With the month of August right around the corner, many auto racing series around the country are hitting their stretch run. For the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the chase for the 2022 championship officially begins this weekend. The trucks completed their 16-race regular season schedule last week at Pocono Raceway. The final seven races of the year are all considered part of the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs. Over the next couple of months, ten drivers will be running with the primary goal of winning the series championship.
The following article is an all-encompassing preview of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. Read on for the updated playoff driver standings, a breakdown of the playoff format and the complete racing schedule. Also included are the NASCAR betting odds to win the first race of the Truck Series playoffs.
2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs Preview
Updated Playoff Driver Standings
| Driver | Points | Cutline +/- |
| Zane Smith | 2037 | +35 |
| Chandler Smith | 2022 | +20 |
| Ben Rhodes | 2017 | +15 |
| John H. Nemechek | 2016 | +14 |
| Stewart Friesen | 2013 | +11 |
| Christian Eckes | 2007 | +5 |
| Ty Majeski | 2006 | +4 |
| Carson Hocevar | 2005 | +3 |
| Grant Enfinger | 2002 | -3 |
| Matt Crafton | 2001 | -4 |
NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs Format
Perhaps the simplest way to explain the format of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs is to think of it as a miniature version of the format utilized by the Cup Series. Instead of having 16 playoff drivers like in Cup, only the top 10 Truck Series competitors qualified for the postseason. As a result, the playoffs feature one less round and three fewer races than NASCAR’s top series.
Like the NASCAR Cup Series, each of the first two elimination rounds of the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs consists of three races. The Round of 10 kicks off less than a week after the regular-season finale and actually extends into the month of September. Because the trucks don’t race every week, there are oftentimes abnormal gaps in between events.
The two drivers who have the worst points standing at the end of the three Round of 10 races will be eliminated. The Round of 8 will then ensue with the remaining championship contenders having three races to try and battle their way to either an outright win or a top-4 position in the points standings.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs schedule will culminate with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 4th. The four drivers who advance, otherwise known as the “Championship 4” will be racing amongst themselves. The one who finishes the best will take home the NASCAR Truck Series Championship for the 2022 season.
2022 NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs Race Schedule
Below is an easy-to-follow schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. Race dates, start times, TV coverage and locations are all included.
Round of 10
TSport 200
Date: Friday, Jul. 29
Start Time: 9 PM ET
Track: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 137 miles
Laps: 200
Defending Champion: N/A
Worldwide Express 250 for Carrier Appreciation
Date: Saturday, Aug. 13
Start Time: 9 PM ET
Track: Richmond Raceway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 187.5 miles
Laps: 250
Defending Champion: John Hunter Nemechek
NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Race at Kansas
Date: Friday, Sep. 9
Start Time: 7:30 PM ET
Track: Kansas Speedway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 134 miles
Laps: 201
Defending Champion: N/A
Related | 2022 NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs Field Breakdown
Round of 8
UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics
Date: Thursday, Sep. 15
Start Time: 9 PM ET
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 106.6 miles
Laps: 200
Defending Champion: Chandler Smith
Talladega 250
Date: Saturday, Oct. 1
Start Time: 12:30 PM ET
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 250 miles
Laps: 100
Defending Champion: Tate Fogleman
Baptist Health 200
Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
Start Time: 1 PM ET
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 201 miles
Laps: 134
Defending Champion: Kyle Busch (2020)
Championship 4
Lucas Oil 150
Date: Friday, Nov. 4
Start Time: 9 PM ET
Track: Phoenix Raceway
TV Coverage: FS1
Distance: 150 miles
Laps: 150
Defending Champion: Chandler Smith (with Ben Rhodes winning series championship)
NASCAR Betting Odds to Win Opening Playoff Race
Under NASCAR’s current playoff format, the easiest way to ensure that you advance to the next round is to win a race. Just like during the regular season when winning guarantees a spot in the postseason, winning a playoff race automatically advances a driver to the next round. A driver could be dead last in the Round of 10 points standings, but a race win will still enable him/her to advance.
Given the emphasis on winning, it’s worth taking a look at the latest NASCAR betting odds to win the first race of the Truck Series Playoffs. In the table below, readers will find the current outright betting odds to win the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
NASCAR betting odds taken from Bovada Sportsbook.
| Playoff Driver | Odds to Win the TSport 200 |
| Zane Smith | +400 |
| John H. Nemechek | +450 |
| Chandler Smith | +650 |
| Carson Hocevar | +800 |
| Ben Rhodes | +1000 |
| Christian Eckes | +1000 |
| Ty Majeski | +1000 |
| Stewart Friesen | +1400 |
| Grant Enfinger | +1800 |
| Matt Crafton | +3000 |
