After a four-year absence, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Michigan International Speedway this weekend with tension, unpredictability, and playoff pressure looming large. Saturday morning’s qualifying session (8:05 a.m. ET, FS1) will not only shape the grid for the DQS Solutions & Staffing 250 but could also shake up the championship battle as the series enters its final stretch before the postseason. And thanks to NASCAR’s qualifying formula, it’s the underdogs who’ll lead the charge onto the two-mile oval — while the top contenders wait and watch.
NASCAR’s Metric System Shuffles the Deck
Michigan’s qualifying session will follow NASCAR’s standard metric-based order — a mix of 70% from the team’s finish in the previous race and 30% from current owner points. That formula has one big consequence: slower or part-time entries go out first, while the championship leaders run last.
That means Norm Benning’s No. 6 Chevrolet — who ranks low in both recent finishes and season standings — will be the first to hit the track on Saturday. He’ll be followed by several drivers making limited appearances or debuting, including actor-turned-driver Frankie Muniz in the No. 33, Toni Breidinger in the No. 5, and Nathan Byrd in the No. 02.
This system benefits improving teams who may not yet reflect their true speed in the standings, but it also exposes the frontrunners to changing track conditions, particularly on a cool Michigan morning.
Group Breakdown: Veterans vs Rookies
The field of 32 trucks is split evenly into two groups. Group 1 contains many underfunded or part-time operations, but it also includes experienced veterans like Matt Crafton, Stewart Friesen, and Tanner Gray — drivers who could capitalize on clean air and fresh track.
Group 1 Qualifying Order:
| S.No | Truck No. | Driver Name |
| 1 | 6 | Norm Benning |
| 2 | 33 | Frankie Muniz |
| 3 | 5 | Toni Breidinger |
| 4 | 22 | Josh Reaume |
| 5 | 2 | Nathan Byrd |
| 6 | 2 | Morgen Baird |
| 7 | 76 | Spencer Boyd |
| 8 | 81 | Connor Mosack |
| 9 | 1 | Lawless Alan |
| 10 | 88 | Matt Crafton |
| 11 | 42 | Matt Mills |
| 12 | 66 | Luke Fenhaus |
| 13 | 77 | Andrés Pérez de Lara |
| 14 | 91 | Jack Wood |
| 15 | 52 | Stewart Friesen |
| 16 | 15 | Tanner Gray |
Group 2 features the heavy hitters. All eyes will be on Corey Heim, the current points leader, who has been the class of the field all year but will go out dead last. Just ahead of him are big names like Daniel Hemric, Layne Riggs, and Rajah Caruth, whose breakthrough Nashville win brought him within 26 points of the playoff cutline.
Group 2 Qualifying Order:
| S.No | Truck No. | Driver Name |
| 1 | 26 | Dawson Sutton |
| 2 | 99 | Ben Rhodes |
| 3 | 7 | Corey LaJoi |
| 4 | 18 | Tyler Ankrum |
| 5 | 17 | Gio Ruggiero |
| 6 | 13 | Jake Garcia |
| 7 | 44 | Ross Chastain |
| 8 | 98 | Ty Majeski |
| 9 | 9 | Grant Enfinger |
| 10 | 45 | Kaden Honeycutt |
| 11 | 7 | Carson Hocevar |
| 12 | 38 | Chandler Smith |
| 13 | 71 | Rajah Caruth |
| 14 | 34 | Layne Riggs |
| 15 | 19 | Daniel Hemric |
| 16 | 11 | Corey Heim |
For drivers like Ty Majeski, who sits just above the playoff bubble in ninth, Michigan qualifying is as much about positioning as it is pressure. The track’s long straights reward top-end speed, while its wide corners allow for multiple grooves — but traffic remains a major issue, especially for those starting mid-pack or worse.
Michigan’s Return Reshapes the Playoff Chase
The return to Michigan International Speedway isn’t just a nostalgic moment — it’s a playoff battlefield. The track has seen four different winners in the last four Truck races held here, including current Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar, who’s back for a one-off with Spire Motorsports. Only ThorSport Racing has a history of Michigan victories among active full-time teams, making experience a rare and valuable commodity.
With six races remaining in the regular season, just five playoff spots remain unclaimed. The gaps are tight — only 26 points separate Majeski from Caruth — and the qualifying order adds a new variable.
Perhaps the most telling stat? The last 11 Michigan Truck Series winners started 10th or better. That puts serious pressure on drivers like Heim and Hemric, who will start their runs late, when the track may be warmer and less grippy. On the flip side, someone like Matt Crafton or Andrés Pérez de Lara could surprise by maximizing early track conditions.
One Lap, One Shot: Why Saturday Morning Matters
Saturday’s format is unforgiving — one lap, one round, no second chances. That means no group qualifying and no reset between rounds. The fastest lap of the morning sets the grid for Saturday’s DQS Solutions & Staffing 250.
And with the race itself serving as a pivotal moment in the playoff run, qualifying takes on added weight. Track position matters at Michigan, especially with clean air allowing trucks to run flat-out through the corners. The difference between starting 5th and 15th could mean the difference between stage points and playoff elimination.
News in Brief: 2025 Michigan Truck Series Qualifying Order
Saturday’s qualifying session at Michigan International Speedway will set the tone for one of the most important races on the Truck Series calendar. NASCAR’s metric-based lineup gives underdogs a chance to shine early, while title contenders like Corey Heim and Ty Majeski will face the pressure of going late in changing conditions. With five playoff spots still up for grabs and Michigan’s last 11 winners all starting inside the top 10, a strong lap on Saturday may be as crucial as race pace on Sunday.
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