Phoenix International Raceway – where it all began for Crafton

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News
Although the central California town of Tulare, home of Matt Crafton, is more than 500 miles from Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway (PIR), site of night’s Lucas Oil 150, the two-time, and defending series champion calls the one-mile oval a “hometown” race. Crafton, who got his start in the Featherlite Southwest Tour, a highly competitive regional series, made 12 starts at PIR between 1997 and 2006, and his success at the Avondale, Ariz. track included two poles (2000, 2001), a win (2006), and three top-five finishes. Crafton’s four year tenure in the series produced a championship title in 2000, and opened the door to his career in NASCAR, racing for Duke and Rhonda Thorson at ThorSport Racing in 2001. 
 
Crafton, who has made 14 starts at PIR in the NCWTS since 2001, scored his best start (second), and best finish (second) at the one-mile oval in 2014, and looks to Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150, to make up some ground in the series point standings. Currently second, with a 17-point deficit, the ThorSport Racing driver hopes experience equals results following the 150-lap race. In fact, Crafton has the most starts (14), most top-five finishes (5), most top-10 finishes (10), has completed the most laps (2082), and has the most lead lap finishes (13), of any other driver entered in the 25th annual event. Furthermore, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Crafton ranks first in Laps in the Top 15 (1367), and sixth in Driver Rating (102.9).
 
A win at PIR Friday night, a track where it all started, could mean history in the making for Crafton – a three-peat.
 
Sounding off – Matt Crafton:
 
On Phoenix:
“Phoenix is a lot different than it use to be, without a doubt. The back straightaway is like a huge roller coaster. It’s a good track, but it doesn’t have enough tire wear yet in my opinion. We’ve started to see more side-by-side racing there lately. It’s also close to home for me too. I have a ton of laps there, just not on the new configuration.”
 
On the Championship:
“I’m not worried about it. Like I said, our plan is to go into the next two races and try to lead the most laps and win the race. That was our goal before Martinsville, and we accomplished that feat. We had a fast truck in Texas last weekend, won the pole and finished fourth. It’s Erik’s (Jones) championship to lose, and ours to win right now. He’s got to be on defense and all we’ve got to do is play offense, try not to make any mistakes and he’s got to do the same thing. We just can’t have any bad luck.”

Thorsport PR

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