ThorSport Racing Overview
ThorSport Racing is an American professional stock car racing team competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team is based in Sandusky, Ohio, and is owned by Duke Thorson, Rhonda Thorson and Mike Curb. ThorSport runs Ford trucks and fields multiple entries across the Truck Series with a long history of driver development and championship contention.
Founding and Organizational Origins
ThorSport Racing began operations in 1996 as SealMaster Racing. The team was established by Duke Thorson and Rhonda Thorson to compete in the then-young NASCAR Truck Series, building a regional base in Sandusky and growing a race shop to support full-season competition. From its earliest seasons the organization focused on establishing steady operational foundations and a single-truck presence that would expand in later years.
Early organizational decisions emphasized consistency and incremental growth. Over time the team added personnel, attracted sponsors, and developed a stable technical and logistical platform in Ohio rather than relocating to the traditional North Carolina racing hub. That operating model shaped ThorSport’s identity as a durable, family-owned shop with a regional footprint and national results.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
ThorSport moved into broader NASCAR competition through selective entries outside the Truck Series before expanding its Truck operations. The organization made a brief Nationwide Series debut in 2008, running two events with Shelby Howard, while the core effort remained focused on Truck competition. Partnerships and business arrangements, including a noted association with Mike Curb, supported expansion and sustained entries over time.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s ThorSport expanded from part-time efforts into a multi-truck operation. That growth enabled the team to rotate development drivers, retain veteran seat time, and grow sponsor relationships. The team’s long-term presence in the Truck Series, with at least one truck entered every season since 1996, reflects steady organizational development and an emphasis on continuity.
ThorSport Racing Competitive Journey
ThorSport’s competitive progression is rooted in early single-truck campaigns that matured into a multi-truck stable capable of producing race winners, series champions and a sustained development pipeline. The team’s trajectory includes early regional success, the arrival of cornerstone drivers, and multiple Truck Series championships across the 2010s and 2020s.
Early Seasons and Development (1996–2005)
ThorSport’s first full seasons featured part-time entries that built experience and credibility. Terry Cook delivered early results for the organization, and the team recorded its first Truck Series victory in 1998 at Flemington. Those early seasons established ThorSport as a capable independent operation willing to run full schedules when funding allowed.
By the mid-2000s ThorSport continued to cycle drivers while improving its equipment and sponsorship base. The organization experimented with driver lineups and sponsors across its trucks, learning how to manage full-season campaigns and laying groundwork for the longer-term competitive runs that followed.
Breakthrough in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2002–2014)
A pivotal shift occurred when Matt Crafton became a long-term fixture for the organization. Crafton’s tenure produced multiple wins and, most significantly, the first Truck Series championship for ThorSport in 2013. That 2013 season was notable for Crafton’s consistency; he completed every lap of the season and converted steady results into a title run. Crafton followed that with a second consecutive championship in 2014, establishing ThorSport as a championship-caliber team.
During this period ThorSport also fielded other competitive entries and drivers who produced wins and strong finishes. The team refined race strategies and operational procedures, and it demonstrated the ability to compete at short tracks and intermediate circuits through smart setups and tactical calls, including fuel strategy victories that became part of the team’s toolkit.
Continued Truck Series Success and Expansion (2015–Present)
After the initial Crafton championships ThorSport sustained competitiveness with a combination of veteran drivers and emerging talents. The team added additional full-time trucks and developed drivers such as Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter and Ty Majeski, among others. Ben Rhodes won championships in 2021 and 2023, and Ty Majeski captured a Truck Series championship in 2024, delivering further confirmation of ThorSport’s ability to prepare title contenders.
ThorSport’s competitive résumé includes a strong volume of race wins and poles across the Truck Series and feeder series. The organization also produced historic moments such as a 1-2-3 finish at Richmond in 2020. Across its modern era ThorSport balanced established veterans with developmental drivers to remain a consistent presence in the playoffs and championship rounds.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
Entering 2025 ThorSport operates multiple full-time entries in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and maintains its base in Sandusky, Ohio. Ownership remains with Duke and Rhonda Thorson alongside Mike Curb, and the team runs Ford equipment. The current driver lineup fields a mix of proven winners and developing talents, with entries including the No. 13, No. 66, No. 88, No. 98 and No. 99 trucks depending on the season’s assignments.
Operational priorities emphasize competitive consistency, playoff contention and driver development. ThorSport continues to leverage its Ohio shop, experienced personnel and manufacturer backing to sustain on-track performance while integrating younger drivers into national series competition.
Engineering Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
ThorSport’s technical approach emphasizes race strategy and mechanical consistency. The team has repeatedly used fuel strategy and measured pit calls to convert competitive positions into wins. On-track strengths include short-track performance and strong runs at intermediate tracks, where methodical setups and race management have paid off in both stage results and final finishes.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key organizational milestones include the team’s first Truck Series win in 1998, Matt Crafton’s 2013 championship and back-to-back title in 2014, subsequent championships by Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski, and the organization’s status as the longest-running team in the Truck Series with an entry every season since 1996. ThorSport’s first 1-2-3 Truck Series finish at Richmond in 2020 also stands as a historic team achievement.
ThorSport Racing Achievements and Results
ThorSport’s verified accomplishments include multiple Truck Series championships, dozens of race wins and a long record of national series starts. The organization’s on-track record reflects sustained competitiveness and success across championship campaigns and marquee events.
Cup Series Achievements
ThorSport’s primary focus has been the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The organization’s activity in NASCAR Cup-level competition is minimal and it does not maintain a full-time Cup presence.
Xfinity Series Achievements
ThorSport made limited Nationwide Series (Xfinity) starts, including a 2008 debut with Shelby Howard who ran two races and finished twentieth and twenty-third. Those appearances were occasional and the team’s major commitments remained in the Truck Series.
Truck Series and Development Program Success
ThorSport’s Truck Series record is its defining competitive legacy. Across national competition the organization has logged hundreds of Truck Series starts and dozens of victories. Verified statistics show ThorSport with 48 Truck Series wins, six Truck Series championships (2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and a sustained presence as a developer of championship-caliber drivers.
