Matt Crafton 2017 season recap

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Toyota for ThorSport Racing, finished fourth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. Take a look back at some of the key moments and stats throughout Crafton's 2017 season.

The veteran's lone victory of the season came at a track he had waited long to conquer: Eldora Dirt Derby. It was Crafton's first dirt track win and his 14th career Camping World Truck Series victory. Crafton credits his 'go where the others aren't' strategy as the key to his successful run.

Crafton earned just one Keystone Light Pole Award in 2017: Michigan. However, he did have an average starting position of 6.3 -- the highest of his 18-year career.

The two-time Camping World Truck Series champion sealed his seat at the playoff table with his victory at Eldora. Crafton advanced to the Championship 4 race at Homestead after five top-10 finishes in the first two rounds. He finished fourth in the final standings.

With a championship berth on the line, tensions were high at the elimination race in Phoenix. Crafton had clinched a spot in the final four earlier in the race, but ThorSport teammate Ben Rhodes was still vying for one. Austin Cindric, another driver in the hunt, made contact with Rhodes and took out both ThorSport drivers with less than 30 laps to go. After the race, the driver of the No. 88 said 'No. 19 (Cindric) better not finish at Homestead'in retaliation to the on-track wreck.

Season in review, by the numbers: Points: 4,031
Wins: One (Eldora)
Top-five finishes: Five
Top-10 finishes: 16
Average finish: 9.3