The Round of 8 kicks off at Talladega Superspeedway on October 4th, where 2.66 miles of high-banked chaos will set the tone. After that, the series rolls into Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 25th for a mile-and-a-half showdown that rewards long-run speed. Then it’s off to Martinsville Speedway on November 1st, the paperclip that chews up tempers and brakes alike, and finally, the field will be cut to the Final Four heading into Phoenix Raceway on November 8th for the Championship.
The Round of 10 chewed up two drivers and spit them into the gravel. Now we’re down to the Round of 8, and the real knives are coming out. The Trucks are heading into the meat of the Playoffs, and it’s starting to feel less like a bracket and more like a bar fight with helmets on.
Corey Heim – The Shark in the Tank
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Heim is the guy. Nine wins, tied with Biffle’s all-time single-season record, and he’s making it look casual. He’s not just faster; he’s colder. He’s got the pole speed, he’s got the long-run pace, and he’s choking the life out of the field by sweeping stages. If anyone’s gonna stop him, it’s gonna take a Hail Mary setup or a wreck at the wrong time. Right now, he’s the boss man.
Layne Riggs – Quietly Dangerous
Riggs isn’t flashy, but he’s been consistent as duct tape in a race shop. He’s not in Heim’s zip code for dominance, but he’s keeping his truck clean and hanging around the front when it counts. That’s how you sneak into a title shot: survive, don’t implode, then strike late. If Heim stumbles, Riggs could be the opportunist waiting with open arms.
Daniel Hemric – The Professor
Hemric’s the veteran brain in this mix. He’s not gonna rattle cages for no reason, but he knows how to play the long game. Tire management, pit call patience, working the rhythm of a track—that’s his bag. Only issue? He’s gotta find a little more raw speed if he wants to hang with the top three. Chess works until the checkers wave.
Ty Majeski – Boom or Bust
Majeski’s either looking like a hero or a caution magnet. The guy can wheel a truck with the best of them, but the margin for error in the Playoffs is thinner than Loudon’s groove. If he stays clean, he’s a legit Final Four threat. If not, he’ll be the story of “what could’ve been.”
Tyler Ankrum – The Longshot with Grit
Ankrum’s got the underdog energy. He doesn’t have the numbers to scare anyone, but he’s got fight. If the field gets messy—and it always does in Trucks—he can snake spots and steal points. If he makes the Final Four, it’s because chaos rolled out the red carpet for him.
Grant Enfinger – The Grinder
Enfinger is playoff glue. He’s never the flashiest, but when the lights come on, he finds a way to matter. You give him a sniff of the lead, and he’ll grind you into dust lap by lap. He’s gotta find that extra tenth, though, or he’ll spend the next round hanging on by his fingernails.
Rajah Caruth – The Wildcard
Caruth’s got raw talent, and you can feel he’s one breakout run away from really making noise. The problem? He’s also one mistake away from ending his Playoff run. If he channels that speed into something controlled, he’s dangerous. If not, he’s cannon fodder.
Kaden Honeycutt – Rookie Trouble
Honeycutt making the Round of 8 is already a win. He’s got speed in flashes, but the inexperience shows. The veterans are gonna rough him up, test his patience, and see if he cracks. If he swings back and holds his ground, he could upset someone. If not, he’s the easy pick to be first out.
Fireside Preview: Round of 8
This Round of 8 is Heim’s playground, but the rest of the field has teeth. Riggs and Hemric are steady enough to pounce if Heim slips. Majeski and Enfinger are lurking with the potential to bully their way forward. Caruth and Honeycutt? They’re the chaos factor. And Ankrum? He’s betting on survival. One thing’s certain: the closer we get to the Final Four, the uglier this fight’s gonna get.
