Racer Matt Crafton Back Behind the Wheel of Ford F-150

ThorSport Racing to feature all F-series trucks for the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

ThorSport Racing recently announced that it will partner with Ford Performance for the upcoming 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, and beyond. Coming along for the ride for his 14th consecutive year is two-time champion Matt Crafton, who will be on the track this time in an F-150. He will make his first appearance Jan. 24 at the open series test at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I’m looking forward to working with Ford,” Crafton told Motorsport. “It’s what I started with in NASCAR in my old Southwest Tour days. I started racing a Ford out west. It’s all my dad has ever owned and raced. So it’s very exciting for him.”

Everyone is rolling up their sleeves to make the team ready. To prepare for the upcoming NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Thorsport will need to prepare have 16 trucks. “We have to cut everything off from the windshield bed forward and put all the new Ford noses on it and the Ford back half,” said Crafton.

‘I’m looking forward to working with Ford. It’s what I started with in NASCAR… I started racing a Ford out west. It’s all my dad has ever owned and raced.’

Wednesday’s test should be an optimal place to see just how the F-150 will perform, and Crafton is ready to put Ford’s power to the test. “So it should be fun. But I’m really looking forward to driving this F-150 this year.”

No matter the outcome, Crafton can count on his dad cheering him, and Ford, on: “He’s always said that when I started racing another manufacturer, ‘I don’t know if I can root for you because I’ve always driven a Ford, you’ve always driven a Ford.’ But now I guess I have a new fan—my dad.”

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!

S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.