Michigan Returns to the Truck Circuit
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is set to make its highly anticipated return to Michigan International Speedway this Saturday, bringing a fresh slate of competition to the two‑mile oval that has long been a favorite among drivers and fans alike.
Kaulig Racing will use the weekend as an opportunity to engage with the local community, with its drivers scheduled to tour the Stellantis facility on Thursday as part of a series of pre‑race activities that also highlight the partnership with Ram Trucks and Mopar.
Stellantis Visit Highlights Pre‑Race Momentum
Veteran Parker Kligerman, who will once again pilot the No. 25 Ram 1500 under the Ram Free Agent Program, enters the weekend with a clear objective: a top‑10 finish after a solid 11th‑place result at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month. Kligerman, a three‑time Truck Series winner, brings a wealth of experience, having logged 12 career starts at Michigan across NASCAR’s national divisions.
Corey LaJoie, who last season recorded his debut Truck Series start at Michigan and finished fifth, is looking to build on that momentum. The driver, who has 11 prior Cup Series starts at the venue, most recently placed eighth at Dover and ran inside the top ten at Charlotte before finishing 12th, hopes the track’s technical demands will suit his style.
Brenden Queen, the defending track winner and a strong Rookie of the Year contender, arrives after a victorious ARCA Menards Series performance at the same venue last year. Following a seventh‑place finish at Daytona to open his Truck Series campaign and an eighth‑place result at Watkins Glen, Queen is poised to translate his early season momentum into a strong showing on the Michigan oval.
Rookie Timothy Tyrrell, better known as “Mini,” will make his career track debut at Michigan after earning his full‑time ride by winning the Fox reality competition series Race for the Seat. Beyond his on‑track ambitions, Tyrrell runs a non‑profit initiative called Mini’s Mission, which has raised more than $650,000 for childhood cancer research, adding a charitable dimension to his rookie story.