Catchfence

No. 88 Menards / Goof Off Chevrolet Silverado

LUCKY THIRTEEN: This weekend, Matt Crafton heads to Nashville Superspeedway to make his 13th start at the 1.333-mile D-shaped oval. In his 12 previous starts, Crafton has racked up seven top-10 finishes, including a sixth-place run when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series visited the track earlier this season. In his most recent 10 starts, Crafton has completed 100% of all scheduled laps on the concrete track. Crafton has only one DNF (Did Not Finish) at the facility, which he endured in his Nashville Superspeedway debut in 2001 when his engine expired after 59 laps.

CONCRETE CRAFTON: Although he’s the first to admit that he prefers asphalt tracks, Crafton has a solid record on concrete surfaces in this season. Following up his sixth-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway in April, Crafton finished third at Dover International Speedway, giving him an average finish of 4.5 on concrete in 2011.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 88 team will utilize chassis No. 35 this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. This race-winning chassis visited victory lane last weekend at Iowa Speedway. This is the same chassis Crafton drove to a sixth-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway in April.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Crafton drove the No. 88 Chevrolet Silverado to victory lane last weekend at Iowa Speedway, breaking a 79-race win drought. After fighting an extremely loose truck early in the evening, stellar pit stops, the right adjustments and patient determination led to Crafton taking the checkered flag. The win was Crafton’s second of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career.

Matt Crafton

What does last week’s win at Iowa Speedway mean to you?

“Our win at Iowa Speedway was exactly what we needed. After the struggles we’ve had in the last four weeks, it means so much to me, the team and all the sponsors that believe in me. It was a huge momentum-builder for the team and I’m hoping that we can take that momentum into Nashville.”

Do you go into a week after a race win any differently than a typical weekend?

“Obviously there is the additional press and appearances that comes with a race win, but I’d say the biggest thing after a weekend like we had is just trying to keep that momentum. I’m actually a pretty superstitious guy and so is everyone on my team, so it’s funny the lengths everyone goes to in order to keep the good luck coming. Before last week’s race a few guys on the crew shaved their heads into Mohawks for luck, and we joked that they’d have to do it every week if we won. I think we might see a few more guys on the crew with Mohawks this week.”

How do you feel going into Nashville Superspeedway?

“I feel great going into the next race after our win last week, and I’m pumped to be bringing the same chassis we just took to victory lane. It’s also the same chassis we brought to Nashville earlier in the year. We had a solid sixth-place finish the last time we went to Nashville, and we learned a lot in the race to get the truck even more dialed in for the track. I’m generally the type of guy who prefers asphalt to concrete, but this team is capable of bringing home a win in Nashville. I took a tour of the Gibson Guitar Company the last time we were in town, and it made me want that guitar trophy even more.”

Race Info:

Broadcast Info:

TV: SPEED will broadcast live at 8:00 p.m. EST

Radio: MRN will broadcast live at 7:45 p.m. EST

Team Facts:

Current Point Standings: 5th

Crew Chief: Bud Haefele

Chassis: 35

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR)

Matt Crafton

Starts: 12

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Top 5: 1

Top 10: 7

Laps Led: 0

Average Start: 13.5

Average Finish: 10.7

Find Matt Crafton on Social Media

Facebook:

- ThorSport Racing

- Matt Crafton Official Fan Page

Twitter:

- @ThorSportRacing

- @Matt_Crafton

YouTube:

- ThorSport Racing

About Menards:

With 263 stores in 13 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.

About Goof Off

Over the years, Goof Off has introduced a number of products designed to help consumers eliminate messy mistakes that would otherwise ruin their belongings. Goof Off products clean tough messes and mistakes around the home, garage and workshop. Owned by W.M. Barr & Company and based in Memphis, Tennessee, Goof Off products are available for purchase at major retailers and grocery stores, online at www.goofoffstainremover.com, or by calling 1-877-466-3633.

- ThorSport Racing Press Release