| Bristol, TN (August 21, 2014) – What was scheduled to be a night race for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) at Bristol Motor Speedway was delayed due to rain on Wednesdaynight, turning the UNOH 200 into a Thursday morning show. Several teams were not prepared for the conditions a day race presents, but the No. 88 ThorSport Racing team and driver Matt Crafton were up to the challenge. Not letting the rain dampen his spirits, Crafton braved the changing conditions and brought his Great Lakes Wood Floors/Menards Toyota Tundra home in the fourth position.
Starting from the 11th position, the Tulare, CA native made quick work of the field and moved solidly into the top-10 in the early stages of the 200 lap race. Crafton was fighting a loose Toyota Tundra but relayed to his crew he was confident they would find the handling he needed before the end of the event. By the lap 50 competition caution, the No. 88 machine was scored in the sixth position. Crew chief Carl Joiner brought the ThorSport Racing driver down pit road for four tires and Sunoco race fuel. The pit crew performed a flawless stop, gaining two positions and propelled the ThorSport Racing driver into the fourth position for the ensuing restart.
Crafton held steady inside the top-5 although he continued to battle a loose Tundra through the next portion of the event. Relief would come in the form of a caution at lap 118, and Joiner brought the No. 88 Tundra back down pit road for another set of Goodyear Eagles, Sunoco fuel, and a much needed air pressure adjustment. The adjustment helped Crafton’s loose problem, but pushed his Tundra to the tight side, which would plague the team for the remainder of the 200-lap event. Unfortunately, time would run out on the No. 88 driver to gain any more positions and Crafton would bring his Great Lakes Wood Floors/Menards Tundra home in the fourth position for his second consecutive top-5 finish in less than a week.
Notes:
Quotes: “We fought loose, loose the whole first run — on the very stop we put tires on it and we fought loose again. Made an adjustment on the last stop and we just stepped over the line, just got a little bit too tight, but it was pretty darned good. We just needed track position there at the end. If we could have gotten that outside rolling, I think we could have had something for them.” Practice: 10th, 15.557 seconds (123.340mph) Qualifying: 11th, 15.607 seconds (122.945mph) |
| ABOUT MENARDS:
With 287 stores in 14 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.
ABOUT GREAT LAKES WOOD FLOORS: Great Lakes hardwood flooring captures the true, natural beauty of the great outdoors, yet it also quiets the soul with its warmth and richness. With nearly 40 products available in prefinished solids and engineered selections, our floors offer that rare, sought-after blend of strength, beauty and affordability – all rolled into one. Visit www.greatlakeswoodfloors.comfo |
| ABOUT THORSPORT RACING:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport, which has run in the Truck Series since 1996, in 2014 will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by 2013 drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 98 Nextant Aerospace/Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff/Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter and the No. 13 Estes Toyota Tundra driven by Jeb Burton in the Truck Series. |
