A 13th-place finish Friday at Phoenix Raceway closed the book on a season where the 49-year-old failed to score a single top-five finish, the first time that’s happened to him in 22 years.
“It was terrible we sucked as bad as we did tonight and we sucked as bad as we did all year,” Crafton told Frontstretch after the race. “There were some moments where we were decent this year, and we made some gains, [but] tonight was terrible.”
“Duke and Rhonda (Thorson, owners) are very loyal,” Crafton explained. “Duke’s always said we’re going to build it like a business and keep making it better and better… I think Duke wants to keep using me as a tool, and I think I can make it better.”
As for what’s next for Crafton outside of NASCAR?
“Just look forward and go race part-time and go enjoy the family,” he explained. “And go do some dirt racing and do the things that make you smile.”
After 592 career Truck starts, three championships and 15 career wins, Crafton’s sure earned a break.
—Frontstretch —