Column By: SHANE CARLSON & DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – ROSSBURG, OH – Well, the Eldora Dirt Derby is on tap Wednesday night and is sure to be another mid-week thriller. We have our thoughts on just who could be in victory lane when all is said and done.
Shane’s pick to win is…
Ryan Newman
No. 3 VRX Simulators/Rescue Ranch Chevrolet Silverado
Jordan Anderson Racing
Jordan Anderson Racing has never won a race at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series level. As owner, driver, and mechanic, Anderson calls his own shots. It takes a lot to take a driver out of a race truck, but Anderson did exactly that. He is calling on Ryan Newman, winner on the Cup Series circuit a total of 18 times. Newman has made six starts in the Truck Series with a win in 2008. He participated in the inaugural truck race at Eldora back in 2013, where he started 10th for Steve Turner and finished third. Anderson is hoping for a big payoff by removing himself from behind the wheel and placing his trust in the veteran Ryan Newman.
RPW Columnist Dylan Friebel’s Truck Race Predictions:
Winner: Would it be fair if I put anyone but Stewart Friesen here? The runner-up at this event last year, he dominated the event and picked up his first stage win in 2017. He was leading until a late race restart where Matt Crafton got around Friesen and went onto win. Fresh off a second-place finish at Kentucky, look for the dirt ringer Stewart Friesen to pick up his first Truck Series win in his third try at Eldora Speedway.
Dark Horse: When looking over the entries for this event, there are 23 Truck Series regulars with 19 “Invaders” which caught my eye. It was between Ty Dillon and Kyle Strickler for me. Two guys that know dirt well. I’m going to go with Ty Dillon though. His older brother, Austin, won this event back in 2013. Ty is still trying to win his first golden shovel. Just look at Kyle Larson in 2016 for how much this means to the “dirt guys” in NASCAR. While Ty may not set a blazing qualifying speed, look for him to have a quietly good race and maybe sneak up there if he can keep his nose clean, which is no small feat at Eldora.
Struggle: I hate to write this, I don’t wish someone to struggle by any means at any race. However it has to be done. The driver I think will struggle Wednesday night is Myatt Snyder in the No. 13 ThorSport Racing truck. ThorSport has been struggling this year outside of Ben Rhodes’ win last weekend at Kentucky Speedway and Myatt is no exception to that. While the former asphalt late model driver is up for the task, it will certainly be a tall task.
Race Info
Race: Eldora Dirt Derby
Track: Eldora Speedway
Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Time: 9 PM ET
Length: 150 laps (feature), 75 miles
TV: FOX Sports 1
Radio: Motor Racing Network
Defending winner: Matt Crafton
