Five races into the 2009 season, California native Matt Crafton finds himself perched fourth in the standings. Only 94 points behind leader Mike Skinner, he continues to show he's just as much a contender as the former series champions that surround him.

As the series prepares to compete in Friday night's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (7:30 p.m. ET on SPEED) at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Crafton has the confidence of knowing how to find Victory Lane. A year ago, he grabbed his first NASCAR national series victory at Lowe's.

• Purchase your race tickets

"I think you have to be confident each and every week but it helps going back to a place where you know you have won before. Last year's win was awesome," Crafton said. "It was nice to look at everyone and say we did it and to finally quiet all those asking if I was capable of winning. My owners, Duke and Rhonda Thorson, have been so supportive so it was really gratifying for them and the others who have believed in me all along the way."

Just like his driver, crew chief Bud Haefele wouldn't mind a repeat trip to Victory Lane.

"Winning the race last year was special for all of us and we're looking forward to getting back there," he said.

The team has posted solid, top-10 finishes in all but one race so far this season.

"Matt has been driving his tail off," Haefele said. "We know that consistency is important to winning a championship, so we know we have to bring everything we've got each time out. Our trucks are better than they've ever been. This team has been together for a while now, and everybody is on the same page, has the same goal in terms of winning a championship."

For Crafton, "without a doubt momentum is key," he said. "If we keep going in there each week with confidence and the momentum we've gained, it'll keep carrying over and we'll be there in the end, contending for the championship."

No time to panic

Ron Hornaday hasn't made a trip to Victory Lane yet this season. But for the veteran driver who is going for a record fourth series title, it's no time to panic.

In his previous nine full seasons, it's only taken Hornaday this long to win a race twice. The most recent time fell in 2007 when it took him to the sixth race to grab his first win of the season. That race was at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It also was the year he went on to claim his third championship.

"Winning at Lowe's in 2007 was definitely a career milestone for Rick Ren [crew chief] and I," Hornaday said. "Neither of us had ever been able to win at our home track. It meant so much and I'm glad that win was part of our KHI championship season."

Hornaday is eager to get back to Victory Lane.

"I really hate the fact that we have not been able to put the No. 33 truck into Victory Lane this season," he said. "We are very hungry. Our team has brought some incredible trucks to the race track so far this season. We have been there every week.

"This is traditionally the time in the season when our team comes alive. I hope we can do it again this year; a tally in the win column would be nice."

As far as the championship goes, Hornaday is keeping everything in perspective. "I am happy where we are right now," he said. "We have not had a finish outside the top 10 the entire year. Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] continue to provide me with some awesome equipment and I cannot thank them enough. I would like nothing better than to get them a second championship and set the record for the most [titles]. "

But he knows just as well as the other competitors how the hunt for the championship historically has gone down to the wire.

"This soon in the year, it is too hard to predict that kind of stuff," he said.

"You have veterans who have won championships and the young guys all mixed in there together competing for wins and the title. You never know. There might be someone else in the mix by Homestead."

On a steady climb

Johnny Benson has been on a steady climb, digging out from being back in the points following Daytona. After a disappointing 26th-place finish in the season opener, his results have improved with each race.

Benson, the reigning series champion, made the move to Red Horse Racing at the end of last year, not really knowing what was ahead. While some members of his former team joined him, there was a lot of work to be done and all the adjustments that come with being with a new team.

The hard work and determination is showing and has Benson right where he was at this point last year.

Sitting fifth in points, he heads to Lowe's with his focus on his team's continual climb.

"We're excited to be fifth in the points, especially considering the problems we had at Daytona," Benson said. "Finishing 26th was a big blow to us but it really says something about this team, to be able to battle back to the fifth spot just five races later."

"We're really happy with where we are now and will focus on climbing even more spots in the coming weeks."

His record at Lowe's isn't necessarily one to boast about. In four starts, Benson only has one top-five finish. The rest fall outside the top 10.

Etc. ...

• James Buescher, rookie of the year contender and driver of the No. 10 Ford for Circle Bar Racing, stayed busy during the past weekend. He competed in the ARCA Re/Max Series race at Kentucky Speedway and ended his day in Victory Lane for the second time this season.

"The win this past weekend in the ARCA race at Kentucky will definitely generate more confidence going into this week's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway," Buescher said.

"The main reason I'm running the ARCA races is to get more track time on the mile-and-a-half tracks. I don't have a lot of experience on the larger tracks, and just getting some seat time in a vehicle will help. We should be able to get the same result in the trucks before long, and maybe even this weekend."

Buescher is second in the rookie standings, only one point behind leader Tayler Malsam.

• Series veteran crew chief John Monsam has joined Kevin Harvick Inc. as crew chief of the No. 4 Chevrolet team. Monsam will be on hand this weekend at Lowe's to work alongside KHI Nationwide Series team crew chief Ernie Cope before taking over the crew chief duties full time at Dover on May 29.

With his move to KHI, Monsam also reunites with Hornaday and Rick Carelli, as he has led both drivers to victories in Truck Series competition. Monsam guided Hornaday to Victory Lane in 1997 at Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park and won with Carelli in 2000 at Richmond International Raceway. His other winning drivers include Mike Bliss, Dennis Setzer and Jon Wood.

"The drivers and teams are already showing just five races into the season how competitive the series is. There really is no telling who will end up in Victory Lane.

"This track has shown some great finishes. Last year we saw Matt Crafton get the first win of his career. We saw back in 2005 what Kyle Busch was all about when he became the series' youngest winner at age 20. In the series' six races here, he's the only repeat winner."

"This track is also known for having an ever-changing track surface. The crew chief could make the difference, if he can keep up with the track and its changes throughout the night. The drivers, of course, are going to have to know what it's going to take to keep up. Communication will be important."
-- Wayne Auton, Truck Series director