By: Ashley McCubbin

Zane Smith. Carson Hocevar. Joey Logano. Corey Heim. Grant Enfinger. Christian Eckes. Kyle Larson.

Over the past seven races for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a different driver has found their way to victory lane – with Smith and Eckes the only drivers to win more than once this year.

Is this a trend that we will see at World Wide Technology Raceway?

Yes, courtesy of Grant Enfinger. Why? GMS Racing knows their way around Gateway, as evident by a pair of victories with Sheldon Creed. Enfinger has also shown speed himself in Illinois, with three top-10’s in six appearances, and momentum after placing fifth at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

No. Christian Eckes is putting up the numbers despite moving from KBM to Bill McAnally Racing, currently ranked sixth in points with two wins and five top-10 finishes. The driver that feels he has something to prove everyone was also the race’s runner-up last year.

Yes. It’s about time Stewart Friesen gets to victory lane in 2023 after a pair of top-five’s over the past four weeks, showing the potential that is growing despite being ranked 11th currently in the standings. Gateway marks the perfect location, as he has scored a top-five in his most recent four appearances, including a third.

No. Corey Heim picked up the victory in his lone appearance at Gateway, which came last season driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He hasn’t slowed down despite switching to TRICOR over the winter, currently leading the point standings with a win and nine top-10’s in 11 races, including a runner-up at Charlotte.

Yes. Ty Majeski has come close to winning each week this season with a trio of podiums, but has yet to find the key to victory lane in 2023. The consistency has been there, though, as he ranks second in the standings with eight top-10’s. He also knows how to get it done, as evident by finding his way to the Championship 4 last year. It’s just a matter of turning his previous Gateway luck around as following a ninth in 2020, he has finished 33rd in the two trips back.

No. Ben Rhodes was handed a new crew chief for his title defense, and it seems the chemistry has been found as evident by a victory at Charlotte, leading 37 of the 134 laps. You could rate his year solid thus far, as he is fifth in the standings. He has also finished inside the top-10 in his last four appearances at WWT Raceway, including a third.

Yes. Matt DiBenedetto knows something about how to get around WWT, following a sixth-place finish there last season. He also has momentum on his side following back-to-back top-10 finishes including third at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

No. Carson Hocevar is about to make the most of this weekend in a big way. He will be busy doing double duty as he makes his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend, driving for Spire Motorsports after Corey Lajoie was tabbed to fill-in for Chase Elliott following his suspension. So what better way to celebrate than with a trip to victory lane? He has momentum following a fourth at Charlotte to mark his fourth top-five of 2023, and has one top-10 in three starts at Gateway.

Yes. Dean Thompson may be “the guy you didn’t probably have on your list of possible race winners pre-season,” but know you need to watch moving forward following a third at Charlotte. In fact, it marks his second top-10 in the last three weeks after a ninth at Darlington Raceway. Our resident darkhorse has made a single appearance previously at WWT with a 14th-place finish.

No. Experience is about to find their way to a series-leading third victory in 2023, courtesy of defending series champion Zane Smith. The Front Row Motorsports driver is a solid year this season, ranked third in points with five top-five’s. However, it is starting to concern some people after watching him place outside the top-20 the past three races. Fortunately, he has three top-10’s in four WWT appearances, including a fifth.