NCWTS Race Recap: ThorSport Racing's Matt Crafton captures first victory at Kansas Speedway

Photo Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images  

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota, captured the checkered flag at the conclusion of the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway. He crossed the start/finish line 0.167 seconds ahead of a hard-charging Joey Coulter. This is his first victory in 2013 as well as at the racetrack. Additionally, this is the third win of the season for ThorSport Racing. 

Crafton attributed his win to the changes that his crew chief, Carl Joiner, decided to make to the truck despite what they had planned the prior evening because of its performance during Friday’s practice session.

"I have to thank every one of these guys for never giving up. This truck was junk yesterday. They made so many changes on this thing and turned this thing around. We knew we had something to win with about halfway through this race," Crafton said.

Second-place finisher Joey Coulter fought hard until the bitter end. “It felt like Daytona – I knew we were both in the gas and stood on it all we could. It didn’t seem like either one of us could gain or lose anything. I’m just so proud of these 18 Tundra guys – we’ve gotten off to a slow start. We came here, regrouped. We got in a little bit of a jam at the beginning of the race and these guys just kept digging, kept digging and great pit stops. Harold Holly, crew chief, played pit strategy perfect. It’s just awesome – I’m so happy for everybody on this Tundra.” 

Coulter led for a total of 15 laps and currently sits ninth in points behind teammate Darrell Wallace Jr. His team owner Kyle Busch tweeted “Great win by @Matt_Crafton but proud of the fight by @joeycoulter and the @KBMteam today.”

Ryan Blaney finished third and was the highest finishing rookie, making claim to the “Sunoco Rookie of the Race.”

The drivers who rounded out the top ten were: Brendan Gaughan, Johnny Sauter, James Buescher, Darrell Wallace Jr., Ty Dillon, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Timothy Peters. 

Other notable facts:

• Johnny Sauter leads the points standings by 12 over race winner Matt Crafton 
• Darrell Wallace Jr. - finished seventh, currently sitting eighth in points standings 
• 18 lead changes with 10 different leaders 
• 11 cautions for a total of 52 laps 
• 28 infractions which included pitting too soon, four cars to the rear prior to the green flag, speeding on exit/entering pit road and too many crew members in contact with the pit area

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Finishing Order, click here.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Points Standings, click here.

Next stop for the Truck Series will be Charlotte where they will run the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Live broadcast of the race will be provided by SPEED.

Unique Hiram is an Associate Editor/Contributing Writer/Media Rep for Skirts and Scuffs. Additionally, she is also the author of "Fast Lane Poetry," which was published April 2011. Unique can be contacted via email or through Twitter.