Just over 30 laps remained in the Lucas Oil 150 when Camping World Truck Series championship contenders Erik Jones and Matt Crafton made contact exiting Turn 4, resulting in a crash that brought out a brief red flag.
Crafton, running second, ran high out of the turn, bounced off Jones and slid to the inside where he collided with ThorSport Racing teammate Johnny Sauter.
“It was 100 percent my fault,” Crafton told Fox Sports 1. "(Jones) was just down there close and it was tight racing. When you get somebody side-by-side with you ... I just got loose. Mistakes happen, we’re all human.”
Crafton finished 23rd and in the garage after multiple attempts to return to the track. Crew chief, Carl Joiner Jr., indicated that Jones was being responsible for the crash before Crafton took responsibility.
“I thought we were going to win that race,” Joiner told Fox Sports 1. “Some of these young guys don’t want to give up. They want to win. I think racing for a championship, he probably should have pedaled it and fallen in behind us and finished second today. But they want to sit on your door and it’s a product of this.”
Jones wound up ninth after having to pit to fix damage.
“It’s unfortunate, we were racing for the win and that kind of situation happens,’' Jones told Fox Sports 1. “Everybody makes mistakes and unfortunately he made one tonight. It cost both of us a shot at the win. Unfortunately, he got the worse end of it.”
Timothy Peters wound up winning the race.
Next weekend is the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jones can clinch the title with a finish of 15th or better, 16th with at least one lap led or 17th with most laps led.