While the intense, side-by-side racing of Eldora Speedway is thrilling for fans, it can at times end in anger for hopeful drivers that fail to make it to the Rossburg, Ohio track’s famed victory lane.
Such was the case after Wednesday night’s MudSummer Classic, when NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ty Dillon confronted Camping World Truck Series points leader Matt Crafton.
Dillon, 23, and Crafton, 39, were running inside the top five on the race’s final restart when contact between them shuffled both drivers back in the pack. Crafton would end his night in ninth, with Dillon, running for GMS Racing, just behind Crafton in 10th.
Dillon, furious over the events that occurred on track, approached Crafton in the aftermath of the wild finish.
“Just remember, I owe you one,” said Dillon to the ThorSport Racing driver.
“We can settle it outside. We don’t have to play demolition derby,” replied Crafton, who claimed to have overdrove the corner.
Crafton, the two-time defending NCWTS champion, came into NASCAR’s lone dirt-track race looking to survive maintain his points lead. The California native will head to next weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway with a slim 14-point advantage over third-place finisher Tyler Reddick.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.
Maybe Dillon can get his granpappy to go pop Crafton upside the head for him.