8/29/2013
Port City Raceway presents The 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial
By Cody Morris, Tuesday, August 27th, Tulsa, Oklahoma - In what is perhaps the most highly anticipated mini sprint event on the 2013 calendar, well over 150 racers are gearing up to honor their hero this coming weekend at Port City Raceway.
From coast to coast, racers have planned this trek to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take part in the spectacular three night show that commemorates and celebrates the life of Donnie Ray Crawford.
Mini sprint racing will never have, nor seek, a finer ambassador than Donnie Ray. A third generation open wheel racer taken forever too soon from each community he was part, Donnie Ray left a mark on all that time can never erase. A firm handshake, hearty humor mixed with a quiet reserve, the words of encouragement shared with so many young racers, a helpful hand to those down on their luck, and an unfailing sportsmanship to all fellow racers.
The entire racing community looks to THIS event for ultimate chance to honor their fallen comrade and race in honor of the guidance and inspiration that Donnie Ray shared everywhere he went.
Displaying a distinguished prowess as unique as rare, Donnie Ray scored victories in wide range of prestige. Racing in multiple classes at nearly every event, it was not unusual to see the 55 sweep them all - from weekly shows to Tulsa Shootouts. Donnie Ray helped take mini sprint racing to the next level, showing the talent that such battle tested experience helped to mold in sprint car racing and Midget racing, where Crawford scored back to back runner up finishes in SMRS Midget campaigns. Donnie Ray s stunning results reached the stratosphere where he scored an ultra prestigious Chili Bowl qualifying night win before placing 5th in the Chili Bowl A Main in the Hard 8 Racing entry.
But Tulsa was always home for Donnie Ray s 55. Success at the Chili Bowl or Tulsa Shootout wasn t complete without Port City Raceway.
Always known for intense action on its 1/8th mile highbanks, Aaron Lemmons Port City Raceway has catapulted to a status rarely, if ever, seen in the history of mini sprint racing. Port City displays an astounding 150+ entries on average, grooming and unleashing a new wave of young stars to the wider open wheel world.
One of those stars is Lindsay, Oklahoma s Harli White. Harli s first hints of success came in the Restricted division in the regional landscape. Her blossoming career was nearly cut short when her car burst into flames at Oklahoma City s I44 Riverside Speedway. It was Donnie Ray Crawford who stepped into the horrifying inferno to save Harli.
Donnie Ray s heroism was lauded nationwide, shared and featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network. After months of surgeries and rehabilitation, Harli resumed her career and dedicates each race to the man that saved her life and also became her mentor.
Harli has burst onto the sprint car scene, scoring six champ sprint wins in her rookie campaign with the Oil Capital Racing Series and enters the weekend triple header poised to top her 4th place finish in Outlaw action at the Inaugural DRC Memorial.
Donnie Ray exemplified the very best within the human spirit and his memory will forever flourish in the thousands he knew and touched, as well as the worldwide racing community, but most of all - the city to which he cherished so much.
Held alongside the 6th Annual Race 4 Life, the Inaugural Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial featured a record 208 entries over the three night span in 2012. Nearly 150 entries have already registered for the 2nd annual tribute to Donnie Ray Crawford.
Port City Raceway proudly presents the Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial once again as a triple header over this coming Labor Day Weekend with a practice night on Wednesday, August 28th from 6pm-9m, before the tripleheader launches on Thursday, August 29th.
Featuring all six mini sprint divisions over Port City Raceway s three night showcase, the Restricted, Sportsman, and Non Wing classes will compete on Thursday, August 29th. The Outlaw, A Class, and Junior Sprint divisions will follow on Friday, August 30th before all six divisions vie for the coveted 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial titles on Saturday night.
Saturday Night will also feature the Front Row Challenge for the Outlaw, A Class, Restricted, and Junior Sprint main events. The front row starters for the Outlaw main event have the option to accept the challenge and start the race from the 10th and final row, where they have a chance to win an extra $1,000 if they make it back up to the top spot - earning $25 for each car they pass along the way.
Racers accepting the Front Challenge in the A Class, Restricted, and Junior Sprint divisions can win an extra $500 if they make it back to the point and score an extra $25 for each position they improve along the way.
The Front Row Challenge has been made possible by this venerable team of sponsors, listed by corresponding class:
Outlaw: Momo s Racing Engines, Metric Cycles, Sawyer Chassis, Wheeler Metals, Ross Racing, Quality 1 Performance, and microoutlaws.com.
The A Class Front Row Challenge is brought to you by Vacuworx Global.
The Restricted division Front Row Challenge is showcased by CTE Construction of Supply The Junior Sprint Front Row Challenge is supported by C&T Express.
Port City Raceway shares a huge thank you to our incredible team of sponsors, as well as a special thanks to Tommy Gray.
Listed below are official event details, as well as a class by class look at the 2nd Annual DRC Memorial and the defending champions.
#WHAT: 2ND ANNUAL DONNIE RAY CRAWFORD MEMORIAL
#WHERE: Port City Raceway / Tulsa, Oklahoma
#WHEN: Thursday, August 29th through Saturday, August 31st
THURSDAY, August 29th: Qualifying night 1 featuring the Non Wing, Restricted, and Sportsman divisions.
Each class will run two sets of heat races. All contestants will draw in for their starting spot in the first set of heats, with the second set of heats competing in inverted order. Accumulated passing points from both sets of heats will set the starting lineup for B and A Features.
Gates open at 4pm, driver s sign in at 5pm, hot laps at 6pm, driver s meeting at 645pm, program begins at 7pm. General admission is $9. Pit passes $25.
FRIDAY, August 30th: Qualifying Night 2 featuring the Outlaw, A Class, and Junior Sprint divisions.
Each class will run two sets of heat races. All contestants will draw in for their starting spot in the first set of heats, with the second set of heats competing in inverted order. Accumulated passing points from both sets of heats will set the starting lineup for B and A Features.
Gates open at 4pm, sign in at 5pm, hot laps at 6pm, driver s meeting at 645pm, program begins at 7pm. General admission is $9. Pit passes $25.
SATURDAY, August 31st: The 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial Grand Finale.
B and A Features for all six classes.
Gates open at 4pm, sign in at 5pm, hot laps at 6pm, driver s meeting at 645pm, program begins at 7pm. General admission is $9. Pit passes $25.
#Class by Class preview of the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
OUTLAW:
Always the favorite when the big wings of mini sprint racing come out, especially on Port City s high banked bullring. Chris Andrews enters the contest as the man to beat, though he carries such status most times the Bob Hurley Ford no. 8 hit s the track. Andrews has a prelim night score to back up his defending champ status of the DRC Memorial.
However, Pryor s Frank Flud enters the triple header leading Outlaw points along with five point scores at PCR. Outlaw veteran Scott Sawyer also earned a prelim score at last year s Inaugural DRC Memorial and is always a contender when the no. 29 Sawyer Chassis hits the clay.
A CLASS:
One of two classes in which Oklahoma City s Trey Marcham garnered Inaugural DRC crowns. Marcham is a recent Midget winner out in California s Bay Cities Racing Association Midget series.
Jason Tracy has been deadlocked with Frank Flud for most of the 2013 campaign, the latter making the most of Ross Racing power. Tracy has 4 A Class score at PCR this season to Flud s two.
Jordan Herrman is always a threat in the 92. Herrman is a 2012 DRC Memorial prelim winner and also has 3 A Class scores to his name this season.
NON WING:
Jason Tracy has been extremely consistent in the topless 600 s at PCR this season, with a NW score to his 2013 resume, and former track champ Harlan Hulsey can never be counted when the Non Wing feature s commence.
But Trey Marcham earned a sweep of last year s Inaugural DRC Memorial and the coast to coast racer is poised at the prospect in 2013 as well.
Tulsa s Cody Cordell puts his 5c in one of two Inaugural DRC prelims, with Pauls Valley topless ace Steven Shebester earning the second. Non Wing action always delivers and will so again this Thursday and Saturday night.
RESTRICTED:
The limited 600 s will definitely see a new face in victory lane at the 2nd Annual DR Memorial. Piedmont, Oklahoma s Grady Chandler earned the Inaugural main event in a breakout season, but will be in stock 600 and Outlaw competition this coming weekend.
Chandler has found victory lane at PCR in 2013 as well, look for fireworks from the young gasser in the MelMark Pipe & Supply no. 00.
Bailey Hughes inherits favorite status as five Restricted scores this season strongly backs a point lead in the no. 777.
Jason McDougal scored a prelim win in last year s DRC Memorial, but will be among those vying for victory lane in the Outlaw class. Same goes for fellow prelim winner Cole Lambert who has graduated to stock 600 action.
SPORTSMAN:
Hometown favorite Danny Clum took an extremely popular win in last year s Inaugural DRC Memorial, but will have a huge challenge in the form of Verdigris, Oklahoma s Craig Carroll. Carroll has been on a roll this season with 5 Sportsman scores backing his point lead.
Owasso, Oklahoma s Randy Myers scored the only prelim night of action for the Sportsmna division at the Inaugural DRC Memorial. This class is wide open and ultra competitive each week, very few could be considered surprise winner s on Thursday or Saturday
JUNIOR SPRINT:
Another tenacious pack of weekly warriors, hometown Tulsa favorite Cannon McIntosh took the prestigious Jr. Sprint score in last year s inaugural DRC Memorial and has continued that success with five wins backing his point lead at PCR.
Muskogee s Jake Nail has 2 wins to his credit, while Hank Davis has romped to four triumphs in the orange 1H. Blake Battles scored the only prelim night for Jr. Sprints at the Inaugural DRC Memorial - and all three enter the Friday and Saturday night action hungry to knock McIntosh from his throne.
Reminder, registration for the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial has been extended. For any questions or inquiries, contact the speedway at 918.438.7856 or by e-mail at adrilemmons@yahoo.com - or even message us on the Port Raceway Inc. Facebook page.
Official 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial race gear is featured on www.portcityracin.com - just click the DRC Memorial section so you can sport the proper attire starting this Thursday. All proceeds go directly to the Donnie Ray Crawford Scholarship Fund.
Coverage of Port City Raceway s 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial will see a wide range of access across the open wheel nation. For official news and updates, as well as same-night official race recaps - visit www.portcityracin.com or www.microoutlaws.com, as well as news, updates, and official race releases on the Port City Raceway Inc. Facebook page.
Live updates will be featured on the Oklahoma No Fender Network with post race releases also greeting ONFN fans each morning. Like and Follow the Oklahoma No Fender Network on Facebook for live updates from Port City Raceway and coverage of all open wheel shows throughout the region each week.
Several racing web posts will carry official 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial coverage, led by www.microoutlaws.com, full list will be shared shortly before the triple header kicks off Thursday night.
Port City Raceway welcomes all race fans to the premier mini sprint racing venue in the country. Fans, racers, and speedway staff alike have been anxiously anticipating this event since the last year s outstanding commencement of the Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
Come join us Thursday, Friday, or Saturday - or all three - or even warm up on Wednesday s practice night (free general admission, $10 pit admission) - to celebrate the life of memory of Donnie Ray and to take part in the marquee event of the 2013 campaign.
Article Credit: Cody Morris
