Subsequent season marks a brand new starting for Hayley Deeganwho modified the distinction. Nonetheless, he’s simply the identical factor as one of the vital dependable characters in racing. Matt Crafton, 46, is Cal Ripken Jr NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection.
Given the variations of their ages and bios, it might hardly have been calculated that Deegan, 21, and Crafton could be teammates in 2023.
Hayley Deegan was three months outdated when Matt Crafton made his first look
Three races into the 2013 season, Matt Crafton hit 297The tenth consecutive begins within the Craftsman Truck Collection to set the sequence document. He hasn’t slowed down within the least, and Crafton’s look at Daytona on February seventeenth will mark his 522ndAbbreviation II Begin straight.
After all, it is not nearly displaying up at Crafton. He has gained three championships, most lately in 2019. The ninth-place end within the 2022 standings was the bottom end since 2006 within the standings qualifier.
Crafton has been extra constant than wonderful, with solely 15 victories however completed within the prime ten in races 312 occasions, which is 59.9% of his complete begins. Nonetheless, the information folks can be speaking about essentially the most earlier than Daytona is that he made his NASCAR debut on October 28, 2000, 102 days after fellow newcomer ThorSport Racing. Hayley Deegan Boy.
Hailie Deegan joins the highly effective lineup
Hailie Deegan’s main NASCAR achievement thus far was being named Most Fashionable Driver within the Craftsman Truck Collection twice in a row whereas competing for David Gilliland’s crew. When Gilliland switched producers for the season, Ford joined ThorSport Racing and introduced in Deegan.
She joins a trio that has spectacular credentials.
Matt Crafton is the primary driver to win back-to-back championships within the sequence and has completed within the prime 5 132 occasions, greater than thrice the variety of races (36) accomplished by Deegan.
Ty Majeski, 28, is coming off his first truck racing full season, scoring two wins and ending within the prime 10 in 15 of 23 begins. He is already had a style of the Xfinity Collection, racing 12 occasions in 2018 earlier than Roush Fenway Racing left the sequence. Majeski gained at Homestead-Miami this fall to safe his spot in Championship 4, however he completed twentiethThe tenth within the title race.
Ben Rhodes He is solely 25 years outdated however has already scored 164 Truck begins and has a 2021 championship below his belt. He completed second to Zane Smith in his last season 4 championship with six wins and 89 prime 10 finishes.
Matt Crafton and ThorSport Racing have been collectively for a very long time
It is uncommon for a driver and crew to stay collectively so long as the collaboration between ThorSport Racing and the driving force of the No. 88 truck lasts.
The crew started competing within the Craftsman Truck Collection in 1996, and Matt Crafton joined the house owners in 2001. Crafton moved to Kevin Harvick’s crew in 2004 however returned a 12 months later and has stayed ever since.
The driving force lastly received his paycheck in Might 2008 when Crafton gained at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His was 178The tenth begin, setting the sequence document for many races earlier than scoring his first win.
Regardless of recording solely three wins, he claimed back-to-back championships in 2013-14.
Have a query or remark about racing? John Moriello of Sportscasting does a column within the mailbag each Friday. Write to him on [email protected]