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FORD F-150
Despite his struggles, Crafton refused CREW CHIEF:
to blame the manufacturer change. CARL “JUNIOR” JOINER

“People all want to say it’s the OWNER:
[manufacturer] switch, but the 41’s THORSPORT RACING
[ThorSport teammate Ben Rhodes] FEATURED DRIVERS
had speed. In the last eight races,
we’ve got a lot better, but we haven’t national tours, including the 2015 Daytona 500,
been the consistent group that we’ve subbing for the injured Kyle Busch and three
been in the past with me and Junior Xfinity Series top-10 finishes for Richard Childress
[Joiner, crew chief] and this whole group. Racing in 2013. “If you talk to any true race fan,
they always say the trucks are the best racing in

“We’ve always been able to put races together NASCAR.
— top five, top 10 and get some wins. This year
[2018], we’ve just had too many 30th place, 20th “Can you go make more money in a [Monster
place and just breaks. Just been off a little bit, but I Energy] Cup deal? Yeah, absolutely. But you’re
know for the packages that we worked on here lately, I going to have a lot more of a life [in the Truck
feel real good going into the playoffs.” Series] and that’s what it’s all about.”

A contract extension signed during the second half of
the 2017 season put to rest any questions of a departure FOLLOW ONLINE
from ThorSport. And, Crafton said, he’s perfectly content
to continue racing competitively in the NGOTS. @Matt_Crafton @Matt_Crafton

“It’s the most fun to race, fun to watch series there is,” mattcrafton.com Matt-Crafton
said Crafton, who’s made starts in all three of NASCAR’s

THE OFFICIAL NASCAR 2019 PREVIEW & PRESS GUIDE 241