As the leaves change around the country to their fall colors, the chase for the 2022 NASCAR Truck Series Championship is coming down to the wire. As of this article’s writing, three drivers have emerged as the favorites to take home the 2022 title, separated by a mere five points in the standings. Currently in first place is 20-year old Chandler Smith who has notched three first place finishes this year, including in the last competition at the 2022 Worldwide Express 250 for Career Appreciation at Richmond. Trailing him in the standings are Zane Smith (second place, 2109 total points) and John Hunter Nemecheck (third place) who both bring some sizzle to the table.
For this breakdown, SBS will go over what each driver’s strengths are, who will win the 2022 title and also some more thoughts about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2022 NASCAR Truck Series Championship |  |
|---|---|
| Zane Smith | +225 |
| Chandler Smith | +250 |
| John Hunter Nemechek | +350 |
Currently in second place in the championship series standings, Smith is one of the most prolific races in the Truck Series at only 23 years of age. He has already amassed six career wins to go along with 43 top ten finishes. For the 2022 season, Smith has been his usual consistent self with three first place finishes which pairs nicely with his seven top five races. If it were not for a disastrous showing in Las Vegas back in the second race of the season (Smith was disqualified because of a racing technicality), he would be heading up the pole position heading into the season’s playoff stretch.
The current first place driver in the Truck Series Championship standings, the other Smith on this list is angling for his first championship. After finishing in eighth place in last season’s standings, the 20-year old has had some great performances this year as mentioned above. With three of his five career finishes coming in 2022, Smith has been an amazing driver for most of this season. With two wins in his last three races, the native of Talking Rock, Georgia is definitely having his best season ever. Now it remains to be seen if he can keep up the momentum and hold off the pack.
The last spotlight racer on our list, Nemechek is only four points away from first place in the standings, but has a bit of work if he wants to catch the Smiths. The oldest racer on this list at 25 years of age, Nemecheck has overcome a slow start to the season (three finishes in 23rd place or worse) and found himself peaking at the right time. Indeed with five top three performances in his last seven races, the Truck Series veteran has had a consistent time angling to the top of the leaderboard. Though he has only notched on first place this season, he definitely has shown he can hang with the top of the pack, but just needs that little extra to go over the edge.
Prediction: In what should be a championship race that goes down to the wire, take Zane Smith to win given his better overall success than those other two drivers.
Once you are done making your NASCAR Truck Championship picks, SBS has your back with a ton of other amazing resources. Of course the best place to check out consistently is our NASCAR betting sites guide which lays out all the latest betting markets related to the sport. In addition to our NASCAR wagering page, the SBS best bonus betting sites rundown is a must-read guide for anyone looking to maximize the return on their wagering investment. This page has a great catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers that should certainly bring a smile to your face. Finally, if you are uncertain which payment options are the best for you, check out the SBS payment methods page. This breakdown will give you a plethora of great outlets to choose from.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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