Matt Crafton ended his 25-year full-time career in NASCAR Trucks with Phoenix.

Matt Crafton raced for the final time as a full-time NASCAR driver at Phoenix Raceway on November 1, bringing to a close 25 seasons in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series that made him the only driver with consecutive championships in the history of the series.

ThorSport Racing announced in August that Ty Majeski will take over the Ford #88 in 2026, closing the era of a driver who accumulated three championships and set the record of 590 consecutive races.

Crafton moved to trucks in 2000 after winning the Featherlite Southwest Series championship. Born in Tulare, California on June 11, 1976, he made his series debut at Auto Club Speedway and never left.

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Crafton won consecutive titles in 2013-2014, the only driver in the series to do so

Crafton's titles came in 2013, 2014, and 2019. His 2014 crown made him the first and only driver to win consecutive championships in the Truck Series. He achieved his third title, five years later, without a single victory that season.

In 591 races, he accumulated 15 wins, 333 top-ten finishes, and 135 top-five finishes. More than half of his starts ended within the top ten. He also tallied 16 pole positions.

Christopher Bell needed to beat Crafton to win his truck series title in 2017. "I'm thankful that Matt invested so much of his life in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series," said Bell. "It's veterans like him that make the series credible."

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Menards has sponsored Crafton for two decades

Crafton chose an uncommon path in NASCAR: to remain in the Truck Series instead of moving up to the Xfinity or Cup Series. "It's been 19 years... I'd say I'm here to stay," he stated in a previous interview.

His partnership with Menards spans over two decades as the primary sponsor, the longest active relationship between a driver and sponsor in NASCAR's national series. This financial stability allowed him to build his career without the pressure of seeking opportunities in higher series.

Ryan Blaney finished second to Crafton in 2014 when he was 20 years old. "The two years I was in the series, he won the championship," recalled Blaney. "He was one of those drivers I felt comfortable talking to when I was a rookie."

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Danny Crafton prepared his son in the Southwest Series

Crafton learned the value of hard work in his father Danny's shop during the 80s, repairing race cars. His dad competed in the NASCAR Southwest Series, where Matt became champion in 2000 before making the jump to trucks.

"It hasn't been handed to me, I had to work for it," Crafton explains. He contrasts his path with drivers backed by family money: "If it's handed to you, if your dad writes you a check and you wreck your equipment knowing they're going to write you another check next week... it just doesn't mean as much."

This intensity led to him being called by NASCAR officials multiple times for his language on the team radio. "I've always told them that the day I stop doing that is the day I need to retire."

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Bell and Rhodes learned from Crafton at ThorSport

Ben Rhodes, a teammate at ThorSport and a two-time champion, learned directly from Crafton: "He always told me 'race smarter, not harder'. Matt never pushes the limit until he crashes."

Edgar Riley worked as Crafton's front tire carrier from 2002 to 2011. "Matt gave me that opportunity," Riley recalled. "We shared many great memories together, including two wins, one of them being his first."

Crafton competed for ThorSport Racing in 24 of his 25 seasons, with the only exception being in 2004.

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Ty Majeski replaces Crafton in the #88 for 2026

Crafton plans to compete in some select races but refuses to use the word "retirement." "Let the chips fall where they may," he comments on his potential induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

"I'm happy doing what I do and happy to have done what I've done. Not many people can say they did what they love."