Two-time defending Camping World Truck Series champ and reigning points leader Matt Crafton and former Sprint Cup champ Brad Keselowski were involved in an early wreck in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 150.
The incident occurred on Lap 6 of the scheduled 60-lap event. Crafton appeared to move up the track to give room to Kevin Harvick to pass, and Keselowski couldn’t avoid running into the rear of Crafton’s truck.
Both trucks suffered extensive damage. Crafton came into the race with a thin 14-point lead, but it’s likely he’ll see that margin cut significantly, if not see Crafton knocked out of the lead if he’s unable to return to the race after repairs are made.
“That’s your Cup champion,” an angry Crafton told MRN Radio. “That’s pretty much an idiot right there.”
Crafton even suggested that Keselowski hit him intentionally to improve the fate of Brad Keselowski Racing driver Tyler Reddick, who came into the race just 14 points behind Crafton.
“I guess maybe that’s the way he (Keselowski) wants the 19 truck (Reddick) to win the championship,” Crafton said, “but they’ve got a long way to come right now, I’m telling you that.”
Here’s Keselowski’s comments to Fox Sports 1:
“We were entering Turn 3 … and next thing I knew, it looks like he went straight into the corner and we made contact,” Keselowski said. “I was just trying to get in line behind him. The last thing I want to do is wreck the point leader. I feel bad for Matt and his team.”
As for Crafton claiming Keselowski intentionally wrecking him, the latter replied:
“I have no interest coming into the Truck series to wreck someone on purpose,” Keselowski said. “… The last thing I want to do is go out and wreck them. I want our team to go out and earn it. I have no interest in wrecking someone intentionally and that’s not what happened.”
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