(January 10, 2009) Donnie Ray Crawford, along with many other drivers, well be moving into the Quiktrip's Center Tulsa Expo on Sunday to prepare for the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals set to kick off with hot laps on Monday. Qualifier races are scheduled to run Tuesday thru Friday, with Crawford racing his qualifiers on Thursday.  Jerry Coons Jr., Garry Lee Maier, Tracey Hines, Shane Cottle, Danny Stratton, Jesse Hockett, Scott Hatton, Don Droud Jr., Brad Sweet, Jay Drake, Josh Wise and fellow mini-sprint driver Andrew Felker are just a few of the tuff competitors scheduled for Crawford's quailifers. Then, the most action packed features with the best of the best will compete for the championship on Saturday. 

 

Crawford will also have new, really cool midget/mini-sprint t-shirts for sale. They were designed by Arizona Sport Shirts. Click here to preview the 2009 design. And, the former Donnie Crawford Sprint Car Mechanic of the Year, Bobby Switala, will be the first to receive one of these shirts! We love ya, Bobby!

 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Chili Bowl!  

 

 

 

  

(January 5, 2009) The 2009 Tulsa Shootout is over and turned out to be one of the most exciting ever with Kevin Bayer, Riley Adair, and Gary Taylor taking home the championship titles. Visit Tulsa

Shootout to read all the details.

 

Donnie Ray's hopes in adding another Golden Driller to his collection started out with great

finishes in the heat races: 3rd in "A" Class, 1st in Non-Wing, and 2nd in the 600-cc Outlaw class.

But as we all know, passing points are essential when it comes to a field with this many cars.

 

Crawford was able to transfer directly to the A feature of the "A" class, but was forced to run the B feature in the Non-Wing class. There, he captured the win qualifying him for the A Main Quailifier race, which he also won. This earned him a start in the A feature. He went on to finish 6th in the

600-cc Outlaw quailifer race, also allowing him to start the A feature.

 

The "A" Class A feature event turned out to be very exiciting when it appeared that late in the race

Crawford would be taking home a 3rd place finish. However, Donnie Ray was able to squeeze by

Sawyer on the last lap taking home 2nd place. The Non-Wing A feature was a bit of a struggle when

Crawford experienced mechanical problems and was forced out of the race. The 600-cc Outlaw class A feature had the same result when in turn one of the first lap Crawford had the low side with little room between the outside car and the inside burm. Crawford hit the inside burm and unforunatley turned over.

 

Congratulations to Kevin Bayer, Riley Adair, and Gary Taylor for their 24th Annual Tulsa Shootout

championships.

 

 

 

 

  

(January 16, 2009) Donnie Ray Crawford had a great run during Thursday night's qualifiying races. However, he came up just a little short in order to transfer directly to Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championshp main event. But all is not lost; Crawford will vie in Saturday's "B" feature hoping to earn a spot in that star-studed main event. 

 

Crawford began Thursday night's competition with a start on the second row inside of  the sixth heat race. Crawford got an amazing start entering the first turn in second place. However, a yellow flag was thrown due to a spin in turn two as Crawford was completing his first lap. This called for a complete restart. The restart was good, but not quite as good...running third the first couple of laps. He was able to squeeze by Billy Pauch, Jr. for second when yet another caution came out. Crawford would line up behind Scott Hatton to restart the race. But, when it was time to cross the finish line it was Crawford who took the win.

 

Crawford's "A" qualifier began with a third row inside start. During the first half of the race, Donnie Ray was running second when things quickly changed as Shane Cottle slid under Crawford, where the two made contact. Crawford fell back to fifth but was able to regain a position, finishing fourth in this race.

 

The "A" Main event was just as exciting as Crawford started fifth row inside. Donnie Ray would need a top three finish in order to transfer to Saturday night's main event. Early in the race, Donnie Ray battled his way to fourth place. But, Shane Cottle was once again on his tail. The two made contact for the second time during the night, and Shane Cottle took over the fourth position. However, a yellow flag immediately followed Cottle's pass and he found himself behind Crawford for a restart. As the two entered turn one, Cottle squeezed under Crawford putting him in front as they came out of turn two, but only to circum that pass to another yellow flag. The final restart pretty much told the same story and Crawford took home a fifth place finish behind Cottle.

 

Congratulations to Tracy Hines, Dave Darland, and Justin Allgaier for earning positions in Saturday night's finale race. Visit Chili Bowl to read all the details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

(January 18, 2009) It was Sammy Swindell who added a fifth Golden Driller to his collection during the 24th Annuual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. But, Donnie Ray Crawford had a lot to be proud of also. "Anytime you can make the 'A' feature with this many cars and the amount of talent that is here, you should consider yourself very fortunate," Donnie Ray said. And that is exactly what Crawford did.

 

Donnie Ray started his quest for a main event starting position during the second "B" feature. With a host of  fast cars challenging him, Crawford was able to hold a sixth place finish, qualifying him for the championship feature event.

 

There, Crawford and the Tel-Star Communications, Allied Towing, Triple XXX midget lined up on the twelth row oustide of the "A" feature. Crawford's main goal was to finish the race and hopefully walk away with a top ten finish. However, Donnie Ray ended up with a 17th place finish in the 50-lap event. Crawford was a little disappointed, but not his owners. Mike and Megan Eubanks were proud that two of their Triple XXX midgets were featured in the main event. Fellow teammate Gary Taylor brought home a 13th place finish for the team.

 

Crawford has now earned two of three main event starts in his Chili Bowl career. In 2007, Crawford was fortunate enough to land a ride in a Keith Kunz's midget and bring home a fifth place finish in his first ever midget experience. That finish also brought him Rookie of the Year honors. Unfortunately, the next year, Crawford did not make the main event.  

 

Needless to say, Crawford is already looking forward to next year's race.

 

Click here for more of Saturday's championship main event details.