Photo Credit: Stadium Super Trucks
While EJ Viso swept Detroit in 2014, it was three different drivers taking each of the three victories last season. With that said, it’s anybody’s guess as to whom will come out on top at the end of the weekend.
As mentioned, EJ Viso is the Detroit Master as he swept the three events in 2014, backing it up with a win in race #2 last season. Viso will be making his first start of the year this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 83 truck. No matter when he jumps behind the wheel of a truck, he’s one to watch.
The other two drivers whom who have won on the streets of Belle Isle will also be in the field as well – Robby Gordon and Burt Jenner.
Robby Gordon will be splitting the weekend behind the wheel of the No. 7 truck with Matt Brabham. Gordon won the Detroit Race #1 last year, to go with a pair of runner-ups, a third, a fifth and a seventh in his Detroit starts. He enters this weekend sitting third in the overall standings, 82 points behind Sheldon Creed, with some momentum following a second and two top-fives in his last four races. Meanwhile, while this marks Brabham’s first trip to Detroit, he is becoming an experienced regular as he continues to search for his first victory of the season. In his last four starts, he has posted three podium finishes, including a pair of runner-ups to currently sit third in points.
Meanwhile, Jenner missed the last two events, but rejoins the series this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 30 truck. He started out the year real well in Australia, scoring a win, a fifth and an eighth. Notably in six Detroit races, Jenner has posted only one finish outside of the top-five to go along with three podiums.
While these are the key drivers to watch this weekend, there are plenty of other strong names in the field hoping to make it four (or more) different winners for Detroit.
Current points leader Sheldon Creed hopes to score the victory and pad his gap that he currently has, sitting 75 points ahead of Brabham in the Overall Standings. Creed has been fast so far this year, winning five of the seven events so far this year including a sweep of Long Beach. Notably, though, this year’s event will mark his first race on the streets of Detroit. He’ll be sharing the No. 1 truck with Jerret Brooks this weekend. This weekend marks Brooks’ first start of 2016 after making a single start last season.
Keegan Kincaid enters this weekend needing a good run as a crash in Long Beach relegated him to a pair of last place finishes. The driver of the No. 47 truck has done well earlier this year, winning the second event on the streets of St. Petersburg. He did well last year in Detroit, posting a top-five finish in each of the three races.
Tyler McQuarrie will be making his third appearance with the series this weekend. He impressed in his debut at St. Petersburg with a podium finish in his first weekend out, followed by a fifth and third in Long Beach. He’ll be sharing the No. 6 truck this weekend with Scotty Steele. Despite being a constant name through the past two seasons, this weekend marks Steele’s first start of 2016. In three previous races in Detroit, Steele has posted three runner-ups, two sixth place finishes and a seventh.
Dustin Scott will be making his third appearance with the series after posting his first career top-five with a fifth in race 1 in Long Beach.
Veteran tour support Bill Hynes will be hoping to fetch his first top-five of the season after posting a best of seventh on two occasions. He made his first trip to Detroit last season, posting a best finish of eighth.
Matt Mingay will be making his second appearance of the year after running the three Adelaide races with a best finish of eighth. Expect him to be in the top-five, though, as he was running with the front runners before having issues.
Arie Luyendyk Jr. will make his first appearance of 2016 after competing in past seasons. He has run Detroit previously, stepping foot on the podium in each of the races in 2014.
Paul Morris is looking for a solid run after posting a best finish of fourth in Long Beach, to go with a win in Adelaide earlier this year.
Aaron Bambach will be making his first appearance of 2016 after posting a best finish of fifth on the streets of Detroit last year.
The series will be live streaming all of their events, with the link to the stream available on their facebook – https://www.facebook.com/StadiumSuperTrucks/?fref=ts. They will first hit the track for practice and qualifying on Friday at 7:30am EST, followed by the first race at 12:15pm EST. The second race will take place on Saturday at 11:05am EST, with race three on Sunday at 2pm EST.
