Bully Hill Vineyards 176 At Watkins Glen International: Craftsman Truck Series, Entry List

Watkins Glen International has never been a track that forgives hesitation. The 2.45‑mile road course forces drivers to commit instantly, and the technical sections punish anyone who misses their marks. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns for its eighth race at The Glen, and the garage is already humming with tension.

The teams that unload closest to the setup window will control the tone of the weekend before the first lap is even completed. The Glen demands precision, patience, and aggression in equal measure. One mistake entering the Inner Loop can destroy a truck and erase an entire weekend in seconds.

Drivers who balance aggression with restraint tend to rise here, especially when the field compresses on restarts. Every decision carries weight because the margin between a clean lap and a ruined afternoon is razor-thin.

How Quickly Watkins Glen Can Shift Beneath The Field

Thirty‑eight teams have unloaded for the weekend, creating one of the deepest fields of the season. Watkins Glen transitions quickly as rubber builds and braking zones shift, and cooler morning sessions often mislead teams into chasing the wrong balance. By race time, the surface will be far different from what they see early in the day.

Crew chiefs will need to anticipate balance changes before they happen, and drivers must stay ahead of the handling curve as the groove widens and tightens. The best teams treat every run like a data‑gathering mission, adjusting in real time rather than waiting for the next stop. Watkins Glen rewards those who stay proactive instead of reactive.

Breaking Down the Entry List

Watkins Glen’s 38‑truck Entry List blends Cup‑level firepower, rising prospects, and championship contenders all fighting for mid‑season momentum. The mix of elite road‑course specialists and full‑time Truck Series regulars creates one of the most competitive fields the series will see all year.

The presence of five Cup Series drivers immediately raises the competitive bar, forcing younger drivers to match their pace and discipline from the moment practice begins. Established teams bring trucks capable of running up front, while developmental programs and smaller operations look to capitalize on strategy and clean execution.

Craftsman Truck Series At Watkins Glen International Raceway

Bully Hill Vineyards 176 At The Glen: Full Entry List

(i) indicates any driver ineligible for earning season and or playoff points.

• 1. Brandon Jones (i) — No. 1 — TRICON Garage
• 2. Jackson Lee — No. 2 — Team Reaume
• 3. Shane van Gisbergen (i) — No. 4 — Niece Motorsports
• 4. Adam Andretti — No. 5 — TRICON Garage
• 5. Connor Mosack — No. 7 — Spire Motorsports
• 6. Grant Enfinger — No. 9 — CR7 Motorsports
• 7. Corey LaJoie — No. 10 — Kaulig Racing
• 8. Kaden Honeycutt — No. 11— TRICON Garage
• 9. Brenden Queen — No. 12 — Kaulig Racing
• 10. Cole Butcher — No. 13 — ThorSport Racing
• 11. Mini Tyrrell — No. 14 — Kaulig Racing
• 12. Tanner Gray — No. 15 — TRICON Garage
• 13. Justin Haley — No. 16 — Kaulig Racing
• 14 Giovanni Ruggiero — No. 17 — TRICON Garage
• 15. Tyler Ankrum — No. 18 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 16. Daniel Hemric — No. 19 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 17. Toni Breidinger — No. 20 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 18. Natalie Decker — No. 22 — Team Reaume
• 19. A.J. Allmendinger (i) — No. 25 — Kaulig Racing
• 20. Dawson Sutton — No. 26 — Rackley W.A.R.
• 21. Stephan Mallozzi — No. 33 — Team Reaum
• 22. Layne Riggs — No. 34 — Front Row Motorsports
• 23. Chandler Smith — No. 38 — Front Row Motorsports
• 24. Tyler Reif — No. 42 — Niece Motorsports
• 25. Andres Perez De Lara — No. 44 — Niece Motorsports
• 26. Ross Chastain (i) — No. 45 — Niece Motorsports
• 27. Stewart Friesen — No. 52 — Halmar Friesen Racing
• 28. Timmy Hill — No. 56 — Hill Motorsports
• 29. Wesley Slimp — No. 62 — Halmar Friesen Racing
• 30. Dystany Spurlock — No. 69 — Motorsports Business Management
• 31. Connor Zilisch (i) — No. 71 — Spire Motorsports
• 32. Nathan Nicholson — No. 76 — Freedom Racing Enterprises
• 33. Carson Hocevar (i) — No. 77 — Spire Motorsports
• 34. Kris Wright — No. 81 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 35. Ty Majeski — No. 88 — ThorSport Racing
• 36. Christian Eckes — No. 91 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 37. Jake Garcia — No. 98 — ThorSport Racing
• 38. Ben Rhodes — No. 99 — ThorSport Racing

Where The Afternoon Is Shaped

Watkins Glen demands a blend of raw speed, braking discipline, and long‑run composure. A missed entry into Turn 1 can cost a driver several positions before they reach the esses, and the Inner Loop punishes even the slightest misjudgment. The fastest trucks stay settled under heavy braking, especially late in a run when tires begin to fade.

The average green‑flag run forces drivers to manage their equipment with precision. Clean air becomes a weapon here, especially for trucks that maintain stability through the high‑speed sections. Once a driver loses the nose in traffic, it can take several laps to recover.

Leaders often reach lapped traffic within 15–20 laps at Watkins Glen, creating constant decision‑making pressure. The best drivers treat traffic like a moving puzzle, picking apart gaps without overextending. This is where racecraft matters more than raw speed.

An Entry List Packed With NASCAR Cup Series Talent

Five full‑time NASCAR Cup Series drivers are entered for Friday’s race at Watkins Glen, immediately raising the intensity level inside the garage. Their presence forces Truck Series regulars to elevate their execution from the moment practice begins.

Every lap becomes a measuring stick when Cup talent is sprinkled throughout the field. Their presence forces even the most seasoned Truck Series regulars to sharpen their execution from the moment they roll onto the racetrack.

Shane van Gisberge: No. 4, Niece Motorsports

Van Gisbergen enters Watkins Glen as one of the most feared road‑course racers in North America. His precision under braking and ability to carry speed through the bus stop make him an immediate favorite. If he finds clean air early, the field may spend the afternoon trying to keep him in sight.

AJ Allmendinger: No. 25, Kaulig Racing

Allmendinger’s road‑course experience instantly changes the competitive landscape. His braking zones, tire management, and late‑race composure make him a threat in any strategic scenario. If the race comes down to a final restart, he becomes one of the toughest drivers to beat.

Ross Chastain: No. 45, Niece Motorsports

Chastain brings his trademark aggression to a track where commitment is everything. His willingness to attack the curbs and force the issue in tight corners often shapes the race around him. If he gets track position early, he’ll dictate the tempo.

Connor Zilisch: No. 71, Spire Motorsports

Zilisch continues to build momentum as one of NASCAR’s brightest prospects. His natural feel for weight transfer and throttle control gives him an edge in technical sections. If he qualifies near the front, he’ll be a factor immediately.

Carson Hocevar: No. 77, Spire Motorsports

Hocevar enters as one of the most unpredictable threats in the field. His fearless approach to restarts often creates dramatic moments, especially in Turn 1. If he channels that aggression with control, he has the speed to surprise people.

Toni Breidinger Headlines New Development Program

Toni Breidinger debuts McAnally‑Hilgemann Racing’s new developmental entry in the No. 20 Chevrolet. Launching a developmental effort at a road course shows the team’s confidence in her adaptability.

Watkins Glen exposes weaknesses quickly, but it also rewards drivers who stay disciplined. For Breidinger, the goal is execution: clean laps, pit‑road discipline, and steady improvement. A solid finish against this level of competition would validate the team’s long‑term vision.

Championship Contenders Face Critical Weekend

Ty Majeski enters as one of the most complete drivers in the series, and his smooth approach suits Watkins Glen’s rhythm. Christian Eckes has matured into a more calculated racer, and that growth matters at a track where overextending can ruin a day.

Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith continue building momentum, while Grant Enfinger’s experience managing equipment makes him a sleeper threat. With names like Stewart Friesen, Tyler Ankrum, Daniel Hemric, Jake Garcia, and Kaden Honeycutt in the mix, this becomes one of the deepest fields of the year.

Watkins Glen Always Produces Chaos

Restarts into Turn 1 often become survival tests, and the bus stop punishes trucks that step over the limit. Fuel strategy regularly reshapes the race in the closing laps, and a perfectly timed caution can decide everything.

Thirty‑eight trucks ensure intensity from qualifying through the checkered flag. The depth of the field means no one is guaranteed breathing room, even inside the top ten. One slip in traffic can cost a driver a dozen spots before they ever reach the esses.

What This Means

Road‑course racing has become a critical part of NASCAR’s development pipeline, and this weekend’s Entry List reflects that shift. Cup drivers elevate the standard, and younger regulars must match their execution. For championship contenders, Watkins Glen can either build momentum or erase weeks of progress.

A race at Watkins Glen rarely settles into a predictable rhythm, because the field is constantly forced into high‑risk decisions that can swing momentum in an instant. Drivers know they must attack without crossing the line, and that balance often determines who leaves with a clean truck and who ends up in the garage early.

What’s Next

Friday’s Bully Hill Vineyards 176 has all the ingredients for a memorable Truck Series showdown. Watkins Glen never allows drivers to relax, and every corner demands commitment. By the time the checkered flag waves, the playoff picture may look dramatically different heading into the next stretch of the season.

The field knows this race can swing momentum in ways few other tracks can, especially with so many heavy hitters in the lineup. One mistake, one strategy gamble, or one late restart could reshape the standings before the series leaves New York.

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