Since the year 2001, there has been one driver to compete in every NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series earning three championships along the way. As of next year, his streak will come to end.
Matt Crafton will step back from full-time driving in the No. 88 for Thor Sport Racing, a team he has been with since he started full time in 2001. It is the longest tenured team/driver combination in the NCTS. His primary sponsor, Menards, has been with him for 23 of those years.
Ty Majeski, who is Crafton’s teammate at Thor Sport, will take his place.
“Three-time series champion Matt Crafton will conclude his full-time driving career after the 2025 season,” said the team release.” His 23-year partnership with Menards stands as the longest-running driver/primary sponsor relationship in NASCAR history.
“Beginning in 2026, teammate and 2024 series champion Ty Majeski will take the wheel of the No. 88 full time.”
Matt Has Some Stats
Currently 16th in Driver Points, Crafton has put up some impressive numbers during his storied career. Through 585 starts, the 49-year-old native of Tulare, CA has earned 15 wins, 135 top fives, 331 top-10 finishes and 16 Pole Awards.
He won the Series’ championship in 2013, 2014 and 2019. Crafton has also made three NASCAR Cup and four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, mainly on a fill-in basis.
Majeski Brings Championship Cred
The 31-year-old native of Seymour, WI is currently sixth in points and will be competing for this second NCTS championship. Throughout his 107 starts, Majeski has six wins, 33 top-fives, 59 top-10 finishes and 11 Pole Awards.
Prior to fill time Truck Series racing, he won five ARCA Midwest Tour Championships, the 2023 ASA Championship and is a two-time winner of the prestigious Snowball Derby.
Can Majeski Make it Back-to-Back with Heim’s Success
The current points leader of Corey Heim, statistically, looks the odds-on-favorite to win a NCTS crown. He and the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota team have won seven races and earned five Pole Awards. The second-place driver of Layne Riggs has two trips to victory lane to Majeski’s none.
While the announcement from Thor Sport keeps Majeski on the same team going forward, there has been talk of Heim taking his talents out of the Truck Series garage to another team and series. A jump to the Cup racing could be in the cards.
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, shared his thoughts months ago about Heim’s future.
“He’s going to be a Sunday Cup guy,” Hamlin told The Athletic back in May. “There’s no doubt in my mind about it. He’s going to be with 23XI for the long haul.
“He is doing everything (he’s been) asked to. He’s in the building multiple times per week, working on his craft, continuing to get better and waiting on the opportunity.”
Heim Says Toyota is his Team
“I’d say so for the most part, I feel like with my development with Toyota, they’ve always kind of put me in a good spot to succeed,” he told Eric Epstein, Podcast host on YouTube. “Yes, it’s easy to get greedy when you feel like you can perform at the top level, which I feel like I can do given the right opportunity.
“But at the same time, it’s like, I’m surrounded by really good people that tell me to trust the process and they’ve been telling me that since 2020. And so far, the process has been great for me. I’m continuing to trust that process and I feel like, sooner than later, that will pay off and I’ll be in a really good position in the Cup Series.
“I feel like the spot I’m in is very ideal for my future. So for me, I just think it’s the best place to be for myself.”
The NCTS Playoffs begin Saturday, August 30 at Darlington Raceway.
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