88
FORD F-150
CREW CHIEF:
THORSPORT RACING CARL “JUNIOR” JOINER
OWNER:
500, subbing for the injured Kyle Busch and three xnity
Series top-10 nishes for Richard Childress Racing in 2013.
“If you talk to any true race fan, they always say the trucks
are the best racing in NASCAR.
“Can you go make more money in a Monster Energy Cup
deal? Yeah, absolutely. But you’re going to have a lot more
of a life in the Truck Series and that’s what it’s all about.”
@Matt_Crafton
THE OFFICIAL NASCAR 2020 PREVIEW & PRESS GUIDE 237
FEATURED DRIVERS
“It was one of the worst racing seasons I can
remember,” he said as a then two-time Champion.
Even if he didn’t win, he did come close. He
nished second at spring race at Dover and third
at Kentucky.
Despite his struggles, Crafton refused to blame
the manufacturer change.
“People all want to say it’s the manufacturer
switch, but the 41’s ThorSport teammate Ben
Rhodes had speed. In the last eight races, we’ve
got a lot better, but we haven’t been the consistent
group that we’ve been in the past with me and
Junior Joiner, crew chief and this whole group.”
A contract extension signed during the second half
of the 2017 season put to rest any questions of a
departure from ThorSport. And, Crafton said, he’s
perfectly content to continue racing competitively
in the NGOTS. He has three total victories in his
three Championship seasons.
“It’s the most fun to race, fun to watch Series there
is,” said Crafton, who’s made starts in all three of
NASCAR’s national tours, including the 2015 Daytona
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