011 with Niece Motorsports. The driver who ran 112 races in 13 years secured 5 wins, 50 top-tens, and 7 poles.
Therefore, competition is tight for contenders like Ty Majeski, who swept Phoenix, and Corey Heim, who took Las Vegas. Heim is hoping he can grab another win this weekend. Yet, with Larson and Chastain’s combined expertise, it’s a toss-up. Japanese racer Akinori Ogata, who started in the Craftsman Series in Atlanta on Feb. 22, is also set to run. The 51-year-old will run as his entity with Akinori Performance. Who will emerge victorious?
Brief Recap of the Ecosave 200 at Las Vegas
Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, all eyes were on Spire Motorsports teammates Justin Haley and Corey Day. The race’s initial stage was a nail-biter as Day and Haley battled to lead the field. With only an arm’s length between them, the heat was on. Until Day saw the opportunity on turn two of the first lap and went for it. He led for the last half of the lap until McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum stole the lead.
Once No. 18 Ankrum took hold, there was no letting go until Corey Day inched back in on lap 18. Day fought with all his might to hold onto the lead, but ThorSport driver Ty Majeski was determined not to let him gain. Majeski found a way to get under him and loosen his hold to take the lead. He held onto this momentum into stages two and three.
That is until Corey Heim snuck in to fight with Grant Enfinger for the lead. Heim would lead the final 42 laps to take the checkered flag from Enfinger by 0.825 seconds. Heim managed to pull it off despite being slapped with a speeding penalty during stage 1. Can he do it again for the Baptist Health 200? Or will he flop to cup drivers Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain, who are also set to run? Here’s a complete look at the expected fielded entries for the March 21st Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series:Baptist Health 200 EntriesHomestead-Miami Speedway |
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| Entry | Driver | No. | Veh Mfg. | Team |
| 1 | Brandon Jones | 1 | Toyota | Tricon Garage |
| 2 | Stephen Mallozzi | 2 | Ford | Reaume Brothers Racing |
| 3 | Nathan Byrd | 02 | Chevrolet | Young’s Motorsports |
| 4 | Toni Breidinger | 5 | Toyota | Tricon Garage |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | 07 | Chevrolet | Spire Motorsports |
| 6 | Corey Day | 7 | Chevrolet | Spire Motorsports |
| 7 | Grant Enfinger | 9 | Chevrolet | CR7 Motorsports |
| 8 | Corey Heim | 11 | Toyota | Tricon Garage |
| 9 | Jake Garcia | 13 | Ford | ThorSport Racing |
| 10 | Tanner Gray | 15 | Toyota | Tricon Garage |
| 11 | Gio Ruggiero | 17 | Toyota | Tricon Garage |
| 12 | Tyler Ankrum | 18 | Chevrolet | McAnally Hilgemann Racing |
| 13 | Daniel Hemric | 19 | Chevrolet | McAnally Hilgemann Racing |
| 14 | Stefan Parsons | 28 | Ford | Young’s Motorsports |
| 15 | Josh Reaume | 22 | Ford | Reaume Brothers Racing |
| 16 | Dawson Sutton | 26 | Chevrolet | Rackley W. A. R. |
| 17 | Frankie Muniz | 33 | Ford | Reaume Brothers Racing |
| 18 | Layne Riggs | 34 | Ford | Front Row Motorsports |
| 19 | Chandler Smith | 38 | Ford | Front Row Motorsports |
| 20 | Matt Mills | 42 | Chevrolet | Niece Motorsports |
| 21 | Ross Chastain | 44 | Chevrolet | Niece Motorsports |
| 22 | Kaden Honeycutt | 45 | Chevrolet | Niece Motorsports |
| 23 | Stewart Friesen | 52 | Toyota | Halmar Friesen Racing |
| 24 | Akinori Ogata | 63 | Toyota | Akinori Performance |
| 25 | Luke Fenhaus | 66 | Ford | ThorSport Racing |
| 26 | TBD | 67 | Chevrolet | Freedom Racing Enterprises |
| 27 | Rajah Caruth | 71 | Chevrolet | Spire Motorsports |
| 28 | Spencer Boyd | 76 | Chevrolet | Freedom Racing Enterprises |
| 29 | Andres Perez De Lara | 77 | Chevrolet | Spire Motorsports |
| 30 | Connor Mosack | 81 | Chevrolet | McAnally Hilgemann Racing |
| 31 | Matt Crafton | 88 | Ford | ThorSport Racing |
| 32 | Jack Wood | 91 | Chevrolet | McAnally Hilgemann Racing |
| 33 | Ty Majeski | 98 | Ford | ThorSport Racing |
| 34 | Ben Rhodes | 99 | Ford | ThorSport Racing |
Full Baptist Health Schedule
- Practice—3:35 p.m. EST (Friday, Mar. 21) (FS2)
- Qualifying—4:40 p.m. EST (Friday, Mar. 21) (FS2)
- Craftsman Truck Series Race—8:00 p.m. EST (Friday, Mar. 21) (FOX Sports)
Where to Watch
To catch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, tune into your nationally televised programming with FOX Sports and the FS2, app. Race fans can also check the action on NASCAR Radio and SiriusXM Radio.
Final Thoughts
The entry list for Friday’s Baptist Health 200 is adding Cup Series champions Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain to the mix. An eager Corey Heim is hoping for his second consecutive win this season. Will the competition be too much? Heim overcame a speeding penalty on lap 31 d of the Ecosave 200, but this may be his biggest challenge. Tune into the Baptist Health 200 to watch the field of 34 live.
