Monster Mile Memories: Where Are the Truck Series Stars of 2020 Now

When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Dover Motor Speedway on May 15, 2026, it'll mark the end of a six-year hiatus from one of the most demanding tracks on the NASCAR schedule. The last time the Trucks visited the high banks of the Monster Mile was on August 21, 2020. It was a race full of chaos and grit, with flashes of potential shown by drivers trying to carve their names into the sport of NASCAR.

On that afternoon in 2020, Zane Smith stood victorious, taking the win in just his 15th career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start. But he wasn't the only driver with a bright future who was in that race. As the series prepares to return to Dover Motor Speedway, let's revisit five key drivers who were in the 2020 Truck Series field and see where they are now.

Zane Smith: From Victory Lane to the Cup Ranks

Zane Smith won the 2020 KDI Office Technology 200 at Dover. That race would be only his second career Truck Series win and his first top-10 at the Monster Mile. Even then, Smith showed signs that he could compete at the next level of stockcar racing.

Fast forward to 2025, and he's now full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports. This season, Smith has earned his first Cup pole (at Talladega), scored a handful of top-10 finishes, and continues to develop as a reliable presence in the field.

His win at Dover five years ago wasn't just a highlight, but a precursor. Smith's ability to manage restarts and put an entire race together shined through that afternoon. As the Trucks return to Dover, Smith remains one of the few from that 2020 field with a proven record on the concrete. His legacy at the Monster Mile is firmly in place.

Todd Gilliland: Steady Growth in Familiar Territory

In that same 2020 Dover race, Todd Gilliland quietly grabbed a fourth-place finish, driving for Front Row Motorsports. It wasn't flashy, but it was the kind of result that hinted at long-term potential in the higher ranks of NASCAR.

Today, he drives full-time in the Cup Series as Zane Smith's teammate, piloting the No. 34 Ford for Front Row. Though Gilliland is still chasing his first Cup win, he's shown a lot of speed and collected multiple top-10s over the past season.

His journey has been more methodical than meteoric. That fourth-place run at Dover in 2020 signaled he could run with the best, and while his Cup tenure hasn't been headline-grabbing just yet, Gilliland remains one of the most quietly promising young drivers in the series. Dover Motor Speedway's 2026 All-Star race could be key to reconnect with a track that once suited him in the lower ranks.

Austin Hill: Superspeedway Star, Short Track Sleeper

In 2020, Austin Hill finished eighth at Dover while driving the No. 16 Toyota for Hattori Racing. Since then, he's become a powerhouse in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing.

The 2025 season has been particularly strong for Hill, who's picked up wins at Atlanta, Talladega, and Martinsville-a mix of speedway dominance with some short-track success sprinkled in. He's also found himself in hot water, earning a one-race suspension for aggressive driving at Indianapolis. But that aggressive edge is part of what makes Hill such a compelling competitor.

Though Dover isn't a superspeedway, it shares the chaos and close-quarters intensity that Hill has learned to master. If he brings that same assertiveness and strategic patience, he could be a major threat when he returns to the Monster Mile for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race on May 16th.

Carson Hocevar: From Rookie Hopeful to Cup Contender

Carson Hocevar wasn't on many radars when he finished 12th at Dover in 2020. In just his fourth career Truck Series start, Hocevar drove the No. 40 for Niece Motorsports and showed his raw ability behind the wheel.

Now, he's full-time in the Cup Series, driving the No. 77 for Spire Motorsports. In 2025 alone, Hocevar earned his first Cup pole (at Texas), posted two top-five finishes, and racked up seven top-10s; and at 22-years-old, he is just getting started.

His rise has been one of the fastest among the 2020 Dover field. What makes Hocevar compelling is his aggressive ability to put himself in position to pounce when it matters most. At a place like Dover, that mix matters. He may have been a mid-pack finisher five years ago, but he returns as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, and one with the tools to run at the front.

Sam Mayer: Finally Breaking Through

In 2020, Sam Mayer placed 15th at Dover, a quiet finish for a young driver still learning the ropes with GMS Racing. But that modest day was just part of the foundation.

Now driving full-time in the Xfinity Series for the new Haas Factory Team, Mayer has finally turned potential into results. In August 2025, he snapped a season-long winless streak by taking the checkered flag at Iowa. Not only was this Mayer's first win of the 2025 season, but the first ever for Haas Factory Team and the first for Ford in Xfinity this season. He's also claimed a pole (at Indianapolis) and multiple top-five finishes along the way.

Mayer's journey hasn't been instant success, but it has been steady. Dover, with its elevation change and tight corners rewards patience and rhythm, and those are two things Mayer now brings in abundance. He's no longer the kid to figure it out; he's a contender, with one eye on a title and another on a future Cup ride.

Looking Ahead to Dover 2026

When the green flag waves at the Monster Mile in May 2026, it won't just be another Truck Series race; it'll be a homecoming.

For many drivers who came up through that 2020 field, Dover was a pivotal stage to showcase their abilities. It revealed who could adapt to its chaotic tendencies, who could remain patient, and who could handle the pressure of late-race restarts.

The track hasn't changed, but the drivers have. The NASCAR Truck Series' return to Dover will be a reminder of how far these stars have come, and where the current field of Truck Series drivers will go.