Matt Crafton – 2016 Gateway Recap

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Fisher Nuts/Menards Toyota Tundra, started 14th in Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park (GMP), when qualifying was cancelled, and the 32-truck field was set based on the NASCAR rule book – a combination of both practice speeds.
 
Crafton, who has 13 starts at GMP, worked his way into the top-10 by lap 10, and the top-five by lap 70. The ThorSport Racing driver even maintained a second-place position through lap 110, until making his third and final pit stop of the night at lap 114, under caution, for four tires and fuel. A slow stop, for trouble on the left-front, forced Crafton to lose valuable track position for the lap 118 restart. Restarting 12th, the two-time champion was unhappy with the balance of his Toyota Tundra in traffic, and maintained a position inside the top-15 for the ensuing 30 laps, until being involved in a lap 148 accident with six other trucks, which ultimately brought out the eighth caution, and second red flag. Due to extensive damage to the Menards Toyota Tundra, Crafton would settle for a 27th-place finish behind race winner, Christopher Bell.

Thorsport PR