(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 7, 2010) - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton has filed an entry to compete in the Sunday, May 23 ARCA Racing Series "Menards 200 Presented by Federated Car Care" at Toledo Speedway. Crafton, who drives the No. 88 Menards-sponsored truck for ThorSport Racing, will attempt to officially qualify for his first career ARCA Racing Series race on Saturday, May 22, less than 18 hours after racing in the Truck Series race at North Carolina's Charlotte Motor Speedway.
One year ago, Crafton made the trip from Charlotte to Toledo after racing in the Truck Series on Friday night, to practice and qualify an ARCA car for Paul Menard. Qualifying was rained out, but Crafton enjoyed the ARCA experience.
"I'm really looking forward to racing at Toledo," Crafton said from his home in Mooresville, N.C. "Last year, practicing the car for Paul was fun. In fact, I really wanted to race the car last year!"
Menard, who was racing in the Sprint Showdown portion of the NASCAR All-Star event at Charlotte as ARCA activity took place Saturday, took a provisional starting spot (32nd) in the Sunday event at Toledo and raced his way up to second before being spun with less than five laps to go. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver recovered from the incident to finish fourth.
Crafton will race the same car Menard drove a year ago, fielded by Kimmel Racing. The No. 88 Ford Fusion will be decorated fluorescent red and carry co-primary sponsorship from Messina Wildlife Management and his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series sponsor, Menards, also the Toledo race sponsor.
"I know it will be a good car," Crafton continued. "I'm coming to try and win. Period."
Before moving to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time in 2001, Crafton won the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship in 2000. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Charlotte in May 2008 and has scored top-10 finishes in the series championship in six of the last seven years, including a career-best second in 2009. Over the course of his career, Crafton has started 227 Truck Series races with one win and 34 top-five and 112 top-10 finishes. His active streak of 227 consecutive starts is currently the longest in the series.
Ever the competitor, Crafton wants to win races, of course, but says the key to success is consistency.
"It's about being there at the end of the race, being in contention and giving yourself a chance to win each time out," he said. "I'm focused on being consistent each week, and winning the war instead of the battle. However, at Toledo, I'm coming to win!"
The annual ARCA Racing Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards spring event at Toledo Speedway will kick off on Friday, May 21, with the touring Buckeye 305 Sprint Car Series and a full program of regular Toledo Speedway racing.
Menards Pole Qualifying Presented by Ansell is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, and will be followed by the season-opening event for the ARCA Truck Series.
Spectator gates and ticket sales for the Menards 200 will open at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 23, and an on-track autograph session featuring the entire starting ARCA Racing Series field is scheduled to take place from noon-1 p.m. The green flag will drop on the Menards 200 at 2 p.m.
Advance discount tickets for the Menards 200 are available at Toledo-area Menards stores, including locations in Sandusky, Findlay, and Defiance. Race fans can save $10 off the price of admission by purchasing tickets at Menards through May 18.
Toledo Speedway is located at 5639 Benore Road in northeast Toledo, just off I-75 and Alexis Road
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