Ryan Preece in victory lane after a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series triumph at Nashville Superspeedway. (HHP/Harold Hinson Photo)
Ryan Preece in victory lane after a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series triumph at Nashville Superspeedway. (HHP/Harold Hinson Photo)

Ryan Preece Earns First Career Truck Series Pole

Ryan Preece, the defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner at Nashville Speedway, captured the pole for Friday night’s event at the 1.33-mile track in Lebanon, Tennessee.

For Preece, driving the No. 17 Ford for David Gilliland Racing, it his first career Truck Series pole. Last year’s Nashville win was Preece’s first Truck Series victory.

Preece took the pole with a top speed of 160.925 mph.

“We have a real sporty Hunt Brothers Ford F-150,” Preece told Fox Sports 1. “I’m really proud of these guys and all the work they put in. Them coming off a win last week (Todd Gilliland at Knoxville Raceway) sets us up for a good one tonight.”

Preece will be joined on the front row by Zane Smith.

The top five is completed by Carson Hocevar, Corey Heim and Derek Kraus.

Tate Fogleman was the first truck to make an attempt, but Fogleman spun exiting Turn 4 on his qualifying lap and slid through the infield grass. He failed to qualify.

Clay Greenfield, the second truck out, also got loose in Turn 3-4 but was able to keep his No. 84 truck from going around and completed the lap.

The other DNQs were Clay Greenfield, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Bret Holmes, Chase Janes and Justin Carroll.

About an hour after qualifying NASCAR announced that the qualifying times for Trey Hutchens and Max Gutiérrez has been disallowed for their truck being too low. Gutiérrez will start due to owner points.

NASCAR also announced that Kraus’ crew chief, Shane Wilson, has been suspended for improperly mounted ballast. Kraus also receives a 10-point penalty.

Click here for the starting lineup.

Practice

A 20-minute practice session was held before qualifying.

Stewart Friesen posted the top speed, recording a fast lap at 156.02 mph.

The top five was filled out by Matt Crafton (155.89 mph), Ty Majeski (155.78), defending race winner Ryan Preece (155.66) and Derek Kraus (155.56).

The session was stopped twice. First for for fluid put down on the track by Jennifer Jo Cobb’s No. 10 truck. The second occurrence came with nine minutes left for Chase Janes’s No. 46 truck stalling on the backstretch.

Click here for the practice report.

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