Riding Shotgun with Matt Crafton: Gaining momentum after Rockingham
![]() |
Credit: ThorSport Racing/Rhonda Greer |
After three races, two of which resulted in finishes outside
the top 20, Matt Crafton was excited for Rockingham and his third-place finish
last weekend.
“We needed the momentum.
We have had very fast race trucks that have not been able to capitalize on any
of them, this was the first time of the year that we got to finish one of the
races that we actually started and have a good day to show the progress of the
team,” Crafton said as he spoke on the much-needed run at Rockingham. That
finish alone would net a gain of 12 positions in the points. The No. 88 Menards team now sits 11th
as they head to Kansas Speedway this weekend.
With the great turnout at Rockingham, Crafton weighed in on
the fate of the track.
“I would love to go back twice! That is a real racetrack. You put it back in the driver’s hands instead of the technical. Some of these
places we go to, you go there and hold it wide open and there is not much a
driver can do. When you go out there and qualify at Texas, you hold it wide
open and then when you race, you can have a great truck and a mediocre driver
and still get a top-10 finish. A place like Rockingham that wears out the
tires, you slip and slide around, I would say that separates the drivers and I
truly believe that. Another perfect example is Atlanta that is one of the most
awesome race tracks there is, Atlanta and Rockingham are my two favorite race
tracks. You go fast but after a few laps it is put in the drivers’ hands, the
sliding, it is all about throttle control and the steering instead of holding
it wide open.”
In his post-race remarks Crafton referenced Rockingham and
the current tracks that just repaved their surfaces. He said, “I think that all
the race tracks should be like this -- Michigan and Pocono and all these race
tracks that are putting all this new pavement on. They need to grind them
down and make them rough like this race track and wear the tires out.” Asking
Matt to expand on that statement led to an enlightening conversation on the current topic of
track repaves.
“I know they put the new pavement on because it is wore out
and cracked, they are afraid it is going to come apart like Daytona did but I
have no idea about Michigan. It is absolutely idiotic to repave that place, it
was absolutely a blast to drive and race on. Now I think it is going to be a
sleeper, [like] the other night at Texas with all green and no yellows, I hope there
is no yellows at Michigan because they have so much grip in the track and are
going so fast right now it is going to be ridiculous."
Crafton continued to explain his thoughts on how to address tracks in need of repaves. “Put the new pavement on but then do something where it
does not have a ton of grip, you would go fast for a couple laps and then have
a ton of fall off.”
After this weekend Kansas Speedway is also heading towards a
repave and Crafton weighed in on that as well. “That is the stupidest thing I
have ever heard. It is idiotic; I do not know what they are getting out of it,
maybe some tax break or something.”
Speaking of the Kansas race this weekend, SPEED’s setup show
is featuring a Newlywed game with Matt and Ashley Crafton as contestants on the game show hosted by Rick Allen.
“It’s something they had to twist my arm to do to be totally
honest,” Crafton said on the little game show skit. “I am here to drive a
racecar and not play a newlywed game but it was a neat thing to do and see the
answers that we gave. It was very cool.”
![]() |
Credit: ThorSport Racing |
Tune into the Setup show from Kansas at 1:30 pm EST and see
the Craftons battle the Bueschers and the Gales and Rick Allen rocking a pretty
rad blue suit!
Last
time we spoke with Crafton the theme was clearly on the changes in his life
– from new bride Ashley to crew chief Carl Joiner and the switch to Toyotas, new starts abounded for Matt. Taking the on-track changes in stride, Crafton is
happy with everything.
“It’s been great; the Toyota people have been absolutely
awesome to work with. Anything we ask for, they have given us above and beyond
so far. I think now they are getting more and more excited because they saw how
well Johnny and I both ran at Martinsville and Dakoda, he is showing progress
each and every week. At Daytona Johnny was leading the race coming to the white
when he was wrecked. We are showing them what we can do for them as well as
what they can do for us. I think it is going to be a great partnership.”
As for crew chief Carl Joiner, he is fitting right in with
the team. He and Crafton have worked together previously as a driver/crew chief
pairing in the Southwest tour and with late models.
Leaving Kansas, the NCWTS will have three weeks off until
their next race at Charlotte. For Crafton, there is no off time. In those three
weeks he will be as busy as ever as he continues his work with Travis Pastrana
who makes his Nationwide debut in one week.
“Leaving Kansas I fly home on Sunday, leave on Monday for
the Pocono tire test which is Tuesday and Wednesday, and straight from there I head
to Richmond to help Travis for his East and Nationwide deals. In the next two
weeks I will be home maybe for 24 hours, not even that. I don’t have any off
weeks”
Crafton’s schedule sounds exhausting but he says “I love
helping him (Pastrana) and you are never going to find a greater person and
someone who appreciates so much everything you do for them. That’s what makes
it worth it.”
Riding Shotgun with Matt Crafton: Gaining momentum after Rockingham
Reviewed by Admin
on
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Rating:
