Chicagoland
POST RACE
Kyle Busch (1)
Eric Phillips (CC)
Todd Bodine (2)
Ron Hornaday Jr. (3)
Justin Lofton (R)
PRE RACE
Todd Bodine
Aric Almirola
Ron Hornaday Jr.
Austin Dillon
Matt Crafton has been a model of consistency throughout his career, and this season has been no exception. He has collected 3 top-5 finishes in his last 4 races, and has finished outside the top-10 only once thus far in '09. In 8 career starts at Milwaukee, Crafton has finished in the top-10 five times. He finished 2nd there last season.
Crafton seeks wins each time out, and, while he isn't a big believer in moral victories, can nonetheless see the bigger championship picture.
"We're racing our rear-ends off each week, expecting to take our No. 88 Menards Silverado to Victory Lane," he said. "We've had awesome trucks all season, and I'm thankful to Bud (crew chief Haefele) and the guys for the great work they do. We feel like we should've been in Victory Lane multiple times this season so far, but we haven't closed the deal. But as I've always said, you have to first put yourself in position to have a shot, and we've done a good job of that. We've continued to learn and find ways to get better, and that's what you have to do."
Championship talk has swirled around Crafton for some time, and has intensified in recent weeks. He and the No. 88 team remain focused on each week's task.
"We're focused on the things we can control," he said. "There's so much that can happen week to week out here, because this series is so competitive. If you start looking behind or ahead, you're in trouble. We know what we're capable of, and we're a long way from where we want to be. The only way to get there is to keep working hard. Our guys have always done that, and that's what we'll continue to do."
Crafton looks forward to the change of racing pace that Milwaukee's flat mile provides.
"I always enjoy racing at Milwaukee," he said. "The racing is always good. It's a place where driver skill figures into the equation a bit more, and I always like that."
Crafton and ThorSport Racing teammate Johnny Sauter have forged a formidable partnership in a short period of time, based on a steady flow of information give-and-take. Crafton is inspired by Sauter's track record of success at Milwaukee, and believes it bodes well for both teams.
"Johnny is a Wisconsin guy, and has won a race and had some great runs here," Crafton said. "That just adds more fun to the race. Hopefully, he can continue what he's done here, and we can be strong again, and one of us will end up in Victory Lane."
