In part one of our Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series review, we highlighted the eight drivers that qualified for the postseason. In part two, we’ll touch on the full-time drivers who missed the playoffs.
16. Jordan Anderson
In his second full-time Truck Series campaign in as many years, Anderson regressed slightly in the top 10 column, scoring no such finishes after his two in 2018. But a 16th-place finish in the standings is nothing for Anderson to hang his head about.
15. Gus Dean
In his first full-time national series season, Dean led nine laps and earned a best-finish of 13th at Michigan International Speedway en route to a top-15 championship standings result. In his two full-time ARCA Menards Series seasons, he finished fourth and sixth in the standings.
14. Austin Wayne Self
The driver of the No. 22’s season was highlighted by a top-five run at Michigan and a sixth at Kentucky Speedway. But his 2019 kicked off with a bang, scoring a top 10 at Daytona International Speedway. He rode the momentum of his second-best season to date, finishing 12th in the 2018 standings) for a top-15 points finish.
13. Tyler Dippel
It was a season marred by off-track controversy for the reigning runner-up in the ARCA Menards Series East. Suspended for one race (Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) due to a substance abuse policy violation, Dippel was reinstated and returned to finish out the season.
His year was highlighted by a third-place finish at Michigan, including eighth-place finishes at Texas Motor Speedway and Eldora Speedway.
12. Harrison Burton
With seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in his rookie season, the driver of the No. 18 missed the postseason in Kyle Busch Motorsports equipment, and his owner let him hear about it throughout the season.
Despite failing to win a race and having an average finish of 12th, he will move up to the Xfinity Series in 2020 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
11. Todd Gilliland
Much like his teammate Burton, the two-time ARCA Menards Series West champion failed to deliver a playoff berth in his second season behind the wheel of a KBM truck. However, that elusive victory came late in the season at Martinsville Speedway, as he led the final 11 laps to the checkered flag.
Gilliland will not return to KBM next season and has been rumored to be joining DGR-Crosley for next season, but his 2020 plans are currently unknown.
10. Sheldon Creed
Creed’s first season with GMS Racing was a good one, earning four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes (an 11.6 average finish). His best results came in back-to-back races at Eldora and Michigan, and he will return to GMS in 2020.
9. Ben Rhodes
Despite 13 top-10 finishes (tying a career-high), Rhodes missed the postseason and failed to win a race, the only ThorSport Racing truck to not make the playoffs. His results were almost good enough to earn a spot to vie for the title, but he came up just a tad short.
As for other drivers, Spencer Boyd led the way for part-timers with his win (albeit after video review) at Talladega Superspeedway and finished 17th in the standings.
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