Black’s Tire 200 At Rockingham Speedway: Craftsman Truck Series, Starting Lineup

Rockingham Speedway is a throwback in every sense. The abrasive surface, the narrow groove, and the relentless falloff create a level of difficulty modern tracks rarely match. When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rolled into North Carolina on Friday afternoon, the garage braced for a qualifying session that could swing the entire weekend.

Teams knew they were facing one of the most demanding one‑mile ovals in the country, a place where tire wear can exceed two seconds of falloff in under 25 laps. The tension was unmistakable as crews made last‑minute adjustments, hoping to squeeze out every fraction of a second.

For a moment, it looked like the weather might steal the show. Dark clouds hovered over the one‑mile oval, threatening to wash out the session entirely. But the skies held, the track stayed dry, and the trucks rolled off pit road for one of the most important time‑trial runs of the early season.

The cool air temperature helped the surface retain just enough grip to keep speeds competitive, though drivers still fought wheelspin on corner exit. By the time the final truck took the green, the grandstands buzzed with anticipation for what would become one of the most telling qualifying sessions of the year.

Drivers fought the aging asphalt, managing wheelspin, throttle control, and the razor‑thin line between speed and disaster. When the final truck crossed the line, the starting grid revealed a compelling mix of raw speed, veteran savvy, and a few surprising struggles.

Rockingham has a way of exposing weaknesses, and several teams learned quickly that their setups weren’t as dialed in as they hoped. Others, meanwhile, found unexpected speed that could reshape their early‑season momentum.

Why Qualifying Mattered At Rockingham

Unlike repaved intermediates or multi‑lane short tracks, Rockingham offers no forgiveness. The surface is brutally abrasive, producing 1.3–1.7 seconds of falloff over a 30‑lap run. That means qualifying isn’t just about raw speed. It’s about who can maximize grip on a surface that gives drivers almost nothing.

Even a slight bobble in Turns 1 and 2 can cost a driver multiple positions on the grid. With long green‑flag stretches common here, starting up front is often the difference between contending and simply surviving. Every lap was a high‑risk, high‑reward gamble. Drivers had to commit to the middle groove, trust their setups, and hope the rear end didn’t snap loose on corner exit.

Several drivers flirted with disaster, a few aborted laps, and more than one truck came back with a scuffed right side. The margin between second and tenth was less than three‑tenths of a second, underscoring how precise each lap needed to be. Rockingham rewards bravery, but it punishes overconfidence just as quickly.

Track position at Rockingham is everything. Passing becomes exponentially harder as tires fade, and qualifying well can define the entire race. Once the field stretches out, dirty air magnifies handling issues and forces drivers to overwork their right‑front tire. That’s why teams treat qualifying here almost like a mini‑race because the consequences of a poor lap can last all night.

How The Starting Lineup Was Set

With no weather interruptions, the lineup was determined strictly by single‑truck qualifying speeds. One lap. No drafting help. No resets. The fastest lap earned the pole, and the rest of the field slotted in based on pure pace. The cooler track temperature allowed some drivers to push harder than expected, but the abrasive surface still demanded finesse.

A handful of drivers reported that their tires were “done” after just one flyer, a testament to how quickly Rockingham chews up rubber. Rockingham’s unique layout, with tight, fast entries and long, punishing exits, forces teams to compromise on balance. Trucks that excel in Turns 1 and 2 often struggle in Turns 3 and 4.

The final order reflects not just horsepower, but discipline, precision, and the ability to manage the track’s relentless falloff. Crew chiefs who nailed the balance window saw their drivers rewarded with strong starting spots. Those who missed it by even a small margin paid the price immediately.

Driver Notes And Key Facts

Jake Garcia: Starting 1st

Jake Garcia delivered the lap of the afternoon, becoming the only driver to break the 22‑second barrier and securing his second straight Rockingham pole. His ThorSport Toyota looked planted through both ends of the track, especially on corner exit, where others struggled with wheelspin. Clean air is a massive advantage here, and Garcia enters race day with the clearest path to controlling the early pace.

Tanner Gray: Starting 2nd

Tanner Gray continues to thrive on high‑wear surfaces, and his runner‑up effort reinforces TRICON Garage’s growing strength at tracks that demand finesse. His truck rotated smoothly through the center, a sign that his long‑run balance may be even better than his one‑lap speed. If he maintains that stability over a full fuel run, Gray could be Garcia’s biggest threat.

Kaden Honeycutt: Starting 3rd

Kaden Honeycutt’s disciplined approach paid off with a strong third‑place qualifying run, giving TRICON two trucks inside the top three. He’s been one of the most consistent qualifiers this season, and Rockingham’s abrasive surface suits his smooth throttle control. If he avoids early tire abuse, Honeycutt has the long‑run pace to challenge for the win.

Layne Riggs: Starting 5th

Layne Riggs continues to impress with Front Row Motorsports, backing up his early‑season speed with a top‑five qualifying effort. His ability to maintain momentum through Rockingham’s long, punishing exits gives him a real shot at staying inside the lead pack. If FRM nails the pit strategy, Riggs could be a sleeper contender as the race stretches into its long green‑flag rhythm.

Carson Hocevar: Starting 16th

Carson Hocevar’s aggressive style didn’t translate into a clean qualifying lap, leaving him deeper in the field than expected. Rockingham is not a track where impatience pays early, and he’ll need to resist the urge to overdrive corner entry. If he manages his tires and picks his battles carefully, Hocevar still has the raw speed to climb into the top ten by the final stage.

Craftsman Truck Series At Rockingham Speedway

Black’s Tire 200: Starting Lineup

• 1. Jake Garcia — No. 98 — ThorSport Racing
• 2. Tanner Gray — No. 15 — TRICON Garage
• 3. Kaden Honeycutt — No. 11— TRICON Garage
• 4. Cole Butcher — No. 13 — ThorSport Racing
• 5. Layne Riggs — No. 34 — Front Row Motorsports
• 6. Ty Majeski — No. 88 — ThorSport Racing
• 7. Corey Heim — No. 1 — TRICON Garage
• 8. Parker Eatmon — No. 42 — Niece Motorsports
• 9. Landen Lewis — No. 45 — Niece Motorsports
• 10. Giovanni Ruggiero — No. 17 — TRICON Garage
• 11. Brenden Queen — No. 12 — Kaulig Racing
• 12. Andres Perez de Lara — No. 44 — Niece Motorsports
• 13. Tyler Ankrum — No. 18 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 14. Grant Enfinger — No. 9 — CR7 Motorsports
• 15. Daniel Hemric — No. 19 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 16. Carson Hocevar — No. 77 — Spire Motorsports
• 17. Justin Haley — No. 16 — Kaulig Racing
• 18. Dawson Sutton — No. 26 — Rackley W.A.R.
• 19. Stewart Friesen — No. 52 — Halmar Friesen Racing
• 20. Kris Wright — No. 81 — McAnally Hilgemann Racing
• 21. Luke Baldwin — No. 2 — Team Reaume
• 22. Christian Eckes — No. 91 — McAnally HIlgemann Racing
• 23. Corey LaJoie — No. 10 — Kaulig Racing
• 24. Sammy Smith — No. 7 — Spire Motorsports
• 25. Ben Rhodes — No. 99 — ThorSport Racing
• 26. Mini Tyrell — No. 14 — Kaulig Racing
• 27. Connor Hall — No. 4 — Niece Motorsports
• 28. Ty Dillon — No. 25 — Kaulig Racing
• 29. Adam Andretti — No. 5 — TRICON Garage
• 30. Michael Christopher Jr. — No. 62 — Halmar Friesen Racing
• 31. Timmy Hill — No. 56 — Hill Motorsports
• 32. Frankie Muniz — No. 33 — Team Reaum
• 33. Chandler Smith — No. 38 — Front Row Motorsports
• 34. Caleb Costner — No. 93 — Costner Motorsports
• 35. Clayton Green — No. 22 — Team Reaume
• 36. Spencer Boyd — No. 76 — Freedom Racing Enterprises
• 37. Justin S. Carroll — No. 90 — Terry Carroll Motorsports
• 38. Jonathan Shafer — No. 69 — Motorsports Business Management

Who Looks Strongest Heading Into Race Day

The front of the grid is stacked with ThorSport and TRICON trucks, giving both organizations a major strategic advantage. Garcia, Gray, Honeycutt, and Butcher can control the early pace and dictate the preferred groove. Their combined strength at high‑wear tracks has been evident all season, and Rockingham amplifies that advantage.

Mid‑pack starters like Hocevar, Eckes, and Rhodes will need to balance aggression with patience. Rockingham punishes over‑driving, and one early mistake can ruin an entire night. These drivers have the experience to climb forward, but they’ll need clean air and timely cautions to make it happen.

What Rockingham’s Layout Means For Friday Night

Rockingham’s one‑mile layout is unlike anything else in NASCAR. The surface is brutally abrasive, and tire falloff will exceed 1.5 seconds per lap over a long run. Passing is possible, but risky. Drivers must manage right‑rear tire wear, avoid over‑driving corner entry, maintain throttle discipline on exit, and survive the first 20 laps without burning their equipment.

Championship Implications

With the season still young, every stage point matters. Garcia’s pole gives him a golden opportunity to bank early points. Heim, Majeski, and Honeycutt all start in positions that keep them out of trouble early. For drivers deeper in the field, survival is the priority. A clean race at Rockingham can be worth more than a top‑ten at an easier track.

What’s Next

The Craftsman Truck Series takes the green flag with a lineup shaped by pure speed and Rockingham grit. When the race begins, drivers will face one of the toughest tests in motorsports: 200 laps against a surface that punishes impatience and rewards precision. Jake Garcia starts out front, but at Rockingham, nothing comes easy.