Starting lineup for Kansas Speedway released, Christian Eckes takes pole

One week after the break, the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series arrives at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Saturday’s American Heart 400 will be broadcast live on FS1 and MRN at 8:00 PM ET.

The eighth race of the 2023 Truck Series season will be contested on a 1.5-mile tri-oval course. The 36 drivers will compete for 134 laps of the race for a chance at victory.

Motorsports journalist Bob Pocras shared the starting lineup for the Heart of America 400 team on his official Twitter account.

In Saturday’s Truck Qualifier, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver Christian Eckes won his first pole of the season at 174.576 mph. It was the fifth pole of his career in the NASCAR Truck Series. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will share the front row with him after spinning a lap of 173.997 miles per hour.

They will be followed by Chase Purdy, Jake Garcia and Ben Rhodes in the top five. Nick Sanchez, Zane Smith (the defending winner of the event), Tanner Gray, Ty Majeski and Daniel Day complete the top ten.

Cup Series regular Ross Chastain will start Saturday night’s race from the 17th position. Meanwhile, Toni Praedger, making her Truck Series debut with Tricon Garage, qualified 24th.

2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Heart of America 400 Starter Lineup

Here are the starting positions for the 36-Truck grid at Kansas Speedway:

1. # 19 – Christian Akers
2. # 51 – Kyle Bush
3. #4 – Chase Purdy
4. # 35 – Jake Garcia
5. #99 – Ben Rhodes
6. #2 – Nick Sanchez
7. # 38 – Zane Smith
8. # 15 – Tanner Gray
9. #98 – You are a Majeski
10. #43 – Daniel Day
11. #23 – Grant Infinger
12. #11 – Corey Hime
13. #24 – Carruth Chart
14. # 52 – Stuart Friesen
15. #9 – Colby Howard
16. #13 – Hailey Deegan
17. #41 – Ross Chastain
18. #25 – Matt DiBenedetto
19. # 17 – Taylor Gray
20. #42 – Carson Hocivar
21. #88 – Matt Crafton
22. #5 – Dean Thompson
23. #16 – Tyler Ankrum
24. #1 – Tony Bridenger
25. #02 – Chris Wright
26. #46 – Brennan Paul
27. # 04 – Johnny Jump
28. #32 – Brett Holmes
29. #22 – Josh Reum
30. # 56 – Tyler Hill
31. #20 – Nick Litz
32. # 90 – Justin Carroll
33. #33 – Mason May
34. #45 – Lawless Alan
35. #47 – Tim Come On
36. #12 – Spencer Boyd

Catch all of the NASCAR teams and drivers at Kansas Speedway for the Heart of America 400 on Saturday.