Connor Mosack paces NASCAR Truck Series practice at Pocono

LONG POND, Pennsylvania — In a year that's been full of adversity, pacing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field in practice on Friday afternoon was a much-needed boost for Connor Mosack. 

Mosack's fastest lap of 54.594 seconds was the best of the 35 trucks on Friday, providing the No. 81 team with some momentum that couldn't come at a better time. 

Mosack enters Friday's race 18th in the Truck Series standings after 13 races, 146 points below the playoff cut line. With only five regular-season races remaining, a win is essentially the only way he can save his season and earn a playoff berth. 

Chandler Smith, defending Pocono winner Corey Heim, Layne Riggs and Ty Majeski rounded out the top five, with Kaden Honeycutt, Daniel Hemric, Ben Rhodes, Jake Garcia and Grant Enfinger completing the top 10. 

Other notable practice results include Carson Hocevar in 12th, three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton in 13th, Tyler Ankrum in 14th, Rajah Caruth in 19th and Michigan winner Stewart Friesen in 21st. TRICON Garage driver Toni Breidinger was 29th-fastest in the session. 

Dawson Sutton brought up the rear of the speed chart in 35th, clocking in a fastest lap of 62.76 seconds. 

Qualifying is next for the Truck Series on FS2. The MillerTech Battery 200 will go green shortly after 5 p.m. ET, with coverage on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.