September 14th, 2009 
T.C. If you happen to be one of the many race fans who is unhappy with the Cup Series and the current perceived lack of “racing” and action, then you need to seek out the Truck Series. We’ve said it several times here on this blog, but these guys put on probably the best show, week in and week out, of the big three NASCAR series. And Saturday’s race at Gateway again proved why we think so.
Matt Crafton was involved in two late race incidents with Todd Bodine and Ron Hornaday that resulted in Crafton getting black flagged for rough driving. When he was penalized, Mike Skinner capitalized and went on to score his second win in a row. If you didn’t see it, go hit up NASCAR.com or YouTube and search out the replays. It was wild.
With Gateway in the books, the Truck Series has seven races remaining in 2009. Hornaday currently leads Crafton in the points standings by 197 points, and Skinner is only another 16 markers behind Crafton. With the drama that occurred in St. Louis, this final stretch to determine the champion will be interesting, you can count on that.
Hornaday, Crafton, and Skinner are locked in a good points battle, and this situation with Crafton and Hornaday isn’t over. Just to give you a little background on this one, Crafton was replaced in Harvick’s truck by Hornaday a few years back. So you can be sure there is probably a little animosity. Plus, add to this whole deal the fact that Thorsport (Crafton’s team) gets its Chevrolet trucks from Harvick’s team, and the drama goes a little further. Now we add in a few on track skirmishes between Hornaday and Crafton this year, and we’ve got one heck of a story line.
The trucks will be back on track this weekend when they head to New Hampshire with the Cup Series. If you aren’t busy on Saturday afternoon, I’d suggest tuning in. You won’t be disappointed.
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I agree completely. I love the Truck Series, and I don’t think I’ve missed a race all year. The level of talent is tremendous, with one-time Cup and Nationwide veterans like Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine facing off with up and coming younger drivers like Matt Crafton, Colin Braun,and Brian Ickler. The competition is fierce and the trucks sometimes take a beating, but for some reasons the races are just a lot of fun. And I’ve also enjoyed the emergence of Kevin Harvick Incorporated as a force to be reckoned with in both Truck and Nationwide
Perhaps the reason is that the races are shorter, so the mid-race doldrums that often occur in the 400 or 500 mile Cup events neve happens in Truck.
I also urge you to watch ARCA events whenever possible. The range of talent is far greater, but the best drivers in this series will be stars in NASCAR in a few years. Drivers like Juston Lofton and Parker Kligerman are major talents.
I for one am sick of seeing Nascar give Hornaday the “Hamburger Helper Helping hand”. I really didnt see how either Bodine or Hornaday gave Crafton any other choice but to hold his line or give up position, they were both clearly trying to block or didnt know he was under them. Either way IMO it was not Craftons fault.
But was indeed a great race, the trucks should really get more TV time than they do. I bet the body guys on the truck teams have alot of work this week.
Heck yeah I saw it. “I’m not scared!!”
Bodine deserved what he got. He’s done it 100 times himself. He’s an idiot. He admitted to blocking Crafton then goes on to whine that Crafton shouldn’t have run into him while he was blocking him.
Now with Hornaday, it looked like Crafton drifted high up into the #33 to me. Maybe he should have backed off on that one. Maybe Hornaday came down a bit too.
It’ll be interesting next week at New Hampshire for sure.
Great feature on Timothy Peters on the pre-race show too & another top 10 for him.
If the roles of Crafton and Hornaday had been reversed, it would have been a “racing deal” and Hornaday would have won the race. He has done what Crafton did a hundred times or more. Just more NASCAR judgment.
The Truck Series is great!! Older drivers with nothing to prove and young drivers with everything to prove…the competition is exciting and fun to watch.
Who do you think was at fault for the incidents between Crafton and Bodine and Hornaday? Loked like Crafton just held his line both times to me…
Gene,
Thought the same thing. Looked like Crafton held his line with a truck that was restarting better and handling better. The Bodine deal was obvious, and the Hornaday deal was close, but not black flag worthy. After all, Hornaday’s jumped many a restart.
Gene, TC and Journo – did this remind you of Ricky Rudd and Davey Allison circa 1991 at the Glen?
There is a certain amount of give-and-take involved in racing at ANY level. You are responsible for the rear of the car in front of you, just as your rear is avoided by your follower. It has to be this way or, as Mike Skinner said, “It would be a demo derby, one leader at a time”. This is true no matter what yo’re racing. You just don’t have a good look at the gap behind you and must trust the guy behind you to give you room.
Matt Crafton didn’t follow this basic tenet. Yes, he had his nose under both of Onion and Hornanday, but it wasn’t a full fender. It was just enough to turn both of them. If he would of had enuf to claim to lane, then it would of been a racing deal. But he didn’t, as should have waited for the next turn, if he was that fast.
Ya notice that Sauter did the same thing to Skinner? But he backed off and no foul was called. As it should be. Crafton needs to learn that.
Funny that Crafton gets penalized for what KyB has done before in the truck races.
Truck racing reminds of CUP racing back in the 90s.
I’ll be going to LVMS to see the trucks. Maybe for the last time.
I don’t think they’ll travel this far west next year.
Gene: I don’t know if either incident was on purpose, but I do think Crafton is pushing really hard. He is very hungry, and he wants to win this championship. He knows the only way to do that is to win races and beat Hornaday…
RAEckart: This reminded me of a lot of incidents over the years…
Sometimes the truck race is the best race of the whole weekend. Great mix of drivers, lots of determination to win. I have become a huge fan.
I agree with Trucks being the best. Just wish there were more races. I think NASCAR needs to slow the car of trouble down so they can rub a little and make changes on valve stems so tires don’t get cut down so much when they swap a little paint. You really don’t have to go 200 mph, trucks show that.
Glad you said that. I love truck races. They have great action, close races and an old school feel.