The event helps honor National Law Enforcement Memorial Week.
“The chance of a lifetime,” Craft said of piloting the 600-horsepower stock car around the speedway.
Craft and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones will compete against two-man teams from seven other jurisdictions. The team that turns the fastest 12 laps overall (six laps each) wins tickets for the Nationwide Series race on June 28 and the Sprint Cup race on June 29 to distribute to underprivileged members in their community. A Top Cop will also be crowned.
“(Sheriff Jones) is really, really excited about this,” Craft said. “He made it very clear telling me whatever (time) he doesn’t get I better make it up. It’s not a competition between us.”
Jones, meanwhile, has been trying to psych out the competition — especially Cincinnati police chief James Craig — by telling them he hired a ringer.
“The sheriff and Chief Craig in Cincinnati have been going at it,” Craft said of the playful trash talking. “The sheriff told (Craig) he hired a retired NASCAR driver two weeks ago and that’s who was racing with the sheriff. In reality it’s me. The expectations are I’m a retired NASCAR driver and I’m going to smoke that track up. I’ve never been behind the wheel of a race car.”
Craft does have a knack for picking winners, though. Last week he was ranked seventh overall in NASCAR.com’s fantasy game. He’s 77th this week. He’ll do his best to channel his favorite NASCAR drivers today.
“I look at it like this: My favorite driver is (Dale Earnhardt) Junior, but I think I might be driving a little Kyle Busch action,” Craft said with a laugh. “I’m going down there with the attitude this is the chance of a lifetime. I’m going to soak it up and really enjoy it. If I do well that’ll be icing on the cake.”
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