The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs roar into Concord, North Carolina on Friday, October 3, 2025, as the EcoSave 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL kicks off the Round of 8. This marks the first-ever Truck Series race on the Charlotte ROVAL, a unique 2.28‑mile hybrid road course/oval that has become one of the most unpredictable venues in NASCAR. With just three races to determine the Championship 4, every lap at the ROVAL will be critical.
Venue & Race Details
Race: EcoSave 250 – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs, Round of 8 opener
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Concord, NC
Track Layout: 2.28 miles, 17 turns (combines Charlotte’s oval with infield road course)
Race Distance: 67 laps / 152.76 miles
Stages: Lap 20, Lap 40, Final at Lap 67
Broadcast: FS1 (TV), MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Radio), streaming on Fubo and FOX Sports app ^2][^3]
Weather Outlook
Forecast: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy
High Temperature: ~76°F (24°C)
Low Temperature: ~54°F (12°C)
Rain Chance: 20% isolated shower early, but clearing by race time [^2]
Impact: Ideal racing conditions with mild temps; track grip could evolve quickly under changing skies.
Playoff Picture & Driver Updates
The Round of 8 begins with a reset in points, but regular‑season dominance still matters:
Corey Heim (+69 above cutline): Enters with a massive playoff points cushion, essentially a full race ahead of most rivals.
Layne Riggs (+22): Solid buffer but must avoid mistakes.
Daniel Hemric, Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez, Kaden Honeycutt, and Grant Enfinger: Separated by just 8 points from 3rd to 8th — razor‑thin margins mean every stage point counts [^8].
Notably, this is the first Truck Series race ever at the ROVAL, so no driver has prior series experience here. Road course specialists could shine.
Key Driver Matchups
Corey Heim vs. Layne Riggs: Heim’s consistency vs. Riggs’ aggressive style — both looking to lock into Phoenix early.
Christian Eckes vs. Ben Rhodes: Former champions and proven road racers; both need strong stage points.
Nick Sanchez vs. Kaden Honeycutt: Young guns battling for survival; one mistake could end their title hopes.
Recent Form
Corey Heim: Won at Watkins Glen earlier this year; dominant on road courses.
Christian Eckes: Top‑5 in 3 of last 4 races; trending upward.
Ben Rhodes: Former Truck Series champion, thrives in high‑pressure playoff moments.
Nick Sanchez: Aggressive but inconsistent; must balance risk vs. reward.
Series & Track History
Charlotte ROVAL: Introduced in 2018 for the Cup Series, quickly became a playoff wild card.
Truck Series: 2025 marks the first time the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competes on the ROVAL.
Road Course Trends: The last Truck Series road course race (Watkins Glen, Aug. 2025) was won by Corey Heim, proving his road racing skill.
Betting Trends
Heim has 3 wins in last 7 starts and is the clear betting favorite.
Rhodes has finished Top‑10 in 5 of last 6 playoff openers.
First‑time road course winners are common in the Truck Series — unpredictability is high.
The ROVAL has produced multiple Cup Series playoff upsets; expect similar chaos here.
