A pair of championship-winning drivers are slated to compete full-time for ThorSport Racing in the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) season, it was announced Friday by team owner Duke Thorson.

Matt Crafton, who claimed the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series title in 2000, returns to ThorSport to drive the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet.   Crafton joins Tracy Hines, a two-time USAC national champion and recent victor in the 2005 Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla.  Hines is slated to pilot the No. 13 entry.

"We're excited about having both Tracy Hines and Matt Crafton with our team" Thorson said.  "We've made a tremendous commitment over the past year to make the necessary changes to our team to remain competitive as the series continues to grow.  With Tracy and Matt, I'm confident we have as good a driver combination as any team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series."

The lineup represents a ThorSport return for Crafton.  The Tulare, Calif. native competed in 72 races in the No. 88 truck in 2000-03 before departing to drive last season at Kevin Harvick, Inc.  He was fifth in the series point standings in 2004.  Crafton has 97 career NCTS starts.  He's posted 46 top-10 finishes with a pair of third-place performances as his career-bests.

Hines finished 18th in the series point standings in 2004 while driving the No. 88 truck.  A New Castle, Ind. native, Hines was second in the battle for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.  Hines has 29 career NCTS starts.  He's posted two top-10 finishes with a best of fifth-place.

The 2005 NCTS season starts Friday, February 18 in Daytona Beach, Fla.