Crafton scores second consecutive top-five finish

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 Wednesday night, 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.

 

Thorsport PR