|
Stats:
Started: 5th
Finished: 3rd
Laps: 146/146
Status: Running
Driver Points: 1st (+19)
Owner Points: 1st (+19)
CONSISTENT CRAFTON FINISHES THIRD AT VEGAS - INCREASES POINT LEAD
Las Vegas, NV (Sept. 28, 2014) - Matt Crafton has been the ideal image for consistency this season, and after Saturday night's Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (LVMS), the JELD-WEN/Menards driver proved why he is in the hunt for a second consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) title.
Entering the 17th race on the 2014 NCWTS schedule, Crafton had an average finish of 2.6 on 1.5-mile tracks. The ThorSport Racing driver continued that consistency, finishing third, earning his sixth top-five finish in 14 starts at LVMS. The solid run marked Crafton's 10th top-five finish of the season and allowed the Menards driver to extend his point lead on second-place to 19.
Starting fifth, Crafton maintained a position inside the top-five throughout the 146-lap event fighting a Toyota Tundra that was "plowing tight" in the opening laps. Crew chief Carl "Junior" Joiner brought the No. 88 machine to pit road under caution for scheduled stops at laps 32 and 57, respectively, for four tires and fuel. With 50 laps remaining Crafton was scored as the fastest truck on the track. The Menards driver began knocking off positions one-by-one, eventually leading four laps before bringing his Tundra to pit road for the final scheduled stop, under green, at lap 108 for four tires and fuel. Unfortunately, a slow pit stop would cause Crafton to lose two seconds to the race leader and the No. 88 would be scored third when he returned to the race track with 38 laps remaining. Crafton would maintain his position in the closing laps to finish third behind race winner, Erik Jones.
Notes:
-
Matt Crafton finished third in the Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his sixth top-five finish in 14 starts at the 1.5-mile oval
-
According to NASCAR's Loop Data, Crafton had an Average Running Position of 3.80
-
The ThorSport Racing driver led the field once for four laps during the 146-lap event
-
The Menards driver has led nine times in 2014 for a total of 268 laps, a personal best in his 14 NCWTS seasons
-
Crafton remains first in the NCWTS driver point standings, 19 markers ahead of ThorSport Racing teammate Johnny Sauter
-
This is the seventh week during the 2014 season that Crafton has led the NCWTS driver point standings
-
In 2014, Crafton has two wins, 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes
-
Erik Jones won the 18th annual Rhino Linings 350 at LVMS, his third career NCWTS victory. Darrell Wallace, Jr. (second), Crafton (third), Timothy Peters (fourth), and Brian Ickler (fifth) rounded out the top-five finishers, all of which were driving Toyota's
-
The NCWTS will take two weeks off before heading to Talladega Superspeedway for the Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola on Saturday, October 16
Quote - Matt Crafton:
"I'm not worried about the 19 point lead, we just need to show up each week and keep doing what we do. We come here each weekend to win races, and the points will follow. As far as tonight, the KBM trucks had a lot of speed. In the second-half of a run I felt like we could keep up with them, but for whatever reasons it was lights out at the beginning of a run - we didn't have the short run speeds we needed. It kept getting cooler and cooler, so you could run wide open more. During the second half of the race we had to lift more, and it really played into our hand and that's where we made some ground. I've finished second and third here too many times, it's good, don't get me wrong, but it's just aggravating. All and all a good night for this Menards team."
Practice: 6th; 31.126 seconds/173.488mph
Final practice: 6th; 31.167 seconds/173.260mph
Qualifying: 5th; 30.935 seconds/174.560mph
|
