Matt Crafton

About Matt Crafton

Matt Crafton will return to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series for the 2020 season, running the full-time season in the No. 88 Menards Ford F-150. Matt climbed back into the championship hunt in 2019, with a bid in the NGROTS Playoffs. The two-time series champion navigated his way into the through the unique three Round Playoff format where he was claimed the Driver Championship for the third time in his career.

The Tulare, California native also extended the Gander Trucks record for consecutive starts to 450, since his series debut at Auto Club Speedway in November 2000 – passing four-time Gander Trucks champion Ron Hornaday, Jr with 360 starts in the 2015 Gander Trucks race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Additionally, the ThorSport Racing driver capped off his 19th full-time season in the Gander Trucks.

FAST FACTS | 3 NGROTS Championships | 15 Wins | 16 Poles | 2,682 Laps Led | 521 Starts Since 2000

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Back-to-Back NCWTS Champion

In 2014, Crafton drove his way into the NASCAR history books becoming the first NCWTS back-to-back champion, winning titles in 2013 and 2014. In a season that was characterized by success, 2014 marked the first time in Crafton’s 14 full-time seasons in the NCWTS to win more than one race in a season, prevailing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Get to know Matt Crafton

Hometown: Tulare, CA | Birthdate: June 11, 1976 | Residence: Mooresville, NC

Wife: Lauren Crafton | Children: Daughter – Elladee, Son – Matthew

Crafton began his racing career in go-karts and mini sprints before following his father, Danny Crafton, who had his own legacy on the West Coast, into late models. When Danny was injured with three races left in the 1996 season, he selected his son as his substitute. Crafton’s performance in those races led Danny to hang up his helmet and step out of his familiar No. 46 to allow his son to take over. The younger Crafton rewarded his family’s faith in 2000 by winning four races en route to the prestigious NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship.

Following Crafton’s championship in the 2000 Featherlite Southwest Series, ThorSport Racing named him the driver of the No. 88 truck for the 2000 season finale at Auto Club Speedway, beginning the series’ longest-running driver-team relationship. Crafton became a fixture in the NCWTS, finishing in the top-10 in the standings in 15 of the last 16 seasons.

Matt Crafton and his daughter Elladee Crafton 2017

Get to know Matt Crafton

Hometown: Tulare, CA | Birthdate: June 11, 1976
Residence: Mooresville, NC | Children: Daughter – Elladee

Crafton began his racing career in go-karts and mini sprints before following his father, Danny Crafton, who had his own legacy on the West Coast, into late models. When Danny was injured with three races left in the 1996 season, he selected his son as his substitute. Crafton’s performance in those races led Danny to hang up his helmet and step out of his familiar No. 46 to allow his son to take over. The younger Crafton rewarded his family’s faith in 2000 by winning four races en route to the prestigious NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship.

Following Crafton’s championship in the 2000 Featherlite Southwest Series, ThorSport Racing named him the driver of the No. 88 truck for the 2000 season finale at Auto Club Speedway, beginning the series’ longest-running driver-team relationship. Crafton became a fixture in the NCWTS, finishing in the top-10 in the standings in 15 of the last 16 seasons.

Matt Crafton and his daughter Elladee Crafton 2017