tool name
closeCrafton holds on in overtime to notch first Truck series win
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Friday, May. 16, 2008
CONCORD, N.C. - Matt Crafton earned his first NASCAR victory as nearly everyone else racing for the win wrecked while trying.
Crafton held off a wild challenge from Chad McCumbee in a two-lap overtime to win Friday night's N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It was Crafton's first victory in 178 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series.
The win was due in large part to a matter of attrition, as pole-winner Kyle Busch - who led the most laps and got in a late-race wreck - and then Erik Darnell - who spun his tires on a late restart - disappeared from contention.
"Finally, we can shut them up," Crafton said in Victory Lane, tears swelling his eyes. "Now they can say, 'When's the next one coming?
"Track position was everything. I have a really good group of guys. We've been together for two years now. We're a small group of guys, but we're going to win more races. I can promise you that."
McCumbee, also trying for his first win, closed on Crafton's bumper on the final lap, but couldn't quite get close enough to make the pass for the lead.
"I kept trying to set him up and I had him set up, I was just a little bit too tight to get him," McCumbee said. "We were both going for our first win. If I couldn't get the win, I'm glad Matt got it."
There were several disappointed and frustrated drivers after the race.
Ron Hornaday apologized to Busch for his involvement in their wreck while racing for position, then lit into Todd Bodine, who wrecked Hornaday later in the race and was penalized by NASCAR for aggressive driving.
"There's no excuse for that. He flat tried to kill me," Hornaday said.
"You don't do that on the straightaway. We were pretty good friends, but I don?t know now."
Brendan Gaughan finished third, Darnell finished fourth and Rick Crawford finished fifth.
Hornaday continues to lead the series points race, by five over Crawford.
