Lucky 13 rides along with the driver who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!
The Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200
Driver: Matt Crafton
Organization & Number: ThorSport Racing, #88
Crew Chief: Josh Hankish
Spotter: Jason Hedlesky
“Thank you, boys! Let’s show ’em what we’re made of.” – Matt Crafton
Disclaimer: Matt Crafton actually started P14. The lone NASCAR Cup Series driver in the field snagged P13, and Pit Pass Network wanted to keep this series strictly to the Truck Series. Crafton was the next driver in line, thus earning the Lucky 13 for Martinsville.
Stage 1
The first short track of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season got underway, and Matt Crafton held his ground in P14 through the opening laps.
Just ahead of Crafton, Stewart Friesen and Rajah Caruth were banging doors. Once these two settled down, it was a train of trucks, nose-to-tail, working its way around the Paperclip.
The first caution came on Lap 13 as Ryan Roulette spun out of Turn 4.
Crafton noted his water temp was very high and his truck was “very tight.” Crew Chief Josh Hankish said, “There isn’t much tape, but we’ll pull what’s there when we pit.”
Once lined back up, Crafton was still sitting in P14. He took the green on Lap 20 and immediately ran side-by-side with teammate Ben Rhodes, falling to P15.
Suddenly, the caution was out again as Layne Riggs went for a spin in Turn 4. He had to brake hard and swerve to miss the wreck.
Crafton noted his water temp was still high, and the No. 88 team was working to diagnose from the pits.
The restart came with 19 to go in the stage and Crafton in P14. He lost a couple of spots on the restart but settled back in at P15 with Tyler Ankrum working hard to get around him.
Six laps later, he and Ankrum were battling it out, with the No. 18 besting the No.88.
The stage came to a close with Crafton in P16, ready to see his crew and make some adjustments.
Crafton told his team, “I’m positive it’s not running right.” He asked for a trackbar adjustment and was promised that, fuel and tires.
Stage 2
He returned to the track and noted his truck was still running hot. He tried to cool it down under caution, then restarted P19 on Lap 62. Ahead of him, drivers were taking it three-wide. Two laps later, he found himself in a three-wide situation but cleared it and maintained his position.
With 17 to go in the second stage, the action started to pick up, but things remained quiet for the No. 88 team.
The stage ended, and Crafton found himself sitting P18.
Stage 3
Hankish made the call to keep Crafton on track, which allowed the No. 88 to start the final stage in P2.
He struggled on the restart, but was immediately back on the bumper of Caruth. Before more ground could be made, the caution waved when Luke Baldwin went for a spin.
Once again, Crafton was on the front row for the restart. He went three-wide for a turn and lost P2 to Corey Heim. Spotter Jason Hedlesky told Crafton, “Settle in and follow him through.”
The hits kept coming as Crafton fell to P6. Hankish worked to encourage his driver, reminding him they were on old tires.
With 53 to go, the caution waved as the No. 7 of Corey Day slammed the wall. Crafton was running P9 and radioed in an update on the handling of his truck – which was terrible.
After pitting, he returned to the track in P23 with 46 to go – but with fresh tires and major adjustments.
Cautions Breed Cautions
Three laps later, the No. 66 went for another spin, demolishing the No. 44 in the process.
Crafton had worked his way to P19 and restarted there with 35 to go. Before the green flag, Crafton said, “Go tell Benjamin (Rhodes) to lead the way!”
The caution immediately waved after Kaden Honeycutt got into Heim, cutting a tire and essentially ending his shot at a win.
Another restart with 28 to go, and Crafton was back to P19. He went on a charge and worked his way to P14 before the next caution waved – this time for Jack Wood, Grant Enfinger, and Tanner Gray getting tangled.
With 15 to go, Crafton lined up in P11 to attempt to finish out the race. Before that could happen, Honeycutt and Ty Majeski made contact and went for a spin. This put Crafton in P10 with eight to go.
Crafton was told, “Stay ready.”
A three-wide stack-up led to a problem, sending Crafton to the back like a rock.
Crafton was told they had to bring it in or they would be black-flagged. He came to the pits and discovered a broken sway bar.
Hankish sent Crafton back on track to finish out the race while Daniel Hemric was celebrating his first series career win.
Crafton limped it home P27.
Sponsor Shout-out + Social Round-up
NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shoutout to Dutch Boy and Menards. These two sponsors played a huge part of the weekend for Matt and the No. 88 team.
Be sure to give Matt Crafton (Facebook, Instagram, X) and ThorSport Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.
