AVONDALE, Ariz: Front Row Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland led the only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice session ahead of Friday night’s Championship 4 race at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.
Gilliland paced the 1.0-mile oval at 26.501 seconds or 135.844 miles per hour, edging out defending race winner and reigning Truck Series champion Sheldon Creed for the top spot.
“Race runs we definitely need to drive better,” Gilliland told CATCHFENCE.com. “Our qualifying run was ok, but we’re still working hard to get it driving better.”
GMS Racing’s Tyler Ankrum was third followed by Chandler Smith and Championship 4 driver Ben Rhodes to close out the top-five.
Rhodes’s No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 was one of two Championship 4 drivers mixed inside the top-10. Kyle Busch Motorsports’ John Hunter Nemechek turned the ninth quickest lap in his No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Tundra.
Tanner Gray was sixth, Christian Eckes, rookie Jack Wood, Nemechek and Stewart Friesen comprised the top-10.
Martinsville winner and Championship 4 driver Zane Smith was 12th quickest in his No. 21 MRC Construction Chevrolet.
ThorSport Racing’s Matt Crafton aiming for a record-tying fourth Truck Series championship only maneuvered the 18th quickest lap.
Other notables in the session included: Taylor Gray (11th), Chase Purdy (14th), Hailie Deegan (16th), Ty Dillon (17th).
Dean Thompson was 22nd fastest hoping to make his Truck Series debut for Niece Motorsports. The Mooresville, N.C. team announced Thursday that Thompson, the current ARCA Menards Series West competition will drive the team’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado in 2022.
Willie Allen chimed in 25th quick in his No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado for Rackley WAR Racing. Allen will make his second Truck Series start of the season. He made his return to the series last month at Talladega in his first start since 2014.
Grant Enfinger in his final start driving for CR7 Motorsports experienced mechanical troubles and only turned one lap of practice in his No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet Silverado.
41 trucks were initially entered for the race, but Todd Peck and Spencer Davis withdrew ahead of practice.
39 trucks chartered an official lap of practice for the final race of the 2021 season. 36 trucks will start the Lucas Oil 150 sending three trucks and teams home early for the off-season.
Qualifying is set for 5:05 p.m. ET | 2:05 MT with live coverage on FOX Sports 1.
The green flag for the 150-lap race is set for 8:05 p.m. ET | 5:05 MT, also on FOX Sports 1 and Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.[table=3765](i) Ineligible for Driver Points in This Series
# Denotes Rookie
(P) = Playoff Driver
