Matt Crafton, No. 88 Hormel® Pepperoni/Menards Toyota Tundra
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Martinsville Speedway – Kroger 250
Race No. 3 of 23
Team Information:
2015 Driver Point Standings: 2nd (-2)
2015 Owner Point Standings: 2nd
Crew Chief: Carl “Junior” Joiner
When the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) takes the green flag at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Saturday afternoon for the Kroger 250, it will have been exactly one month since the series last raced at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. It will also have been exactly one month since Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Hormel® Pepperoni/Menards Toyota Tundra, was in victory lane, and just one year ago, the two-time NCWTS champion was in victory lane at Martinsville.
In March 2014, the ThorSport Racing driver started 10th, led a track-high 47 laps, and held off fellow Toyota Racing driver, Darrell Wallace, Jr., during a second attempt at a green-white-checker flag finish to claim his first victory at the half-mile paperclip. Crafton, who has more starts (26) than any other driver entered in Saturday’s 250-lap event, is tied with Timothy Peters for the most top-five finishes (six), has the most top-10 finishes (14), and has completed the most laps (5752) around the.526-mile track – a combination that could have the two-time champion “Clocking-In” to victory lane on Saturday.
Sounding off – Matt Crafton:
“Martinsville is a race where track position means everything. It’s important to qualify in the front, and it’s key to maintain that position. Everyone likes to run on the bottom, and that makes it difficult to make moves and pass. Last year when we won, we didn’t start the race off great, in fact we were terrible. The truck was really, really tight from the center of the corner off. We made a couple track bar adjustments, and an air pressure adjustment on the first two runs and we finally got going – these guys just never gave up. You can’t give up at Martinsville; you just have to muscle for everything you’ve got.”
News & Notes:
Chassis Chatter… The No. 88 team will utilize chassis No. 43 in the Kroger 250 on Saturday at Martinsville Speedway. It was run in both Martinsville races in 2014, including Crafton’s win in March.
Previous Race Recap… Crafton proved why Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway is his favorite track in the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 last month. The Menards driver started 8th and led a race-high 85 laps en route to his first win in his 14th start at the 1.54-mile quad oval. His sixth career victory.
Hormel® Pepperoni… Hormel® pepperoni is the No. 1 selling brand of pepperoni in the United States, thanks to its great flavor and high quality. Everyone knows pepperoni tastes great on pizza, but enterprising cooks rely on its delicious spicy flavor to add zest to a wide variety of dishes. In addition to perking up pizza, pepperoni is an ideal partner for sandwiches, salads, pasta or nachos! Since 1891, the Hormel® brand has been synonymous with quality, value and innovation.
Crafton’s NCWTS stats at Martinsville Speedway:
- 26 starts since 2001
- One win (March, 2014)
- Six top-five finishes
- 14 top-10 finishes
- One pole (Oct., 2011)
- 5752 of 5923 laps completed (97.1%)
- 116 laps led
- Average start: 13.0
- Average finish: 11.5
- According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Crafton ranks:
- Fourth in Average Running Position: 10.885
- Fourth in Driver Rating: 94.2
- Third in Fastest Laps Run: 77
- First in Laps in the Top 15: 3312
- Third in Laps Led: 116
- First in Green Flag Passes: 569
Crafton’s Martinsville Speedway NCWTS Performance Profile:
| Date | Started | Finished | Laps | Status | Led |
| April, 2001 | 22 | 6 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2002 | 28 | 20 | 247/250 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2003 | 14 | 13 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2003 | 20 | 28 | 111/200 | Brakes | 0 |
| April, 2004 | 23 | 7 | 254/254 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2004 | 5 | 6 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2005 | 27 | 15 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2005 | 12 | 12 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2006 | 21 | 3 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2006 | 10 | 34 | 125/200 | Engine | 0 |
| March, 2007 | 18 | 17 | 253/253 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2007 | 2 | 18 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2008 | 24 | 2 | 253/253 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2008 | 17 | 8 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2009 | 8 | 9 | 251/251 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2009 | 22 | 9 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| April, 2010 | 3 | 7 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2010 | 2 | 10 | 206/206 | Running | 0 |
| March, 2011 | 7 | 11 | 250/250 | Running | 1 |
| October, 2011 | 1 | 12 | 200/200 | Running | 11 |
| March, 2012 | 11 | 24 | 246/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2012 | 7 | 4 | 200/200 | Running | 33 |
| April, 2013 | 7 | 2 | 250/250 | Running | 0 |
| October, 2013 | 13 | 17 | 200/200 | Running | 0 |
| March, 2014 | 10 | 1 | 256/256 | Running | 47 |
| October, 2014 | 3 | 3 | 200/200 | Running | 24 |
Matt Crafton’s 2014 Highlights:
- Won second consecutive NCWTS championship title to become the first driver in series history to win back-to-back titles
- First career multi-win season with victories at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth
- 10th consecutive full season in second stint with ThorSport Racing
- Earned a series-leading 7.0 average finish
- Career-best 13 top-five finishes and 298 laps led
Crafton’s Career Truck Series Stats:
- 340 starts since 2000
- Six wins
- 77 top-five finishes
- 194 top-10 finishes
- Seven poles
- 52,933 laps completed
- 1004 laps led
- Average start: 13.4
- Average finish: 11.7
Race Information:
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2015
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Track Details: .526-mile Paperclip
Distance: 250 laps/131.5 miles
Practice:
Friday, March 27, FOX Sports 1
- 10 a.m. ET
- 1:30 p.m. ET
- 3:00 p.m. ET
Qualifying:
Saturday, March 28, FOX Sports 1
- 11 a.m. ET
Team Website: www.ThorSport.com
Driver Website: www.MattCrafton.com
Sponsor Website: www.Menards.comwww.HormelFoods.com
Twitter: @ThorSportRacing, @Matt_Crafton
ABOUT HORMEL® PEPPERONI:
Hormel® pepperoni is the No. 1 selling brand of pepperoni in the United States, thanks to its great flavor and high quality. Everyone knows pepperoni tastes great on pizza, but enterprising cooks rely on its delicious spicy flavor to add zest to a wide variety of dishes. In addition to perking up pizza, pepperoni is an ideal partner for sandwiches, salads, pasta or nachos! Since 1891, the Hormel® brand has been synonymous with quality, value and innovation. For more information visit: www.HormelFoods.com
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 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 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. 98 Nextant Aerospace/Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter, and the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Cameron Hayley in 2015.