Matt Crafton’s summer of consistency continued at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) on Sunday afternoon with a sixth-place finish in the 2nd annual NCWTS 250. As a result, the defending series champion trimmed his point deficit to current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) point leader and ThorSport Racing teammate Johnny Sauter to a mere seven markers with only eight races remaining on the 2014 schedule. The sixth-place effort is Crafton’s career-best NCWTS road-course finish in two starts, besting his 2013 result of 10th at the 2.459-mile road course.
Crafton took the green flag from the eighth position, his career best NCWTS road course start. Crew chief Carl Joiner called the IDEAL Door/Menards Toyota Tundra down pit road for scheduled stops under green at laps 14 and 38, respectively, for four tires and fuel. The 64-lap race saw only two cautions, at laps 48 and 55 for stalled trucks. On the final restart, Crafton, scored fifth, continued to challenge for the top spot but lost ground on the leaders due to handling issues, and settled for a sixth-place finish in just his second start at CTMP. The solid effort extended Crafton’s consistent summer streak to six top-10 finishes in the last seven events.
Notes:
• Crafton’s sixth-place finish was his career best NCWTS finish in two starts at CTMP
• Crafton ran 100% of the 64 laps inside the top-15
• According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Crafton ranked seventh in Average Running Position (7.562), and seventh in Driver Rating (94.1) following the NCWTS 250
• Through 14 of 22 races, Crafton remains second in NCWTS points, seven markers behind leader, and ThorSport Racing teammate, Johnny Sauter
• In 2014, Crafton has amassed two wins, seven top-five, and 10 top-10 finishes
• Ryan Blaney won the 2nd annual NCWTS 250 at CTMP followed by German Quiroga (second), Erik Jones (third), Gray Gaulding (fourth), and Andrew Ranger (fifth)
• Up next for the No. 88 ThorSport Racing team is the Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Friday night, September 12
Quote – Matt Crafton:
“For whatever reason we just started bouncing on that last run. I dialed some front brake into it because I wheel hopped it earlier and got a little carried away – got it bouncing a little bit on entry. It definitely hurt us right there at the end. If I wouldn’t have done that, I think we would have been alright there, but definitely wasn’t the result we wanted.”
Practice 1: 11th, 82.160 seconds (107.746mph)
Practice 2: 7th, 81.183 seconds (109.043mph)
Qualifying: 8th, 81.418 seconds (108.728mph)
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 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.idealdoors.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, 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 Carolina Nut Co. Toyota Tundra driven by Jeb Burton in the Truck Series and the No. 13 Toyota Camry in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.