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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 11: Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, leads the field during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 11, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
After Bristol, the NASCAR Truck Series playoffs became even more intense. The Bristol Motor Speedway race upset the rankings. Spins, crashes and mechanical issues were a significant factor.
The shining light of the night was Layne Riggs who won the show with a comeback victory which would see him into the next round. Corey Heim remained at the top of the playoff standings.
Bristol did not hold back. The night was full of twists, drivers were spinning, cars were breaking down, and crashes moved the field around. Chandler Smith had mechanical trouble. Jake Garcia lost power steering after winning Stage 1.
Top Playoff Spots After Bristol
Layne Riggs’ comeback was amazing. He spun on the first lap but bounced back, led 110 laps, and finished first. That win gave him a spot in the Round of 8 and a points cushion for next races.
Corey Heim is still the man to beat. He led the most laps at Bristol (122), finished strong, and keeps his top spot in the playoffs. With wins and steady finishes, Heim is building momentum that could be hard to stop.
Daniel Hemric is in third place, 51 points above the cutline after finishing fifth. Ty Majeski, last year’s champion, is in fourth with a 46-point cushion.
Grant Enfinger and Tyler Ankrum round out the top six. Both are 29 points above the cutline, though Ankrum’s race was rough, he hit the wall after contact. Even so, both are in good spots to move forward.
Drivers on the Edge
The NASCAR Truck Series playoff bubble is heating up. Kaden Honeycutt and Rajah Caruth are holding on, 18 and 14 points above the cutline. They are in a decent spot but can’t make mistakes.
Jake Garcia and Chandler Smith had tough nights. Garcia’s power steering and Smith’s mechanical problems sent them to the back of the pack. Their points dropped to -14 and -24 below the cutline. They will have to fight hard to stay alive in the playoffs. Every lap will count next week.
Top Eight NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Drivers
Corey Heim: Clinched spot with wins and steady finishes
Layne Riggs: Clinched after a dramatic comeback
Daniel Hemric: +51 points, comfortably above cutline
Ty Majeski: +46 points, staying solid with steady results
Grant Enfinger: +29 points, safe despite a 21st-place finish
Tyler Ankrum: +29 points, recovering from Bristol crash
Kaden Honeycutt: +18 points, above the cutline
Rajah Caruth: +14 points, inside playoff bubble
Below the cutline:
Jake Garcia: -14 points, struggling after problems
Chandler Smith: -24 points, facing a tough road
Bristol showed how unpredictable the NASCAR Truck Series playoffs can be. Spins, crashes, and wins moved the leaderboard a lot. The fight to reach the Round of 8 is getting tougher. Every point will matter in the next race at New Hampshire.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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