Sandusky, OH – February 15, 2011 – Matt Crafton is looking forward to getting back in the seat of the No. 88 Menards/Herculiner Chevrolet to kick off the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Crafton’s consistency was key in 2010, scoring one pole, ten top-five finishes, ten top-ten finishes and a fourth-place finish in the series championship standings. His 2011 goal is simple: to get into Victory Lane as much as possible and gain wins to add to the consistency boards. Period.
NOTABLE QUOTES:
ON PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS:
“Daytona is the track that everyone wants to race – not to mention, it’s our ‘Super Bowl’ every year. So there is a lot of pressure, especially based on pre-season predictions, for the veteran teams to perform. The 88 team is no different – we’re coming off a 2010 season with a solid 4th place points finish. We’ve got a simple strategy this year on the 88 team – that’s to win races as much as possible and not listen to the predictions. There is a lot of competition in Trucks this year, and I can’t wait – it’s time to get down to business and show that the 88 can hit Victory Lane in 2011. It’s my job to take it to the track and wheel it. The guys have really put in the hours in the shop in the offseason.”
ON CHANGES MADE AT TSR FOR THE 88:
“We changed to ECR engines, and that has made a huge difference in horsepower, which is where we had challenges last year. At Daytona, it’s what it’s going to take to bring the last push home and what will distinguish the veteran drivers – since we all want a strong finish. We also made a few personnel changes, so it’s a strong team. I’m proud of my guys, and it’s great to be with Bud (Haefele) again this year. We finish each other’s sentences – and he knows when something’s up in the Truck just by my differences in breathing over the radio. It’s a great bond.”
ON THE NEW SURFACE/SPEEDS AT DAYTONA:
At Daytona, we’re dealing with a lot more grip thanks to the new surface – so handling won’t be an issue. What Bud and I will be watching out for is the rest of the field. This is going to be exciting, fast racing; pair that with a great big mix of aggressive veterans and young rookies, and we’ll be making the spotters earn their keep more than usual up in the stand. We’ll definitely be using the last few years of track history, fuel management and the ‘luck factor’ to determine our last 10 laps – since the first 90 will be spent staying clear.”
OVERALL VIEWPOINTS:
“I’d love to say I’m gunning for a win at Daytona – but that would be pretty rash. It’s safe to say that the entire field wants a win, especially at Daytona…and a lot of guys out there will do anything to get it. I’d rather say that I want a strong finish, and I know I’ve got the Truck and team that will push for the 88 to get a strong finish. And there is nothing more that I’d like to do, in the 10th anniversary of Menard’s with ThorSport Racing in the Series, than to give that to my sponsor.”
STATS
Matt Crafton at Daytona: Matt has started ten NCWTS races at Daytona, with three top-ten finishes in his past four attempts. His best finish is fifth in 2010. He has completed 900 of 1012 possible laps (88.9%) and has led one lap in competition at Daytona, that being in 2009. He started outside the front row in 2009, his best qualifying effort at Daytona.
Crafton’s Daytona Truck: The truck Crafton will pilot at Daytona is ThorSport Racing Chassis No. 24. It’s the truck Crafton drove at both Daytona and Talladega in 2010 and 2009. In 2010, it qualified 17th and finished fifth in Daytona; and qualified 11th and finished 4th in Talladega. In 2009, it qualified second and finished eighth at Daytona; and qualified seventh and finished tenth at Talladega.
ThorSport remains the longest-tenured team in the NCWTS: With the departure of the Roush Fenway Racing organization from the Camping World Truck Series following the 2009 season, ThorSport Racing is now and remains the longest tenured team in the series. The team made its debut in the series at Milwaukee in 1996, and has entered at least one truck in 315 races. The Daytona race will be the No. 88 truck’s 322nd consecutive NCWTS race.
Crafton’s consecutive starts streak continues as the longest: Matt Crafton has the longest active streak of consecutive starts in the Camping World Truck Series. Crafton has started 247 consecutive races dating to his series debut at the season-ending race at California Speedway in 2000. Crafton has been in every NCWTS race since.
ThorSport Racing No. 88 Menards/Herculiner Chevrolet Pit Crew:
Crew chief: Bud Haefele
Jackman: Cody Jarrett
Truck chief: Jeriod Prince
Rear tire changer: David Sumner
Front tire changer: Tommy Jacobs
Rear tire carrier: Chris Rock
Front tire carrier: Ed Riley
Gasman: Rich Riley
Spotter: Tad Boyd
Transport driver: Bob Tebo
Race: The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series kicks off with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday February 18th. The first practice is a 3 hour + 20 minute session scheduled for 4:40 P.M. on Wednesday February 16th, with the final 50-minute session slated for Thursday February 17th at 12:10PM. The 36-truck starting field will be determined in two-lap qualifying runs at 6:05 P.M. on Thursday evening. The tweltfh annual NextEra Energy Resources 250 will go green shortly after 8 P.M. on Friday night; it can be seen live on SPEED and heard live on select affiliates of the Motor Racing Network and on Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128.
