Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota Tundra
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Texas Motor Speedway – Rattlesnake 400
Race No. 7 of 23
Team Information:
Started: 4th
Finished: 2nd
Laps: 167/167
Laps Led: 133
Status: Running
Driver Points: 1st (+18)
Owner Points: 1st
Matt Crafton Race Recap:
Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota Tundra, proved to be the class of the field in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Leading the 32-truck field five times, for a race-high 133 of 167 laps, the two-time champion came up five laps short in making it three in a row in 2016.
The No. 88 team showed speed throughout the weekend – leading the first of two practice sessionson Thursday evening, and the first round of NCWTS qualifying on Friday afternoon. Starting from the fourth position for the 167-lap event, Crafton didn’t waste any time getting to the top spot. The ThorSport Racing driver took the lead from former teammate, Johnny Sauter on lap one, leading the field for the first 12 circuits until a cut tire forced the Menards driver into the wall in Turn 3 on lap 12. Crew chief Carl “Junior” Joiner brought the No. 88 machine to pit road twice, under caution, for four tires, fuel, and to repair the right-side fender. When racing resumed on lap 15, Crafton was scored in the 21st position.
In the proceeding laps, Crafton proved why he’s an intermediate track icon, and that he was the truck to beat. Just 20 laps later, Crafton passed the 19 truck for the lead, and never looked back – leading 123 of the ensuing 128 laps. With no caution clock in play, the final 43 laps were caution-free, and as the long run continued, Crafton began to battle a Toyota Tundra that had “zero drive off,” and on lap 163 of 167, William Byron passed the No. 88 machine for the race lead. Crafton would fall to third behind rookie teammate, Rico Abreu initially, but Abreu would make contact with the wall, allowing Crafton to cross the stripe in the second position behind race winner, Byron. The solid run marked Crafton’s 12th top-five finish in 31 starts at TMS, and his fourth top-five finish in seven race in 2016.
Quote:
“If I could have done it any differently, I would have. We just lost all drive off the corner for whatever reason there. We ran so hard at the beginning of that run, and it had zero drive off. It says a lot about this team – to look at the right side of this Tundra, and how beat up this thing is. We led the most laps, and should of, could of, won this race. It’s all about these guys, and never giving up.”
Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series had two practice sessions on Thursdayafternoon in preparation for Friday night’s Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). Crafton was first, and fifth, respectively in both sessions.
- Making his 31st career start at TMS, Crafton started fourth, led the field five times for a race-high 133 laps, and finished second.
- In 31 starts at TMS, Crafton has led 233 laps en route to two wins, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.
- In seven starts in 2016, Crafton has one pole (Atlanta), two wins, and has led 394 laps en route to four top-five, and six top-10 finishes.
- Crafton continues to lead the NCWTS driver point standings with a 18 point lead over second place.
- In 368 career NCWTS starts, Crafton has led 2083 laps en route to 12 poles, 13 wins, 93 top-five and 216 top-10 finishes
- Crafton’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished ninth (Abreu), 11th (Rhodes), and 18th (Hayley).
- Up Next: The Speediatrics 200 on Saturday, June 17, 2016 at Iowa Speedway
About Ideal Door:
Since 1963, Ideal Door has been an industry leader in sectional garage doors and the preferred choice of home owners, architects and builders for their current and future door needs. For more information, visit: www.
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. For more information visit www.Menards.com
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 Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016. For more information visit www.ThorSport.com
