2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase Field Is Set: Full Breakdown of the 10 Drivers
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase field is locked in after Saturday’s regular-season finale at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Ten drivers advanced to the seven-race postseason that begins Thursday, September 17, at Bristol Motor Speedway.Layne Riggs enters as the clear favorite after a dominant regular season capped by his sixth victory of the year at Loudon.
Top Seeds: Riggs Leads, Honeycutt and Smith Close Behind
Layne Riggs (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford) starts the Chase as the No. 1 seed with a +25-point advantage. His résumé includes six wins, 10 top-fives, 11 top-10s, and 598 laps led. Winning at New Hampshire in double overtime reinforced his status as the driver to beat.
Kaden Honeycutt (No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota) sits second at –25 points. With two wins, 11 top-fives, 13 top-10s, and 319 laps led, he has kept pace with Riggs for much of the season. TRICON Garage, the organization that won the 2025 title with Corey Heim, brings strong continuity into the playoffs.
Chandler Smith (No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford) rounds out the top three at –35 points. He recorded two wins, nine top-fives, and 12 top-10s. Sharing a shop with Riggs offers data and resource advantages, though only one driver can claim the championship.
Middle of the Pack: Consistency Without Wins
Christian Eckes holds the fourth seed at –40 points. Despite no victories, his six top-fives and 11 top-10s secured a Chase berth. He will likely need at least one win during the playoffs to stay in title contention.
Gio Ruggiero is fifth at –45 points (no wins, four top-fives, nine top-10s). He showed speed at New Hampshire before a late mistake cost him a potential victory.
Ty Majeski, the 2024 series champion, sits sixth at –50 points. A winless 2026 campaign with five top-fives and eight top-10s leaves the ThorSport Racing driver needing a turnaround to challenge for a second title.
Long Shots: Pedigree and Thin Margins
Grant Enfinger (seventh, –55 points) scored his only win of the season on the road course at Lime Rock Park. Three top-fives and five top-10s leave him with work to do.
Daniel Hemric (eighth, –60 points) is winless in 2026 with just two top-fives. He has shown capability in prior seasons but enters the Chase with limited momentum.
Ben Rhodes (ninth, –65 points), a two-time champion (2021 and 2023), has gone quiet with zero wins and four top-fives this year.
Tyler Ankrum (tenth, –70 points) clinched the final berth the hard way. Despite brake issues, he finished 16th at New Hampshire to edge Stewart Friesen and Jake Garcia by the narrowest of margins. He has no wins and only one top-five in 2026.
4. Christian Eckes
5. Gio Ruggiero
6. Ty Majeski
7. Grant Enfinger
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Ben Rhodes
10. Tyler Ankrum
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Gio Ruggiero is fifth at –45 points (no wins, four top-fives, nine top-10s). He showed speed at New Hampshire before a late mistake cost him a potential victory.
Ty Majeski, the 2024 series champion, sits sixth at –50 points. A winless 2026 campaign with five top-fives and eight top-10s leaves the ThorSport Racing driver needing a turnaround to challenge for a second title.
Long Shots: Pedigree and Thin Margins
Grant Enfinger (seventh, –55 points) scored his only win of the season on the road course at Lime Rock Park. Three top-fives and five top-10s leave him with work to do.
Daniel Hemric (eighth, –60 points) is winless in 2026 with just two top-fives. He has shown capability in prior seasons but enters the Chase with limited momentum.
Ben Rhodes (ninth, –65 points), a two-time champion (2021 and 2023), has gone quiet with zero wins and four top-fives this year.
Tyler Ankrum (tenth, –70 points) clinched the final berth the hard way. Despite brake issues, he finished 16th at New Hampshire to edge Stewart Friesen and Jake Garcia by the narrowest of margins. He has no wins and only one top-five in 2026.
2026 Truck Series Chase Field at a Glance
1. Layne Riggs
1. Layne Riggs
2. Kaden Honeycutt
3. Chandler Smith
4. Christian Eckes
5. Gio Ruggiero
6. Ty Majeski
7. Grant Enfinger
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Ben Rhodes
10. Tyler Ankrum
The Chase opens September 17 at Bristol and will decide the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series champion over seven races. Riggs holds the statistical edge, but the short-track and intermediate venues ahead offer opportunities for the rest of the field to close the gap.
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