Matt Crafton wants old school NASCAR championship format; likes modern schedules

Crafton Calls 2024‍ Season‌ ‘Terrible’ Despite‍ ThorSport ‍Success

NASCAR ⁣veteran Matt Crafton⁢ is ready to put teh 2024 season behind him, calling it “terrible”⁤ despite acknowledging ‌the long-standing success‍ of the ThorSport Racing No. 88 team.

Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio with‍ Larry McReynolds ⁣and Danielle Trotta, Crafton⁣ reflected on the team’s accomplishments over the past 25⁣ years, ‌praising owners Duke and ⁤Rhonda Thorson for ⁣their commitment and vision.

“Duke and Rhonda have ⁤been incredible owners, and I couldn’t ‌ask for anyone better to be honest,” Crafton said. “When Duke shook my hand and told ​me he was a man⁣ of his word and we’re going‌ to win⁤ races and championships, build it as a business, that’s what we went and⁢ did — we built it as ⁣a⁢ business each and every year and made it better.”

Crafton, a three-time NASCAR Truck Series champion, acknowledged the team’s initial‌ struggles before achieving ⁤consistent⁣ success.

“I mean,‍ at the beginning, we definitely were not a winning team right off. We slowly built it and then the wins came, and then the championships came,”‌ he said.”That’s the hard part to swallow, ⁤the ‍last two to three years ⁢has been a struggle to our expectations because they were so high‍ for a little while and we ​got off a little bit but we’re definitely planning on ⁤working and getting going in the right direction.”

Crafton⁣ pointed to teammate ‌Ty Majeski’s dominant season ‍as a benchmark for improvement.

“My ⁤biggest thing right now is just trying to look at⁣ what Ty’s ⁢doing.I mean, Ty’s been in a league of his own. I mean, he is been ⁣incredible. What they’ve ‍done all year, they’ve had speed (and) at the end of the year, they really put the consistency down,” Crafton said.

He acknowledged the⁢ struggles faced by the othre thorsport teams, attributing some of his own difficulties ⁢to bad luck and mechanical issues.

“But at the⁢ end ⁢of the day, when you’re running ​around⁣ some of the stuff that you ​shouldn’t be ‌running around, you‍ get caught up in stuff that​ you shouldn’t⁤ be ⁣running around.So that’s part⁤ of it,” Crafton said. “And just‍ like ⁣I said,⁤ I’m ready to put the‌ year behind us and ⁤move forward and make⁢ the Menard’s Ford F-150 fast again.”

With a renewed​ focus and determination, Crafton⁣ is looking ahead‌ to a more prosperous 2025 season.

NASCAR Playoff format Under Fire: Crafton Calls for Season-Long Consistency

Charlotte, NC ⁢- Veteran NASCAR​ Truck Series driver Matt Crafton, a two-time⁤ champion, has reignited the debate surrounding the sport’s playoff format, ‌calling for ​a‌ return to a season-long points system.

Crafton, who clinched the ‌2019 championship without securing a single race win, believes the current playoff structure, ​which ⁣emphasizes wins over consistency, doesn’t‌ accurately reflect‍ the⁢ true champion.

“Needs to be ⁤changed a lot in ‍my opinion,” Crafton stated. “We’re going ⁢by too much stick and ball sports and ⁢we are not‌ a stick​ and ball sport. We should do it ⁣on⁤ the whole ⁣season — start at Daytona and put the whole season ‌together,consistency.”

He argues that ‍the current⁤ system,⁣ while exciting, devalues⁣ the efforts of drivers who ⁤perform consistently throughout the season.

“in 2019, we kind ⁤of got where we ​were pretty good at the end​ of the year and we just put it all together,” Crafton recalled. “I knew I was racing ⁤each and every week and I⁤ knew what stage points we ‌had to have. I knew that and that’s all you’re gonna ⁢race at that point of the season. And I ⁢don’t, in my opinion, I⁢ don’t think that’s right. NASCAR‌ was based ‍on a full season and that’s what‍ I think it should be.”

While acknowledging the likelihood of NASCAR sticking with the playoff format,Crafton suggests ⁤a 10-race Chase‌ format as a ​potential compromise.

“Yeah, I’d ‌do that if we weren’t going to do​ a full season. I’d go ​for something like ⁣that‍ for‍ sure,” he said.

Crafton also highlighted the lack of‌ incentive to⁤ win⁤ races within the playoff ​structure, citing his own experience in the 2019 finale.

“There really isn’t [incentive],” he admitted. “If they’re gonna do playoffs, that’s the way⁣ it’s got to be. And​ you can point… I mean,⁤ if you lock yourself‌ into the next round, if ​you win⁣ the final race, you lock ⁤yourself ⁣in.”

Beyond ⁣the playoff ​format, Crafton also weighed in on‌ the ⁣Truck⁤ series schedule, advocating for a ‍return to 25 races. He believes the ​reduction to 20-23 races has negatively impacted teams, ​leading to layoffs despite ‍the​ costs ​of running a season remaining ⁤unchanged.

NASCAR veteran Crafton Champions ⁤Expanded Schedule, More Diverse Venues

NASCAR driver Johnny Crafton believes the sport’s recent ⁢shift towards​ a more diverse schedule is a positive step,​ advocating for⁣ more races in⁣ new ⁤cities while still honoring traditional tracks.

Crafton, a seasoned competitor, recently voiced his support ‍for NASCAR’s move away from repetitive visits⁤ to the same tracks. he specifically cited the success of the recent Chicago street race as an example of the ⁢potential for expanding the sport’s reach and appeal.

“I feel‍ we need to ⁢have ⁣more of that,” Crafton said, emphasizing the need ⁤for NASCAR to explore new markets and ⁢venues.

While acknowledging the importance of classic tracks like Texas and Charlotte, ⁢Crafton believes ‌the current schedule, which includes ​a return to Rockingham and a nod to ​the packed crowds ‌of Mansfield, ⁤Ohio, offers a better ⁣balance.

Crafton’s endorsement of the⁢ expanded‍ schedule comes ⁣amidst ongoing discussions about ‌the financial impact of⁤ NASCAR’s evolving landscape.He acknowledged concerns from some ⁤teams about the potential ⁣for reduced ​sponsorship revenue with fewer races at traditional​ venues.

“It ⁢hurt ⁢the ‌teams that actually pay people to go to the race track by the sponsors,” Crafton said. ‌”If the sponsor is then paying you​ less to be at the track ‌less, you’re losing money to have people and⁢ the equipment. There’s⁢ definitely two ways of looking ⁤at it ⁢but I’m definitely‍ team 25 or more. ⁤If ‌the ⁣teams can get ⁤the funding, it’s definitely going to help them.”

Crafton’s perspective highlights⁢ the complex considerations facing NASCAR as it ⁣navigates a changing‌ landscape. Balancing the needs of ⁢teams,⁤ sponsors, and fans while‌ exploring new⁢ opportunities for growth will be crucial ⁣for the sport’s continued success.

Crafton’s‍ Season “Terrible” despite ThorSport Success, Calls ‍for ‍Playoff Format Changes

charlotte,⁣ NC ​ – NASCAR veteran‍ Matt Crafton, ‍despite acknowledging the long-standing success of ThorSport Racing, labeled the 2024 season “terrible” in a recent interview on SiriusXM NASCAR ‌Radio.

Crafton, a three-time NASCAR Truck Series‌ champion, praised team ⁤owners Duke and Rhonda ThorSport for their unwavering commitment and vision,⁤ highlighting how they ‍built‌ the team into a consistent force in the Truck⁣ Series.

“Duke and Rhonda have been incredible owners,” Crafton stated. “They’re the reason we ‌became ⁣a championship-winning team. We built this into ‌a accomplished business, year after year.”

Despite‌ this legacy of success, Crafton admitted the last few seasons have been ‍a challenge.

“The last⁣ two to three ‌years have been ​a struggle,” ⁣he confessed. “We​ set the bar ‍high for ourselves, and things haven’t been going according to plan.”

He pointed to teammate Ty Majeski’s ⁤dominant performance in 2024⁤ as a⁢ benchmark for advancement.

“Ty’s been incredible,” Crafton ‍said. “His consistency ‍and speed⁢ are what we strive for.We⁣ need to ‍analyze what he’s doing right and apply those lessons to our own‌ program.”

Crafton acknowledged he faced challenges with bad luck and mechanical issues contributing to‍ his struggles.

“It’s frustrating‍ when you’re caught up⁢ in incidents​ that you shouldn’t ⁢be,” he admitted. “But that’s racing, and we just need to learn from these experiences and come back stronger.”

Looking ahead, Crafton expressed optimism for the 2025 season, stating his‌ determination to make the Menards Ford F-150 competitive again.

Playoff Format ‌Under Fire

Beyond reflecting on the 2024 season, Crafton reignited the debate surrounding​ NASCAR’s‌ playoff format, calling for a shift towards a system that rewards season-long⁤ consistency.

He argued that the current format often rewards drivers who peak at the right⁣ time, rather ‌than ⁤those who consistently perform well throughout the season.

“The playoffs should reflect the driver who’s been the most consistent all year,”⁤ Crafton stated. “It ⁣shouldn’t come down to just a few races.”

Crafton’s comments are sure to ‍spark ⁢discussion‌ among fans​ and drivers alike, as the debate about the best playoff format continues.

Newsdirectory3.com will continue to follow this story as it develops.