While Matt Crafton stepped away from full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition after the 2025 season, his 26th in the series and 25th as a full-time driver, he noted that he still planned to return for select starts in 2026.
He did not run any of the season's first 24 races, but when longtime team ThorSport Racing included the No. 66 Ford on the entry list for this coming Friday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the writing was on the wall.
Crafton is set to return to the venue where he was crowned champion of the Truck Series on three different occasions (2013, 2014, and 2019), marking his 27th consecutive season competing at NASCAR's third highest level.
Matt Crafton returning to the NASCAR Truck Series for 2026 season finale
Friday's 134-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Homestead, Florida oval is set to mark Crafton's first start in a truck numbered something other than No. 88 since he ran the full 2004 season behind the wheel of the No. 6 Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. That season was the only season in which he ever competed for a team other than ThorSport Racing (initially known as SealMaster Racing when he competed from 2000 to 2003).
On only one occasion has he ever driven a ThorSport Racing truck with a number other than No. 88, and that also happened at Homestead-Miami back in the 2003 season finale. He drove the No. 98 Chevrolet for SealMaster Racing in that event.
Crafton is a 15-time Truck Series race winner, with his most recent victory coming at Kansas Speedway in July 2020. Six of his wins came during the 2015 season. He ironically only won a total of three races during his three championship-winning seasons, with the 2019 season memorably featuring zero wins for the No. 88 truck.
All four of ThorSport Racing's full-time entries are still set to compete in the season finale, although none remain eligible to win the championship heading into Homestead. Cole Butcher drives the No. 13 Ford, Ty Majeski drives the No. 88 Ford, Jake Garcia drives the No. 98 Ford, and Ben Rhodes drives the No. 99 Ford.
Friday's Baptist Health 200 is set to be shown live on Fox Sports 1 from Homestead-Miami Speedway beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don't miss any of the action from the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season finale!
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