By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Entering the Chevrolet Silverado 250, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton finds himself in an unfamiliar position.
Crafton was the last driver to make the 2018 Playoffs after finishing in the top-five in the Championship Standings every year since 2013. The two-time Truck Series Champion last visited victory lane at Eldora Speedway in 2017. Crafton’s current 28-race winless streak is his longest since going winless for 39 races from mid-2011 through early-2013.
The 2018 Playoffs begin at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, a track that Crafton has found success at in recent years. In five starts at the 10-Turn, 2.459-Mile road course, the ThorSport Racing driver has two top-five and four top-10 finishes. His best finish at CTMP in the No. 88 Ideal Door / Menards Ford F-150 was a runner-up finish in 2015.
“I love road course racing, and I’m definitely looking forward to Canada this weekend,” Crafton said. “It’s a unique track, and the only time we race a road course on the schedule during the season. It’s a blast – I have fun there. There are huge elevation changes that can grab your attention and with not much room for mistakes.”
Crafton will use chassis No. 59 in this years’ Chevrolet Silverado 250. The chassis has only made one appearance before, with Crafton last year in this race. He started eighth before an engine failure relegated the 42-year-old to a 25th-place finish.
As the Round of Eight begins for the Truck Series, Crafton is the only driver on the Playoff Grid that failed to earn Playoff Points via a Stage win, let alone a victory. He earned three via his finishing position in the Final Regular Season Points Standings. He is eight points behind his teammate, Grant Enfinger, who starts the Playoffs in the cutoff position. Crafton is 39-Points behind the Regular Season Champion, and Points Leader, Johnny Sauter.
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