Points leader Matt Crafton hopes to “Rip” into victory lane at Dover

Dover (Del.) International Speedway is known as the “Monster Mile,” and “Miles,” the tracks iconic mascot, has had his share of victims in the 15-year tenure that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) has been racing at the one-mile concrete oval. In fact, Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Rip It®/Menards Toyota Tundra, fell victim to the “Monster” in 2014, ending a 47-race streak of no DNF’s and eliminating the Menards driver from the top spot in the NCWTS driver point standings.

 

Starting second, his track-best start in 14 races at the Delaware track, Crafton led 46 laps and battled with Sprint Cup Series regular, Kyle Busch, for position before a right front tire blew on lap 156 of 200, sending the ThorSport Racing driver hard into the wall and relegating the No. 88 machine to a 23rd-place finish.

 

Not only did Crafton recover the point’s lead after losing it at Dover, he won his second consecutive championship in 2014, becoming the first driver in series’ history to win back-to-back titles. With more starts at Dover than any other driver entered in the 16th annual event, the veteran driver hopes to use his experience to scare the competition and “Rip” into victory lane on Friday night in the Lucas Oil 200.

 

Sounding off – Matt Crafton:

“There is a tremendous elevation change at Dover from the straightaway to the bottom of the corner. It’s definitely one of my top-three favorite race tracks to go to each and every year. The groove moves around a lot, the place lays down a lot of rubber, and it’s always great racing.”

Thorsport PR