NASCAR Truck Series returns tonight at Charlotte. Here’s the race’s starting order

Trucks will hit the track Wednesday at 8 p.m. for NASCAR’s first Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race since the season was postponed two months ago due to coronavirus. This is the third official race of the season and the first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Truck Series this year.

Like all of NASCAR’s return races at Darlington and Charlotte, the race will run without fans and those on site are required to wear masks and practice social distancing, as well as abide by other coronavirus event protocols put in place by NASCAR.

“The fans — whether they’re cheering, whether they’re booing, it’s always fun to see the reactions and give them a bow,” Busch said after racing to his 97th Xfinity Series win at Charlotte on Monday. “I hope to see the fans back as soon as possible. Felt a little odd. I guess I could have bowed to the camera. Everyone is on the other side of that camera.”

So far, NASCAR’s return events at Charlotte Motor Speedway have run without a hitch in terms of coronavirus safety practice. No team has been forced to use a replacement driver due to a positive COVID-19 test, although NASCAR says it has plans in place for if a driver and team members does test positive.

“If people are removed, we are going to replace people,” NASCAR vice president of racing operations John Bobo said before the first Cup race at Darlington. “If there are multiple positives, of course we’re obviously going to look at everything that’s gone on around there and investigate, (and) see what we need to do to continue to be safe.”

NASCAR is requiring teams to track who individuals come in contact with throughout the day.

NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell said the sanctioning body will allow replacement drivers if necessary and that the sport is operating by a “learn as we go” mentality.

Following the Truck race tonight, there will be one more Cup race at Charlotte Wednesday evening (barring rain) before NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday.

So far, Tuesday’s forecast at the Concord, N.C.-based track looks promising for racing. Skies are overcast, but there is only a 40 percent chance of showers this evening. Rain delays become a lot more likely for tomorrow’s Cup race. The chance of precipitation bumps up to 70 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

There will be overlap of drivers in both events, as Cup drivers Busch, Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Brennan Poole, Garrett Smithley and Timmy Hill are also entered in Tuesday’s Truck race. Full-time Cup drivers Elliott, Nemechek and Poole are eligible for a $100,000 payout if they are able to beat Busch as part of a bounty organized by Cup driver Kevin Harvick. Harvick announced Tuesday morning that the money would be donated in the name of the driver to a COVID-19 relief effort of their choice.

Busch won last year’s North Education Lottery 200 and led 102 of 134 laps after starting eighth. He has won the last seven Truck races he has participated in, but the additional incentive of the bounty and events from the last week could give Elliott the motivation he needs to dethrone Rowdy. Busch, who will race the No. 51 Toyota truck for KBM, says he wants to continue his “winning ways.”

“It would be nice to continue the winning ways and get Kyle Busch Motorsports back to victory lane tomorrow night and then of course try to win the Cup race here Wednesday.”

Elliott has different plans. He will race in the No. 24 Chevrolet truck for GMS Racing.

“(I’m) planning on still running and trying to go beat Kyle,” Elliott said.

HOW TO WATCH NASCAR’S N.C. Education Lottery 200

• Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200

• Distance: 134 laps, or 201 miles (stage breaks on Laps 30, 60, 134)

• Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway

• When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

• TV: FS1 (broadcast starts at 7 p.m.)

• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

NASCAR Truck Series at Charlotte Starting Grid

*To the rear at the start for unapproved adjustment

This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 6:53 PM.

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription