The Nascar Gander RV & Outdoor Series (NGROS if you’re running out of space) features a slightly new name and some new names behind the wheel as well. Here’s a look at where you can expect the Keep on Truckers to finish in the regular season standings.
Special thanks to the resurgent Jayski for its immeasurable help in determining who’s gone where.
DRIVERS LISTED IN ORDER OF PREDICTED REGULAR-SEASON FINISH. FULL-TIME DRIVERS ONLY. DRIVER (car #—primary sponsor) Ford Toyota Chevy
1. Matt Crafton (88—Menards): No reason to pick against the defending champion, who’s become about as steady as, well, Matt Crafton in the Truck Series. The Numbers Game: Matt Crafton has averaged about 88 associate/partner sponsors on his Menards truck.
2. Tyler Ankrum (26—???): GMS Racing snaps up last year’s breakout racer. Sponsorship is uncertain but we can safely say that ISM Connect and Allegiant Air will be involved. The Numbers Game: Tyler has a 26-question FAQ on his website, most of which deal with “What exactly was Modern Meat anyways?”
3. Brett Moffitt (23—???): A slight number change for The Moffitt Man. Sponsorship is uncertain but we can safely say that ISM Connect and Allegiant Air will be involved. The Numbers Game: it takes about 23 days for Brett’s mustache to reach “peak mid-90’s Dale Jarrett”.
4. Christian Eckes (18—Safelite): Christian moves up as the defending ARCA Series champion. The Numbers Game: It would take about 18 minutes to explain all the changes going on this year in the ARCA Series or division or whatever the heck it is.
5. Austin Hill (16—???): Austin’s back for Hattori Racing Enterprises after posting four wins last year. Yeah, the move up from Young’s Motorsports looks pretty good. The Numbers Game: There’s 16 different Austins involved in Nascar at any given moment.
6. Johnny Sauter (13—Tenda Heal): The Truck Series stalwart is back, hoping everyone will just agree to forget his terrible Cup career. The Numbers Game: go to any short track in Wisconsin and you can expect to run into at least 13 Sauters.
7. Grant Enfinger (98—Champion Power Equipment): Sure, anyone can envision the future. But it takes someone special to EnFINGER it. The Numbers Game: 98% of race fans assume that “Champion Power Equipment” is a made-up company.
8. Sheldon Creed (2—???): The former Stadium Super Trucker returns to GMS Racing looking for his first race win. Sponsorship is uncertain but we can safely say that ISM Connect and Allegiant Air will be involved. The Numbers Game: Sheldon will let you make 2 Scott Stapp jokes before pushing you in the face—choose wisely.
9. Ty Majeski (45—???): Replacing Ross Chastain, the former Ford developmental driver finally gets a shot at a full-season in Nascar. The Numbers Game: Ty Majeski’s face is 45% the size of the face of Ty Dillon.
10. Stewart Friesen (52—Halmar): The Canadian Connection switches to a Toyota/KBM alignment. Can they break through in 2020? Only time will tell, eh. The Numbers Game: only 52 race fans worldwide have any idea what Halmar does.
11. Ben Rhodes (99—???): While sponsorship has yet to be announced, here’s hoping they run that awesome Havoline scheme again. The Numbers Game: 99% of the time Ben Rhodes is asked if he’s related to Dusty Rhodes, he just says “yeah” and moves on with his life.
12. Zane Smith (21—???): The Z-man gets a full-time ride, while also running a few Xfinity races for JRM. Sponsorship is uncertain but we can safely say that ISM Connect and Allegiant Air will be involved. The Numbers Game: Zane figures he can get away with calling his team “ZMS Racing” about 21 times before he’s scolded.
13. Raphael Lessard (4—???): The Quebecois rookie gets a prime shot in KBM equipment. The Numbers Game: it took Raphael about 4 seconds to realize it wasn’t cool to make “Stay in your f***ing RV” jokes to his new team owner.
14. Todd Gilliland (38—???): After winning his first Truck race last year Todd immediately ruined any momentum by spouting off about his team owner on the radio. So this year he runs for a team set up by his dad. The Numbers Game: most expects give this team about 38 races before it mysteriously shuts down.
15. Derek Kraus (19—Eneos/Napa): Longtime West Series team owner Bill McAnally moves up full-time to Truck competition in partnership with HRE. The Numbers Game: Bill McAnally typically runs about 19 cars in each West Series race, all of them co-sponsored by Napa.
16. Jordan Anderson (3—???): The young owner/driver returns much the same as in 2019. The Numbers Game: In the time it takes you to read this, Jordan Anderson will have published three press releases.