2017 Drivin' for Linemen 200
# 2017 Drivin' for Linemen 200

The 2017 Drivin' for Linemen 200 was the eighth stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the fourth iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Madison, Illinois at Gateway Motorsports Park, a 1.25 miles (2.01 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 160 laps to complete. At race's end, John Hunter Nemechek, driving for NEMCO Motorsports, would hold off the field on the final restart with four to go to win his fourth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Chase Briscoe of Brad Keselowski Racing and Johnny Sauter of GMS Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

Known as Gateway Motorsports Park until its renaming in April 2019, World Wide Technology Raceway is a 1.25-mile (2.01 km) paved oval motor racing track in Madison, Illinois, United States. The track previously held Truck races from 1998 to 2010, and returned starting in 2014.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 | Bryce Napier | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | Driven 2 Honor |
| 1 | Jordan Anderson | TJL Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bommarito Automotive Group |
| 02 | Austin Hill | Young's Motorsports | Ford | Young's Motorsports |
| 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | JBL |
| 6 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | Norm Benning Racing |
| 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | NEMCO Motorsports |
| 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | Driven 2 Honor, ASAP Appliance Service |
| 13 | Cody Coughlin (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | JEGS |
| 16 | Ryan Truex | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | Dierbergs |
| 18 | Noah Gragson (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Switch |
| 19 | Austin Cindric (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | Reese Brands, Draw-Tite |
| 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Allegiant Air |
| 24 | Justin Haley (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Kingman Chevrolet |
| 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | Safelite Auto Glass |
| 29 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | Checkered Flag Foundation |
| 33 | Kaz Grala (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Kiklos |
| 36 | Kevin Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool |
| 44 | Donnie Levister | Faith Motorsports | Chevrolet | Sparrow Ranch On The Island |
| 45 | T. J. Bell | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | Niece Motorsports |
| 49 | Wendell Chavous (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | Premium Motorsports |
| 50 | Josh Reaume | Beaver Motorsports | Chevrolet | Motorsports Safety Group, Lodestar Guidance |
| 51 | Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | Pedigree |
| 52 | Stewart Friesen* (R) | Halmar Friesen Racing | Chevrolet | Halmar |
| 57 | Tommy Regan | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | Norm Benning Racing |
| 63 | Kyle Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool |
| 66 | Travis Kvapil | Bolen Motorsports | Chevrolet | Bolen Motorsports |
| 68 | Clay Greenfield | Clay Greenfield Motorsports | Chevrolet | Semper Fi Fund |
| 83 | Camden Murphy | Copp Motorsports | Chevrolet | Copp Motorsports |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | D. A. B. Constructors, Inc. |
| 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | Menards, FVP Parts |
| 98 | Grant Enfinger (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | RIDE TV |
| 99 | ?* | MDM Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| Official entry list |||||

*Withdrew due to different reasons. Friesen would withdraw to reorganize the team, while MDM Motorsports withdrew due to a majorly damaging a truck at the 2017 WinstarOnlineGaming.com 400.

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, June 16, at 9:30 AM CST, and would last for 55 minutes. Christopher Bell of Kyle Busch Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 33.081 and an average speed of 136.030 miles per hour (218.919 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 33.081 | 136.030 |
| 2 | 18 | Noah Gragson (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 33.109 | 135.915 |
| 3 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 33.150 | 135.747 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, June 16, at 11:30 AM CST, and would last for 55 minutes. Matt Crafton of ThorSport Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 33.094 and an average speed of 135.976 miles per hour (218.832 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.094 | 135.976 |
| 2 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.156 | 135.722 |
| 3 | 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.245 | 135.359 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, June 17, at 4:45 PM CST. Since Gateway Motorsports Park is under 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.

Chase Briscoe of Brad Keselowski Racing would win the pole after advancing from both preliminary rounds and setting the fastest lap in Round 3, with a time of 32.888 and an average speed of 136.828 miles per hour (220.203 km/h).

No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) | Time (R3) | Speed (R3) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 29 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 32.947 | 136.583 | 33.094 | 135.976 | 32.888 | 136.828 |
| 2 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.170 | 135.665 | 33.204 | 135.526 | 32.908 | 136.745 |
| 3 | 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 33.180 | 135.624 | 32.898 | 136.786 | 32.917 | 136.707 |
| 4 | 51 | Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 33.313 | 135.082 | 33.129 | 135.833 | 32.944 | 136.595 |
| 5 | 19 | Austin Cindric (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 33.255 | 135.318 | 33.112 | 135.902 | 33.068 | 136.083 |
| 6 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.445 | 134.549 | 33.091 | 135.989 | 33.079 | 136.038 |
| 7 | 18 | Noah Gragson (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 33.812 | 133.089 | 33.246 | 135.355 | 33.109 | 135.915 |
| 8 | 24 | Justin Haley (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 33.374 | 134.836 | 33.185 | 135.603 | 33.179 | 135.628 |
| 9 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 33.216 | 135.477 | 33.257 | 135.310 | 33.225 | 135.440 |
| 10 | 33 | Kaz Grala (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 33.470 | 134.449 | 33.187 | 135.595 | 33.227 | 135.432 |
| 11 | 16 | Ryan Truex | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 33.329 | 135.018 | 33.321 | 135.050 | 33.355 | 134.912 |
| 12 | 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.307 | 135.107 | 33.251 | 135.334 | 33.431 | 134.606 |
| Eliminated in Round 2 |||||||||||
| 13 | 13 | Cody Coughlin (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.548 | 134.136 | 33.353 | 134.920 | - | - |
| 14 | 98 | Grant Enfinger (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 33.836 | 132.994 | 33.372 | 134.844 | - | - |
| 15 | 02 | Austin Hill | Young's Motorsports | Ford | 33.898 | 132.751 | 33.505 | 134.308 | - | - |
| 16 | 68 | Clay Greenfield | Clay Greenfield Motorsports | Chevrolet | 33.751 | 133.329 | 33.754 | 133.318 | - | - |
| 17 | 45 | T. J. Bell | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 34.284 | 131.257 | 34.105 | 131.945 | - | - |
| 18 | 63 | Kyle Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 34.286 | 131.249 | 34.205 | 131.560 | - | - |
| 19 | 1 | Jordan Anderson | TJL Motorsports | Chevrolet | 34.861 | 129.084 | 34.978 | 128.652 | - | - |
| 20 | 50 | Josh Reaume | Beaver Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.213 | 127.794 | 35.389 | 127.158 | - | - |
| 21 | 66 | Travis Kvapil | Bolen Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.131 | 128.092 | - | - | - | - |
| 22 | 49 | Wendell Chavous (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.550 | 126.582 | - | - | - | - |
| 23 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.674 | 126.142 | - | - | - | - |
| 24 | 36 | Kevin Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36.305 | 123.950 | - | - | - | - |
| Eliminated in Round 1 |||||||||||
| 25 | 6 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 36.421 | 123.555 | - | - | - | - |
| 26 | 83 | Camden Murphy | Copp Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36.688 | 122.656 | - | - | - | - |
| 27 | 44 | Donnie Levister | Faith Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.593 | 116.601 | - | - | - | - |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||||||
| 28 | 0 | Bryce Napier | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 39.368 | 114.306 | - | - | - | - |
| 29 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Qualified on time |||||||||||
| 30 | 57 | Tommy Regan | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 41.710 | 107.888 | - | - | - | - |
| Withdrew |||||||||||
| WD | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Chevrolet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| WD | 99 | ? | MDM Motorsports | Chevrolet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Official qualifying results |||||||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 35

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 29 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | Ryan Truex | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 51 | Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 19 | Austin Cindric (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 24 | Justin Haley (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 1 |

Stage 2 Laps: 35

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 29 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 98 | Grant Enfinger (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 19 | Austin Cindric (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 16 | Ryan Truex | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 51 | Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 1 |

Stage 3 Laps: 90

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | 8 | John Hunter Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 46 | running | 58 |
| 2 | 1 | 29 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 160 | 88 | running | 54 |
| 3 | 9 | 21 | Johnny Sauter | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | running | 42 |
| 4 | 6 | 88 | Matt Crafton | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 160 | 16 | running | 50 |
| 5 | 14 | 98 | Grant Enfinger (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 160 | 0 | running | 39 |
| 6 | 3 | 4 | Christopher Bell | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 160 | 7 | running | 44 |
| 7 | 11 | 16 | Ryan Truex | Hattori Racing Enterprises | Toyota | 160 | 0 | running | 38 |
| 8 | 12 | 27 | Ben Rhodes | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 160 | 0 | running | 33 |
| 9 | 7 | 18 | Noah Gragson (R) | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 160 | 0 | running | 28 |
| 10 | 8 | 24 | Justin Haley (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 3 | running | 29 |
| 11 | 5 | 19 | Austin Cindric (R) | Brad Keselowski Racing | Ford | 160 | 0 | running | 34 |
| 12 | 13 | 13 | Cody Coughlin (R) | ThorSport Racing | Toyota | 160 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 13 | 10 | 33 | Kaz Grala (R) | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 0 | running | 24 |
| 14 | 15 | 02 | Austin Hill | Young's Motorsports | Ford | 159 | 0 | running | 13 |
| 15 | 17 | 45 | T. J. Bell | Niece Motorsports | Chevrolet | 158 | 0 | running | 22 |
| 16 | 18 | 63 | Kyle Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 158 | 0 | running | 21 |
| 17 | 19 | 1 | Jordan Anderson | TJL Motorsports | Chevrolet | 154 | 0 | running | 20 |
| 18 | 22 | 49 | Wendell Chavous (R) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 147 | 0 | running | 19 |
| 19 | 20 | 50 | Josh Reaume | Beaver Motorsports | Chevrolet | 145 | 0 | parked | 18 |
| 20 | 28 | 0 | Bryce Napier | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | brakes | 17 |
| 21 | 4 | 51 | Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Toyota | 112 | 0 | transmission | 22 |
| 22 | 25 | 6 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 96 | 0 | brakes | 15 |
| 23 | 26 | 83 | Camden Murphy | Copp Motorsports | Chevrolet | 43 | 0 | brakes | 14 |
| 24 | 16 | 68 | Clay Greenfield | Clay Greenfield Motorsports | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | steering | 13 |
| 25 | 27 | 44 | Donnie Levister | Faith Motorsports | Chevrolet | 17 | 0 | drive shaft | 12 |
| 26 | 24 | 36 | Kevin Donahue | MB Motorsports | Chevrolet | 11 | 0 | brakes | 11 |
| 27 | 21 | 66 | Travis Kvapil | Bolen Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 | 0 | vibration | 10 |
| 28 | 23 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 | 0 | vibration | 9 |
| 29 | 30 | 57 | Tommy Regan | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 | transmission | 8 |
| 30 | 29 | 10 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing | Chevrolet | 0 | 0 | suspension | 7 |
| Withdrew ||||||||||
| WD | | 52 | Stewart Friesen | Halmar Friesen Racing | Chevrolet | | | | |
| WD | | 99 | ? | MDM Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Johnny Sauter | 380 |
| | 2 | Christopher Bell | 342 (-38) |
| | 3 | Matt Crafton | 318 (–62) |
| | 4 | Chase Briscoe | 311 (–69) |
| | 5 | Ben Rhodes | 281 (–99) |
| | 6 | Grant Enfinger | 265 (–115) |
| | 7 | Ryan Truex | 265 (–115) |
| | 8 | Kaz Grala | 234 (–146) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
