The 2026 Craftsman Truck Series playoffs are officially underway, and we already have a winner from the very first round: Jake Garcia took the checkered flag at the UNOH 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17. This sets a wild tone for the championship run, especially after a regular season that saw a few drivers absolutely dominate the field while former champ Corey Heim worked a part-time schedule.
The Rise of New Contenders and Heim’s Limited Impact
This 25-race schedule, running from February through November, promised action from Daytona to Homestead-Miami, and it delivered on the drama. Looking at the completed races, one name really jumps out: Layne Riggs. The dude snagged six wins, absolutely tearing it up at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Naval Base Coronado, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That kind of consistent performance is exactly what you need to be a contender. Chandler Smith and Kyle Busch weren’t far behind, each grabbing two wins apiece. Kaden Honeycutt also took two races, one at Watkins Glen and another at Richmond. Remember Corey Heim? He was *the* story of 2025, winning 12 races overall, including seven of the last nine. For 2026, he’s only a part-time presence, but even then, he still managed to win the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington and the Black’s Tire 200 at Rockingham. His part-time status clearly opened the door for these emerging drivers to step up, and boy, did they.
What’s Next for the Championship Run
With Jake Garcia already locking in a playoff win, the intensity only ramps up from here. There are six more playoff races left on the calendar, all leading to that final championship showdown at Homestead-Miami. Fans can catch almost every single one of these races on FS1, with only two broadcasts heading over to Fox. And if you’re like me and always on the go, fubo’s got your back for live streaming every single race, complete with a free trial for new subscribers. Plus, SiriusXM will be bringing the radio call if you just wanna listen in.
The next race on the docket is the Race to Stop Suicide 200 at Kansas Speedway on September 26. After Garcia’s big win, everyone’s gonna be looking to see who can make their own statement. Can Riggs continue his winning ways into the playoffs? Will another emerging driver surprise us? This championship race is wide open, and we’re not missing a single lap. Get ready for some serious horsepower!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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