The 2017 Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 was the tenth stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the seventh iteration of the event. The race was held throughout the days of July 6–7, 2017 due to rain delaying the race. The race was held in Sparta, Kentucky, at Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5-mile (2.41 km) tri-oval speedway. The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. At race's end, Christopher Bell, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, would come back from an early spin and fiercely defend the lead in the late stages of the race to win his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win and his third of the season. To fill out the podium, Brandon Jones of MDM Motorsports and Justin Haley of GMS Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned Kentucky Speedway until 2008. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 117,000. Construction of the speedway began in 1998 and was completed in mid-2000. The speedway has hosted the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Xfinity Series, IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, and most recently, the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2011.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
#DriverTeamMakeSponsor0Tommy Regan*Jennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevroletDriven 2 Honor1Jordan AndersonTJL MotorsportsChevroletBommarito Automotive Group, LTi Printing02Austin HillYoung's MotorsportsFordWhitetail Heaven Outfitters4Christopher BellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyotaToyota6Norm BenningNorm Benning RacingChevroletNorm Benning Racing8John Hunter NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevroletFire Alarm Services10Jennifer Jo CobbJennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevroletDriven 2 Honor13Cody Coughlin (R)ThorSport RacingToyotaJEGS16Ryan TruexHattori Racing EnterprisesToyotaAisin18Noah Gragson (R)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyotaSwitch19Austin Cindric (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFordLTi Printing, GRPI21Johnny SauterGMS RacingChevroletAllegiant Air22Austin Wayne SelfAM RacingToyotaSnap Track, Airflotek24Justin Haley (R)GMS RacingChevroletFraternal Order of Eagles27Ben RhodesThorSport RacingToyotaSafelite Auto Glass29Chase Briscoe (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFordCooper-Standard33Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet15-40 Connection44Matt MillsFaith MotorsportsChevroletThompson Electric45T. J. BellNiece MotorsportsChevroletBlack Rifle Coffee Company46Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyotaBanfield Pet Hospital49Wendell Chavous (R)Premium MotorsportsChevroletPremium Motorsports50Josh ReaumeBeaver MotorsportsChevroletLodestar Guidance51Todd GillilandKyle Busch MotorsportsToyotaLiberty Tax52Stewart Friesen (R)Halmar Friesen RacingChevroletHalmar57B. J. McLeod (i)Norm Benning RacingChevroletNorm Benning Racing63Camden MurphyMB MotorsportsChevroletMB Motorsports66Ross Chastain (i)Bolen MotorsportsChevroletBolen Motorsports75Parker KligermanHenderson MotorsportsToyotaFood Country USA, Tide Pods83J. J. Yeley (i)Copp MotorsportsChevroletFr8Auctions87Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevroletD. A. B. Constructors, Inc.88Matt CraftonThorSport RacingToyotaMenards, Jack Link's92Regan SmithRBR EnterprisesFordBTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, Advance Auto Parts98Grant Enfinger (R)ThorSport RacingToyotaRIDE TV99Brandon Jones (i)MDM MotorsportsChevroletChigoOfficial entry list *Withdrew due to the #0 entry not having a good chance of qualifying if qualifying was rained out.
Practice
First practice The first practice session was held on Wednesday, July 3, at 3:00 PM EST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes. Grant Enfinger of ThorSport Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.667 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed198Grant Enfinger (R)ThorSport RacingToyota29.667182.020246Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota29.743181.555399Brandon Jones (i)MDM MotorsportsChevrolet29.767181.409Full first practice results
Second and final practice The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Wednesday, July 3, at 5:00 PM EST, and would last for an hour and 25 minutes. Kyle Busch of Kyle Busch Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 29.853 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed146Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota29.853180.88624Christopher BellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota29.869180.789333Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet29.886180.687Full Happy Hour practice results
Qualifying Qualifying was scheduled to be held on Thursday, July 6, at 5:00 PM EST. However, qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather. As a result, the starting lineup was determined by the rulebook. As a result, GMS Racing driver Johnny Sauter would earn the pole.
Joe Nemechek was the only driver to fail to qualify.
Full starting lineup Pos.#DriverTeamMake121Johnny SauterGMS RacingChevrolet24Christopher BellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota329Chase Briscoe (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord488Matt CraftonThorSport RacingToyota527Ben RhodesThorSport RacingToyota651Myatt SniderKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota798Grant Enfinger (R)ThorSport RacingToyota816Ryan TruexHattori Racing EnterprisesToyota98John Hunter NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet1024Justin Haley (R)GMS RacingChevrolet1118Noah Gragson (R)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota1233Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet1319Austin Cindric (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord1413Cody Coughlin (R)ThorSport RacingToyota1566Ross Chastain (i)Bolen MotorsportsChevrolet1699Brandon Jones (i)MDM MotorsportsChevrolet176Norm BenningNorm Benning RacingChevrolet1802Austin HillYoung's MotorsportsFord1945T. J. BellNiece MotorsportsChevrolet2092Regan SmithRBR EnterprisesFord2149Wendell Chavous (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet2210Jennifer Jo CobbJennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevrolet2350Josh ReaumeBeaver MotorsportsChevrolet241Jordan AndersonTJL MotorsportsChevrolet2583J. J. Yeley (i)Copp MotorsportsChevrolet2663Camden MurphyMB MotorsportsChevrolet2746Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota2844Matt MillsFaith MotorsportsChevrolet2952Stewart Friesen (R)Halmar Friesen RacingChevrolet3075Parker KligermanHenderson MotorsportsToyota3157B. J. McLeod (i)Norm Benning RacingChevrolet3222Austin Wayne SelfAM RacingToyotaFailed to qualify or withdrew3387Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevroletWD0Tommy ReganJennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race results Stage 1 Laps: 35 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts127Ben RhodesThorSport RacingToyota10216Ryan TruexHattori Racing EnterprisesToyota9388Matt CraftonThorSport RacingToyota8498Grant Enfinger (R)ThorSport RacingToyota758John Hunter NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet6624Justin Haley (R)GMS RacingChevrolet5733Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet4866Ross Chastain (i)Bolen MotorsportsChevrolet0918Noah Gragson (R)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota21002Austin HillYoung's MotorsportsFord1 Stage 2 Laps: 35 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts118Noah Gragson (R)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota10246Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota0324Justin Haley (R)GMS RacingChevrolet8429Chase Briscoe (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord7551Myatt SniderKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota664Christopher BellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota5719Austin Cindric (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord4821Johnny SauterGMS RacingChevrolet3933Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet2108John Hunter NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet1 Stage 3 Laps: 80 FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts124Christopher BellKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota15054running4521699Brandon Jones (i)MDM MotorsportsChevrolet1500running031024Justin Haley (R)GMS RacingChevrolet1504running4741319Austin Cindric (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord1500running3751118Noah Gragson (R)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota15032running4462746Kyle Busch (i)Kyle Busch MotorsportsToyota1500running073075Parker KligermanHenderson MotorsportsToyota1500running308488Matt CraftonThorSport RacingToyota1500running379121Johnny SauterGMS RacingChevrolet15026running31101802Austin HillYoung's MotorsportsFord1500running2811329Chase Briscoe (R)Brad Keselowski RacingFord1500running33122952Stewart Friesen (R)Halmar Friesen RacingChevrolet1500running25131566Ross Chastain (i)Bolen MotorsportsChevrolet1500running0142092Regan SmithRBR EnterprisesFord1500running23151413Cody Coughlin (R)ThorSport RacingToyota1500running2216651Myatt SniderKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota1494running27172583J. J. Yeley (i)Copp MotorsportsChevrolet1490running01898John Hunter NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevrolet14820running26192149Wendell Chavous (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet1450running18202350Josh ReaumeBeaver MotorsportsChevrolet1440running17212210Jennifer Jo CobbJennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevrolet1420running16223222Austin Wayne SelfAM RacingToyota1300running1523816Ryan TruexHattori Racing EnterprisesToyota1140crash23241233Kaz Grala (R)GMS RacingChevrolet1140crash1925241Jordan AndersonTJL MotorsportsChevrolet620suspension12261945T. J. BellNiece MotorsportsChevrolet540crash1127527Ben RhodesThorSport RacingToyota415crash2028798Grant Enfinger (R)ThorSport RacingToyota415crash16292844Matt MillsFaith MotorsportsChevrolet200crash8302663Camden MurphyMB MotorsportsChevrolet100electrical7313157B. J. McLeod (i)Norm Benning RacingChevrolet10overheating032176Norm BenningNorm Benning RacingChevrolet00engine5Failed to qualify or withdrew3387Joe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsChevroletWD0Tommy ReganJennifer Jo Cobb RacingChevroletOfficial race results
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Johnny Sauter 464 2 Christopher Bell 436 (-28) 3 Chase Briscoe 390 (–74) 4 Matt Crafton 375 (–89) 5 Ben Rhodes 330 (–134) 6 Grant Enfinger 316 (–148) 7 Ryan Truex 315 (–149) 8 John Hunter Nemechek 306 (–158)Official driver's standings
Note: Only the first 8 positions are included for the driver standings.
References