Fast Facts: Matt Crafton

 

Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR/Robert Laberge

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra for ThorSport Racing, has just two wins in the series but has finished in the top 10 over 50% of the time in his 13-year career. Get to know the California-born driver in this week’s Fast Facts.

• Matthew Crafton was born June 11, 1976 in Tulare, California. He began racing go-karts at age seven, winning regional and national championships. At age 15, he began racing midgets and won twenty main events.
• In 1996, he moved up to the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series for the season’s final three races, subbing for his injured father Danny. The younger Crafton won the series title in 2000.
• In 2000, he also made his Truck Series debut in the season finale at California Speedway, currently known as Auto Club Speedway, with ThorSport - qualifying 17th and finishing ninth. After three full-time seasons with the team, he joined Kevin Harvick Incorporated (2004) but was released at the end of the season in spite of a fifth-place finish in points and 17 top 10s. In 2005, Crafton rejoined ThorSport.
• He earned his first Truck Series pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2005) followed by his first victory in Charlotte (2008). His second series win was earned at Iowa Speedway (2011).
• Matt Crafton's best finish in points was in 2009 where he finished second to four-time series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.
• Find out more about Crafton at his website, www.mattcrafton.com. Also check out the series “Riding Shotgun with Matt Crafton” here on Skirts & Scuffs.