Team Information:
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Points: 11th
2016 Owner Points: 12th
Sounding Off – Cameron Hayley:
Your teammate, Matt Crafton, is in the Chase. With you not being in the Chase, are there things you can help the 88 team with, to help secure a championship for ThorSport Racing?
“There’s really two sides to that question. From a mechanical standpoint, our team, in general, has been running strong and Matt Crafton and the 88 team know that. We’ve been able to test a lot of things that they don’t have the opportunity to – to try and get better – because they don’t have that ability to do that in the Chase. If it doesn’t work, they can’t afford to finish terrible. We have been able to try some things though, which has benefitted them, for sure. From a competition standpoint, I’m honestly not out here to manipulate the race in any sort of way – I want it to play out as it is. Obviously, every driver, including myself, wants to come out here and win, but there are definitely times and places where we can help Matt (Crafton), like cutting him a little more slack than you normally would. On the flipside, you may race someone a little harder to try to keep the gap a little further, if he’s leading. So, there are definitely things that we have talked about throughout the entire Chase. Coming down to Homestead, like I said, you want the race to play out like it should, but it would be nice to see at ThorSport Tundra win the championship.”
Has it been tough not competing in the Chase this year?
“Not being in the Chase really sucks. We were close multiple times – I think we had three second-place finishes this year, so it’s been tough. But, it’s a big thing for ThorSport Racing, as a company. Duke and Ronda Thorson put so much into this team that if I can’t win the championship, I’d love to see Matt win it. Not just at the race track, but back at the shop, I get to see a lot that happens, and they are one hundred percent focused. I’m sure Matt’s nerves are at their peak going into this weekend, but he’s ready and knows how to win them.”
Following your strong run at Chicago a few weeks ago, Kyle Busch, who you raced for the win, talked about you – how strong you were. What does it mean to have someone like him give you compliments?
“It’s huge for sure, especially coming from Kyle (Busch) – the guy is an amazing race car driver. The amount of wins he has between Sprint Cup, Xfinity, and Truck is just something that a young driver, like myself, dreams about. To get a chance to race against Kyle is one thing, but to really race him – compete for a win – is unreal. I wish I could have beat him – we would be in the Chase now. It’s really cool of him to say those things though. He gives me advice all the time, and I feel like I can talk to him. He’s just one of those guys you strive to be as a young race car driver. Hopefully, I’ll have many opportunities to race him, and maybe one day beat him.”
News & Notes:
- Chassis Chatter…The No. 13 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 35 for Friday night’s NCWTS 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is the same chassis Hayley piloted to three top-five finishes this season including two runner-up finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Pocono Raceway.
- Miami Minute… Hayley will make his second start at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night. In his debut at the 1.5-mile track in 2015, the Calgary, Alberta, Canada native started 11th, ran as high as second, and finished ninth.
- Intermediate Track Facts: In 18 career starts on an Intermediate-style track (1.5-miles), Hayley has three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
- Welcome Back… Mattei Compressors will be back onboard the No. 13 Toyota Tundra for Friday night’s race at Homestead-Miami Superspeedway. Mattei has over 50 years of experience providing customers in every industry and market with superior compressed air products. Today, Mattei proudly serves a multitude of industries including agriculture, automotive and body shop, dry cleaning, energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, medical and dental, natural gas, pharmaceutical, plastics, woodworking and others. They understand industrial challenges and the solutions needed to overcome them. To learn more about Mattei compressors and how they can benefit your specific applications, visit matteicomp.com.
- Rearview Mirror – Phoenix… Making his second NCWTS start at Phoenix International Raceway, Hayley started seventh, ran as high as fourth, and finished fourth in the 150-lap event.
Hayley’s Homestead NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 1 (2015)
- Started: 11th
- Finished: 9th
- Laps Completed: 134 of 134 (100%)
- Laps Led: 0
Hayley’s 2016 NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 22
- Top-5 Finishes: 6
- Top-10 Finishes: 11
- Best Start: 2nd (Iowa Speedway)
- Best Finish: 2nd (Atlanta & Pocono)
- Lap Completed: 3275 of 3305 (99.0%)
- Laps Led: 21
- Average Start: 10.8
- Average Finish: 12.3
Hayley’s Career NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 48 since 2014
- First full-time season: 2015
- Top-5 Finishes: 10
- Top-10 Finishes: 26
- Laps Completed: 6996
- Laps Led: 99
- Best start: 2nd, Loudon (2014), Martinsville (Oct., 2015), and Iowa (2016)
- Best finish: 2nd, Atlanta Motor Speedway & Pocono International Raceway (2016)
- Start: 9.3
- Finish: 11.5
Hayley’s 2015 NCWTS Stats:
- Finished sixth in the driver point standings
- Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
- Top-5 Finishes: 4
- Top-10 Finishes: 13
- 78 laps led
- Best start: 2nd (Martinsville, October)
- Best finish: 3rd (Martinsville, October)
Race Information:
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016
Time: 8pm ET on FOX, MRN Radio & SiriusXM Channel 90
Track: 1.5-mile oval
Distance: 134 laps/201 miles