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| DRIVER BIOGRAPHY |
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Matt Crafton, 24 from Tulare, California, reigning champion of the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, has moved up in the ranks of NASCAR to drive the No. 88 SealMaster Racing Chevrolet Silverado in the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Starting at age seven, Crafton raced Go-Karts then onto 250 Midgets and then Mini Sprints. In 1996, Danny Crafton, father of Matt Crafton, was injured while racing in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series and so Matt took over driving for his father.
Matt's idol has been, and always will be Davey Allison, personal friend of the Crafton family. In 1988, Davey drove Danny Crafton's Ford Thunderbird in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series at Madera Speedway. Davey signed a poster for Matt, who was 11-years-old at the time, and he gave him a t-shirt. To date, that same Davey Allison t-shirt is part of Matt's standard race attire. He wears it underneath his driving suit. Another "standard" to Matt's race attire is a painted image of Mighty Mouse on the back of his helmet.
Throughout the 2001 race season, Crafton will be competing for the prestigious Raybestos Rookie of the Year award as well as the championship trophy in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In his spare time, Crafton will be racing in other circuits such as the Winston West and NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series. He will also be participating in charity and community events statewide because he believes it is important to give back to one's community and always remember the people who have helped him get where he is today.
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