Matt Crafton, the reigning NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series (NFSS) champion, has signed a multi-year contract to drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) for SealMaster Racing (SMR), it was announced by Duke Thorson, owner of SMR. The announcement comes less than a month after Crafton made his first appearance in SMR’s #88 Chevrolet Silverado, finishing ninth at the Motorola 200 at California Speedway October 28. As part of his assignment with SMR, Crafton will move from his native Tulare, Calif. to Ohio to be near the SMR faciltiy in Sandusky. He’ll work closely with veteran SMR crew chief Jerry Cook. Crafton has made quite an impression in recent months. In addition to claiming two race victories and the NFSS title, Crafton made a spectacular debut in the NASCAR Winston West Series earlier this month. He qualified second and finished second in the Home Depot 300 at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway November 4. Crafton led 190 laps in that event. He backed that with a solid showing the SMR truck at the open test at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Unofficial times had Crafton has high as sixth among the 25 trucks which participated in the test. SMR is currently pursuing various sponsorship opportunities. Thorson anticipates having a program in place prior to the 2001 season opener at the Daytona (Fla. ) International Speedway February 16.(SMR PR)(12-8-2000)
