It’s down to the seasoned veteran versus the rising star in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship battle.
With just two races left, defending champion Matt Crafton leads Ryan Blaney by 23 points heading into Friday’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway (8:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1).
No matter the outcome at Homestead, at least one championship record will be set. Crafton would be the first back-to-back champion in the 20-year history of the NCWTS, while Blaney would be the series’ youngest title-winner at 20 years, 10 months and 14 days.
Before heading to Miami, the two drivers will have to tackle Phoenix. Both have performed well at the one-mile tri-oval located in the Sonoran Desert. Blaney boasts two top-10 finishes in as many starts, while Crafton claims four top-five and nine top-10 showings in 13 races at Phoenix. Neither has won there.
Blaney is confident he can catch Crafton even after losing ground on him at Texas.
“We made a stop toward the end of the race under caution and I was able to get back up to ninth which was good but we lost points,” Blaney said. “Now we need to win at Phoenix and Homestead to have a chance at the title and I think we can do that.”
Though unlikely, there is a mathematical possibility that Crafton clinches the championship at Phoenix. If he leaves there with a 48-point lead over Blaney, Crafton will lock up the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.
“I’m not worried about points,” said Crafton after his fifth-place finish at Texas. “We’re going for a win at Phoenix, it’s kind of a home track for me. We’ve been there a ton, and have a new truck so we’re really looking forward to it.”
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