Open Race Thread: Camping World Truck Series Jeff Foxworthy Grit Chips 200

When tonight’s Camping World Truck Series Jeff Foxworthy Grits Chips 200 (yes, that’s the name of the race) kicks off tonight, it will feature the first Truck Series battle between brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch. Kurt will pilot Billy Balew’s No. 51 Chevrolet while his younger brother will drive his own No. 18, his first Truck Series start of the season, after parting ways with original driver Jason Leffler.

Despite making a combined 127 starts, the two Las Vegas natives have never competed against each other in the Camping World Truck Series. A list of race favorites has to start with the duo, with a combined 34 wins coming between them.

Kurt returned to the Truck Series for the first time in 11 seasons earlier in the year at Michigan; He started fourth and finished ninth in that race. Kurt hasn’t won a race in the division since winning four in 2000, a season where he also had 13 top-5s en route to a second-place in the championship standings behind Greg Biffle.

Kyle hasn’t competed in the division since Nov. 4, 2011, concluding with his infamous dispute with Ron Hornaday Jr. where Kyle punted the veteran into the wall under caution, following contact in the middle of the race. Kyle was suspended by NASCAR for the following weekend’s races at Phoenix, including the Sprint Cup Series race where he was competing in the Chase for the Championship.

A group of Camping World Truck Series regular are hoping to steal the spotlight away from the moonlighting Cup siblings, including championship leader Timothy Peters. James Buescher, Ty Dillon, Justin Lofton, and Parker Kligerman sit second-through-fifth and are each capable of winning races. It will be interesting to see how the regulars race each other against racing the invaders, especially given the recent history between a pair like Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday Jr.

This is likely the most star-studded Camping World Truck Series field of the season and there’s a lot on the line in terms of both division pride and championship implications. Ty Dillon is on the pole, with the green flag dropping at approximately 8:00 p.m. EST.

The race is 130 laps for 200.2 miles with flag-to-flag coverage provided by SPEED Channel. Treat this post as both the general race preview and discussion thread. A complete starting lineup, when available, can be found after the jump.

See you on the other side!