Catchfence

BACK TO BLUEGRASS: Matt Crafton and the No. 88 Menards / Ideal Door team head back to the Bluegrass state for a second round at Kentucky Speedway. The team visited the 1.5-mile tri-oval in July when Crafton had a top-10 truck but finished 32nd after an engine failure on lap 19.

SPARTA STATS: With 11 previous starts at the track, Crafton has solid stats at the Sparta, Kentucky facility. With three top-five and seven top-10 finishes, Crafton has racked up an average start of 12.6 and an average finish of 11.5. He has a best finish of 3rd, which he earned consecutively in 2008 and 2009. Crafton’s engine failure at the spring race is his only DNF at Kentucky Speedway.

IT’S A TIE: When Crafton takes the green flag in this weekend’s event at Kentucky Speedway, his total number of consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race starts will hit 267, tying Dennis Setzer for second in all-time consecutive starts in the series. Crafton will take over second place exclusively in the following event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Terry Cook is the current record holder with 296, which Crafton can break at the end of the 2012 season if the schedule has 25 or more races.

GET OUT THE PLASTIC: The ThorSport Racing online store is open for business and is now accepting credit cards. Head over to http://store.thorsport.com or click the Merchandise tab on ThorSport.com to find gear for all of the ThorSport Racing drivers.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 88 team will utilize chassis No. 41 this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The team debuted this chassis at the spring Kentucky race. Crafton most recently used this truck at Michigan International Speedway where he won the pole and dominated the race before getting taken out in a late-race wreck.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Crafton earned a top-10 finish for the third week in a row in a wreck-free race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After running in the top five for most of the event, strategy in the final pit stop of the day resulted in a sixth-place finish for the No. 88 Menards / Great Lakes Wood Floors Chevrolet.

THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Matt Crafton

How do you feel going into the race at Kentucky Speedway?

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Kentucky, especially after the way our race went earlier this season. We had a very good truck when we went to Kentucky in July, and unfortunately we didn’t really get to show it when the engine blew. We’re planning to go back with the same chassis, which was really fast in Pocono and Michigan too, and I definitely think we’re capable of bringing that truck to victory lane.”

Race Info:

October 1, 2011

Kentucky Speedway

1.5-Mile Tri-Oval

Kentucky 225

150 Laps/225 Miles

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: 6th

Crew Chief: Bud Haefele

Chassis: 41

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR)

Matt Crafton NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results at Kentucky Speedway:

Starts: 11

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Top 5: 3

Top 10: 7

Laps Led: 9

Average Start: 12.6

Average Finish: 11.5

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 Ideal Door

Since 1963, Ideal Door has been an industry leader in sectional garage doors and the preferred choice of home owners, architects and builders for their current and future door needs. For more information, visit www.idealdoors.com.

- ThorSport Racing Press Release