Recap: Camping World Truck Series Playoff Media Day

by Courtney Horn

The Camping World Truck Series Playoff Media Day took place on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at FOX Sports Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina.

All eight playoff contenders were present for the event, including former CWTS champions Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton.

Five of the eight playoff drivers this season are in the playoffs for the first time in their careers. They include: Grant Enfinger, Stewart Friesen, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, and Brett Moffitt.

Drivers are already looking ahead into the playoff schedule for tracks that they consider being their best shot at making the second round.

Brett Moffitt

Photo by: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Moffitt, a four-time winner this season, is looking at Las Vegas.

“We were really really good in the spring,” Moffitt said of his third place finish in March. “The road course we ran good at Watkins Glen in a K&N car. Hopefully some of that will transfer over, and it’s obviously nice having some bonus points going in.”

Stewart Friesen

Photo by Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Friesen, who is fifth in the Playoff standings ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado 250 in Ontario, Canada, is looking forward to continue the momentum he’s built into the Playoffs. 

“We knew coming in [that] we have quality, winning equipment,” Friesen said. “I don’t think we have succeeded our expectations at all, being a new race team. That alliance with GMS has picked us up and kicked us right into the hunt.”

Haley is looking to make some noise after missing the playoffs last year. The GMS Racing driver has a 9.6 average finish through 16 races, with five top-five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes.

Justin Haley

Photo by: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

“I feel like the playoffs are our best string of races there are,” Haley said. “I feel like our biggest disadvantage right now is Homestead. We went there and tested last year, but like I said we are kinda saving this truck. We’re gonna run it at Vegas and then Homestead that way we have time to rebuild it.”

“I’m really looking forward to the playoffs and I think it’s a strong suit for our team.”

Two-time CWTS champion Matt Crafton is looking to turn things around to advance into the next round of the playoffs. Crafton is winless so far this season, and despite his success in years past, can be considered as a dark horse pick for the championship this year.

Matt Crafton

Photo by: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

“We were terrible the first part of the season, so we can’t get any worse,” Crafton said. “I know we can get a lot better.”

The Camping World Truck Series kicks off the post season at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on Sunday, August 26th at 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.