Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Purdy wins pole award for Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 5/4/24

For the first time this season, Chase Purdy wins the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole award. He will lead the field to green at Kansas tonight. Purdy really needs this positive momentum after a rough start to the 2024 season.

Last time the Truck Series traveled to Kansas, Prudy was the pole-sitter. However, things did not go his way as he finished P14 on the day. This pole is the first for Purdy since the Talladega race last September.

With how well the Spire Motorsports group was doing this season, it is about time Chase Purdy stepped up. We still have to see him race, but this is a step in the right direction. Only one Toyota qualified in the top-10, Stewart Friesen in the 52.

Another Kansas pole for @chasepurdy12! We talk with the driver that will lead the field to green tonight. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/Kq29vQyq2q
— Jamie Howe (@Reporterjamie) May 4, 2024

This season the Toyota camp has been pretty good overall. Not just in one series, but in all three levels of NASCAR national series racing. This Kansas track and the setups on those Toyota trucks just didn’t line up together.

We have seen a group like this struggle and then really turn it on in race trim. However, the Chevys are the story right now. Seven of those top-10 trucks were bowties with Chase Purdy leading the charge.

Purdy’s teammates Rajah Caruth and Connor Mosack qualified P4 and P5, respectively.

Can Chase Purdy get the job done?

Chase Purdy is a young driver, 24, but he’s not getting younger. This is his fourth season of full-time Truck Series racing, and also his fourth team. He was with GMS in 2021 and struggled. Only two top-10s.

Then, he went to Toyota and Hattori Racing, which was also a struggle. Two more top-10s, and more points than the previous season. Last year, he moved to Kyle Busch Motorsports, back with Chevy. Much better, but no wins. More than a handful of top-10s with a few top-5s sprinkled in as well.

Now with Spire, who bought KBM in the offseason, essentially year two with the team – he has struggled. It is his worst start, arguably, since that rookie season with GMS. He has an average finish of P20 in seven races this year. His only top-10 was a P3 finish at Martinsville.

Something has to give with Chase Purdy. He has been with teams that have had a history of success. All of the teams he has raced for full-time have at least one championship, and recent ones, too. Purdy doesn’t have to win tonight, but a win could save him a lot of headaches.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: