NASCAR Driver Who Once Called Kyle Busch’s Team “A Fu**Ing Joke” on the Cusp of Gargantuan Truck Series Feat

Among the three national divisions of stock car racing run by NASCAR, the third tier comprises pickup truck racing. The NASCAR Truck Series is often utilized as a stepping stone by many of the most famous drivers to enter the Xfinity Series, and then the Cup Series.

Often times fans do not accord the Truck Series the respect and attraction it deserves. However, it is important to understand that it has promoted iconic drivers that fans love to cheer on in the Cup Series after convincing performances at the Truck Series.

They started the Truck Series in 1995, almost 50 years after the Cup Series began. It has since undergone changes in sponsorships twice and will be officially called the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023.

Various very popular drivers have come through the competition; Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, and Hailie Deegan to name a few. Kyle Busch also holds the Guinness Book Record for most race wins in the Truck Series, with 62.

However, a hawk-eyed fan noticed that another driver might be on his way to enter the record books. Matt Crafton is a highly renowned name in the competition. His 3 Truck Series Championships (2013, 2014, 2019) make him only the third person to win 3 or more Truck Series.

The ThorSport Racing driver has competed in 521 Truck Series races (out of 666 races held), which makes him the leader in terms of starts in the competition. If he were to compete in the next 59 races, i.e. the next 3 seasons, that would mean he would have competed in 80% of all races in the history of the Truck Series.

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That is an insane record Crafton has in the competition, and he isn’t too far from setting another one in the coming seasons.

2022 was one of the best Truck Series seasons NASCAR has produced

Fans expected the 2022 season to be a chance for Ben Rhodes to defend the title he earned in 2021. But it wasn’t a straightforward season by any definition.

It was a highly competitive season, with 15 different race winners in the 22 races held. Apart from that, 30 drivers made their debut in the Series, meaning a lot of young talent was on display for the bosses in the Xfinity and Cup Series.

Toyota meanwhile maintained its domination in the Series, winning its record-setting 13th Manufacturer’s Championship. The win also meant that Toyota has now won 8 of the last 10 seasons’ Manufacturer’s Championship. Its success also meant they successfully poached David Gilliland Racing from Ford for the 2023 season.

Kyle Busch meanwhile capped off the season with his 10th consecutive win in Sonoma. His win took his tally of total wins in the Truck Series to 62 and also meant he has now won at least one race in each of the last 17 seasons in the Series.

The season also had its share of controversy with Busch and Crafton almost facing off in Charlotte. As Busch pitted in front of Crafton’s stop, his improper stop made it difficult for the latter to pit. Angrily, Crafton’s team said on the team radio, “Tell the 51 to stop deeper in the box *****! Punch him in the mouth!” Luckily, however, the teams maintained their composure to not let things worsen.

Finally, though, when it came down to the title-deciding race in Phoenix, Rhodes couldn’t defend the title. He lost out to Zane Smith; the 23-year-old’s first major trophy.

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The Truck Series offered a really great season to watch for viewers. As it gets more and more competitive over the years, fans would flock to the competition to get their boost of adrenaline.