Crump Joins TK Racing for Six Events in 2023
When the 2023 season unfolds in the Midwest, two heavy-weight names in Template Late Model racing will team up for a part-time schedule. It was announced last week via a surprise social media post that 2021 Redbud 400 Champion, Kyle Crump would race six events for multi-time Redbud 400 and Winchester 400 Championship winning team, TK Racing.
The team, formally known for hosting drivers like Eddie Hoffman, Josh Nelms, Johnny VanDoorn, and Carson Hocevar, has had great success with their Lisa Thomas Salon entry for nearly two decades. From a third-place Championship performance with the ASA/CRA Super Series in 2005, to a runner-up Championship finish with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, as well as two All American 400 victories, multiple Redbud 400s and a Winchester 400, TK Racing is no stranger to success. However, the team has been relatively quiet the past few seasons since winning the Winchester 400 with Hocevar. In 2023, they’ll break the silence with half-a-dozen races, courtesy of Kyle Crump.
Crump has been in the silly-season spotlight this winter as well, announcing earlier in the year that he and R &D Racing had mutually agreed to part ways. The Stan and Judy Rosen owned No.131 became the car Crump made a name for himself in. Specifically, Crump won his first career Crown Jewel race, the 2021 Redbud 400, behind the wheel of the No.131. Now, in 2023, Crump will drive primarily for Crowwtown Motorsports in their No.50 Super Late Model. But, Crump said the schedule allowed for a few extra shows, and the TK Racing ride was available.
“It kind of came together really fast,” Crump explained on the Horsepower Happenings’ podcast. “I grew up watching the [No.] 71 win, with Johnny VanDoorn, countless races across the country. It’s a really cool opportunity and I’m really excited about it,” Crump said.
The TK Racing/Kyle Crump partnership will feature six races, three of which at Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, MI for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Triple-Crown. Plus, the Money in the Bank 150 at Berlin Raceway, the Firecracker 150 at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, MO, and the Slinger Nationals in Slinger, WI.
“Really thankful on Crosstown [Motorsports] part for letting me do this,” Crump said. “Also, just building the notebook up too for VanDoorn Racing. Crosstown is heavily involved with development there with Johnny and Butch; we’ll add TK into the mix and just keep getting better and better,” Crump said.
The first opportunity to see Crump behind the wheel of the TK Racing No.71 will be Saturday, May 13th at Birch Run Speedway for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour season opener.
Story – Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo – Kyle Crump Racing
