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One future NASCAR Hall of Famer is having a difficult 2024. Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Matt Crafton has fallen off from the multi-time champion he once was. But is it enough to question his full-time future in NASCAR?
Matt Crafton is a legend. It’s that simple. It’s impressive that a driver can race in one NASCAR Series in 25 straight seasons. But to race with one team for 24 of those 25 seasons is even more remarkable.
Matt Crafton and ThorSport have been together since the 2000 season. With the exception of Crafton’s 2004 season with KHI, the team, driver, and sponsor Menards have been together since.
Crafton may have invented the Truck Series “lifer” identity, as he has not raced in any other series full-time in his entire NASCAR career. That’s for a good reason.
In all his time with ThorSport, Crafton has set, tied, and broken records in the Truck Series. The pair also won 15 races and three championships with three different manufacturers and countless teammates.
His last championship came, improbably enough, in 2019. The veteran entered the championship race in Miami without a win to his name for the first time in five seasons. Crafton seemingly broke the NASCAR Playoffs that day by not only not winning the race but not a single race, all season long, in a system invented to incentivize winning.
He returned to victory lane in 2020, but unfortunately, Crafton has fallen off drastically since then. This season, he missed the Truck Series Playoffs for the first time and scored a lone top-five through seventeen races.
While almost any other driver in Crafton’s position may see a release from his past four seasons, the veteran is still sitting comfortably with his team and sponsor of over 20 years.
This sponsorship is a key factor in ThorSport keeping Crafton in the No. 88. Menards is one of a few very loyal sponsors in NASCAR. For example, some teams might have to give an unsponsored, underperforming driver the proverbial boot. In comparison, Crafton, with Menards, is less of a liability.
To Thorsports’ credit, money isn’t the only factor seemingly keeping Crafton in the No. 88. There is a strong loyalty between team and driver, almost like days of old. Furthermore, in NASCAR history, there is a trend of letting vets get all they can out of their careers, such as Terry Labonte at Hendrick Motorsports.
Also, you never know in the trucks. Truck Series veterans like Ron Hornaday did a lot of winning late in their careers. After returning to the series at age 47 (Crafton is currently 48), Hornaday casually won 25 races and two championships prior to retiring at 56.
But is there anyone Crafton is negatively affecting?
So, who or what is Crafton hurting with his recent performances?
His legacy would be easy to assume. However, with recent late-career runs from NASCAR legends, Matt doesn’t look like that bad of a driver.
Rather, it could be ThorSport itself. While he is less of a financial burden with Menards, Thorsport currently fields four full-time trucks and one part-time truck, more than likely stretching the team’s resources a little thin.
That part-time entry is more of an open truck, but 18-year-old Conner Jones has taken on the bulk of responsibility for driving the truck this season. Jones could be in the wings waiting for Crafton in the near future.
Furthermore, Crafton’s retirement could usher in an era of a revamped development for Ford, which seemingly has very few drivers waiting for opportunities. Yet, if a top driver left TRD or Chevy, an open spot at ThorSport would be a great start with Ford.
For now, nothing is known about Crafton’s future. Will the legend retire a legend, or is he another salty veteran looking for the right time to strike again? As every day passes, it seems more and more like these questions will have their answers soon.
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