Matt Crafton, the accomplished NASCAR champion and veteran driver with ThorSport Racing, completed his last full-time Truck Series race at Phoenix Raceway last Friday, and addressed the topic of his Matt Crafton retirement plans. After announcing his departure earlier in the season, Crafton’s future steps and post-racing ambitions have drawn keen interest from his supporters and the wider NASCAR community.
After the checkered flag in Phoenix, Crafton confirmed his intentions for life after NASCAR competition. Although he is leaving his full-time driving duties, the 49-year-old from Tulare, California, remains deeply connected to the sport and to ThorSport Racing, highlighting both his ongoing passion for motorsports and his commitment to the organization that has defined much of his career.
Crafton Outlines His Next Chapter and Role with ThorSport Racing
Following his final appearance for ThorSport, Crafton openly discussed his hope of remaining involved with the team, helping restore its competitive spirit. Reflecting on a season that brought disappointment—2025 marked his third consecutive year without a victory and his first since 2002 without a top-five finish—Crafton addressed his performance in a conversation with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio:
“It’s been pretty pathetic. The whole organization has been really good this year. I don’t think we’ve won one race…the whole organization…it suck to see what it used to be and what it is right now. Hopefully I can still stay a part of it and try to make it better because it’s been really sad to see the…we used to win a lot more races and be a lot more competitive.”
– Matt Crafton, Driver
Beyond his potential contributions to ThorSport Racing’s resurgence, Crafton made it clear that personal well-being and happiness are central to his post-retirement ambitions. Spending more time with family ranks high on his list, and he is also eager to embrace a more relaxed involvement in racing, including dirt racing and possible part-time appearances behind the wheel.
“Hopefully, go race part-time, go hang out with family, and go dirt racing and do what makes me happy again,”
Crafton added.
“Because here, the last few years hasn’t been making me very happy, sucking as bad as we have.”
– Matt Crafton, Driver
A Distinguished Career Leaves a Lasting Mark on NASCAR
As he steps back from full-time competition, Matt Crafton’s record stands among the best in the history of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Over 592 starts, he has achieved 15 career wins—placing him tenth on the all-time list—along with 16 pole positions, 135 top-five finishes, and 333 top-ten outcomes. This level of consistent performance has made him a standout figure among drivers and an enduring member of the ThorSport Racing organization.
The Motivation and Journey Behind Crafton’s Success
Renowned as the only driver in series history to earn back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014, Crafton claimed his third title in 2019, demonstrating competitive excellence under various championship structures. His career roots trace back to his upbringing in Tulare and later in San Jose, California, where he helped in his father’s race shop after taking over racing duties from his dad—a former Southwest Series contender. The lessons of his early career underpin both his racing philosophy and his drive.
In discussing the formative impact of his upbringing and his competitive mindset, Crafton spoke with directness about what has motivated him throughout his years on the circuit:
“I haven’t had it handed to me, I had to work for it. I don’t know how many times I’ve been brought into the NASCAR trailer and told to calm down and not cuss on the radio and not rant and rave. I always told them, the day I don’t do that is the day I need to quit.”
– Matt Crafton, Driver
“If you go back and look at Kevin Harvick or Kurt and Kyle Busch or Tony Stewart or Dale Earnhardt, everybody who has had to work for it from the grassroots, to fight and claw, you’re naturally going to carry more emotion,”
he added. – Matt Crafton, Driver
What Lies Ahead for Matt Crafton and NASCAR
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which is currently in its off-season, will return to the track for its season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. As for Matt Crafton, the end of his full-time career marks a new beginning focused on family, personal fulfillment, and contributing to the future of ThorSport Racing in whatever capacity he finds most meaningful. His legacy as a disciplined, emotional, and driven champion continues to inspire drivers, teams, and fans across the NASCAR community.
What does the next chapter look like for series veteran and three-time @NASCAR_Trucks champion @Matt_Crafton after his final full-time season?
🔊 "Do what makes you happy again, because here the last few years hasn't been making me very happy sucking as bad as we have." pic.twitter.com/j3PUd5I1r5
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 5, 2025
