NASCAR Truck Series at Phoenix 2015: Full Schedule, Standings and Preview
After padding his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points lead by winning last week's race at Texas Motor Speedway, Erik Jones will look to pull off a repeat performance Friday in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Just two races remain in the 2015 season, and although Matt Crafton and Tyler Reddick remain within striking distance, Jones can essentially put the title out of reach if he is able to pick up another victory at Phoenix.
This week's field will almost exclusively feature truck series regulars, which should make for a highly competitive race as they attempt to improve their positioning in the standings.
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Ahead of one of the year's most important races, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch the Lucas Oil 150.
Where: Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
When: Friday, Nov. 13, at 8:30 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
Lucas Oil 150 Schedule
| Thursday, Nov. 12 | 4:30 p.m. | Final Practice | N/A |
| Friday, Nov. 13 | 12:45 p.m. | Qualifying | Fox Sports 1 |
| Friday, Nov. 13 | 8:30 p.m. | Lucas Oil 150 | Fox Sports 1 |
NASCAR Truck Series Standings
| 1 | Erik Jones | 4 | Leader | 3 |
| 2 | Matt Crafton | 88 | -17 | 5 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 19 | -21 | 2 |
| 4 | Johnny Sauter | 98 | -71 | 0 |
| 5 | Timothy Peters | 17 | -106 | 1 |
| 6 | Cameron Hayley | 13 | -126 | 0 |
| 7 | Daniel Hemric | 14 | -150 | 0 |
| 8 | John Wes Townley | 05 | -170 | 1 |
| 9 | Ben Kennedy | 11 | -194 | 0 |
| 10 | Spencer Gallagher | 23 | -218 | 0 |
Drivers to Watch
Erik Jones
On the heels of arguably the best weekend of his young NASCAR career, Jones enters the Lucas Oil 150 with a championship potentially hanging in the balance.
In addition to winning last week's truck series race, the 19-year-old finished fourth in the Xfinity Series and 12th in the Sprint Cup. Not only does he have a ton of momentum on his side, but he has the benefit of racing at a track that has been kind to him thus far.
Jones has won each of his two truck series starts at Phoenix, and he seemingly feels great about his chances of making it three in a row, according to Toyota Racing:
Even after a fantastic string of races at Texas, Jones was already looking ahead to the opportunity that lies before him at Phoenix:
Much like Kevin Harvick has dominated Phoenix International Raceway on the Sprint Cup circuit, Jones is starting to develop a reputation for being essentially unbeatable in the desert.
He can't afford to enter with overconfidence since desperate drivers like Crafton and Reddick will do everything in their power to get a win, but there is no doubt that Jones has a significant advantage.
Provided he doesn't get swept up in any crashes or make any major mistakes, Jones should at least finish well enough to put himself in great position to close things out in the final race of the season.
Cole Custer
Cole Custer has run a limited truck series schedule this year, but in the handful of races he took part in, it was clear that the 17-year-old has a chance to be a championship contender next year and beyond.
Custer won earlier this season at Gateway Motorsports Park after taking the checkered flag at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2014. In addition to that, Custer nearly pulled off a victory at Phoenix last year.
The super-talented youngster finished third in his first and only truck series start at Phoenix, and he'll have an opportunity to build upon that Friday without much pressure on his shoulders.
The fact that Custer isn't racing for a championship means he can take some chances that the likes of Jones, Crafton and Reddick might shy away from.
There is nothing to stop Custer from going for the win if he is in position to do so in the latter stages, so he will certainly be one of the top drivers worth keeping an eye on at Phoenix.
Matt Crafton
Crafton is vying for his third consecutive truck series points title, but unless he registers fantastic finishes in the final two races and gets some help in the form of a slip-up from Jones, he is currently in line to fall just short.
The 39-year-old veteran has five wins to his credit this season and 10 over the course of his career, but he has yet to enter Victory Lane at Phoenix.
Even so, he has been solid in the desert with 10 top-10 finishes and five top-five results in 14 truck series starts.
Although it wouldn't guarantee anything, a win Friday could go a long way toward closing the deficit between second and first. In order to do so, however, Crafton will have to halt Jones' Phoenix dominance and conquer his own demons at the track as well.
Crafton has done well to stay within striking distance and hasn't allowed Jones to run away with the lead to this point. That suggests he has a great chance to do some damage Friday, although history certainly isn't on his side.
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