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MAKING NOISE: LANDON CRAWLEY IMPRESSES DURING FIRST WORLD OF OUTLAWS RACESFebruary 16, 2024 - 1:50 amA week ago, Sprint Car fans across the nation were left stunned. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars unleashed its first Sea Foam Qualifying session of the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park and when the final car took the checkered flag, it wasn’t one of the usual suspects laying down the fastest lap. Neither qualifying […]
LANDON CRAWLEY ANNOUNCES PLAN TO JOIN WORLD OF OUTLAWS WITH SIDES MOTORSPORTSDecember 5, 2023 - 1:51 amLandon Crawley has joined Sides Motorsports with plans to run full-time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024. Set to turn 16 in January, Crawley, of Benton, AR, will run for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title, piloting Jason Sides’ famed #7S Sprint Car. When the 2024 season commences at Volusia […]
MAKING NOISE: LANDON CRAWLEY IMPRESSES DURING FIRST WORLD OF OUTLAWS RACES
A week ago, Sprint Car fans across the nation were left stunned.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars unleashed its first Sea Foam Qualifying session of the 2024 season at Volusia Speedway Park and when the final car took the checkered flag, it wasn’t one of the usual suspects laying down the fastest lap. Neither qualifying master David Gravel nor Carson Macedo stood atop the speed chart. That spot belonged to 16-year-old Landon Crawley.
The Benton, AR native came out with a bang in his first laps with The Greatest Show on Dirt. And he wasn’t done yet. Crawley finished second in his Heat race to qualify for the Dash in his first appearance. Two nights later he qualified fourth fastest in his Flight and again made the Dash. This time he topped the Dash to sit on the pole of only his third World of Outlaws Feature. Heads were turned and doubters silenced.
“Blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I just happened to find two this week,” Crawley joked. “I don’t know how long I can keep it up, but I’m going to do my best and just take it one night at a time.”
The teenager is wise beyond his years and taking a healthy approach to his rookie World of Outlaws campaign. A one-night-at-a-time outlook is exactly what’s required to tackle the demanding 80-plus race calendar. Crawley displays a maturity that didn’t go unnoticed by Jason Sides as the longtime driver for his own team put him in the seat of the #7S for 2024.
“It definitely helps,” Crawley said of working with Sides. “As far as driving, he kind of just lets me do my thing and learn as I go. As far as setup and car, I feel like I’ve had probably one of the best race cars right now. This thing practically drives itself. I had probably one of the best cars I’ve ever had in my life last weekend. Everything has gone over so well.”
Crawley entered this year with only one night’s worth of 410 Sprint Car experience. Prior to making the leap to full-time 410 racing, Crawley followed in his father’s footsteps with success in the 360 ranks. His dad – Tim Crawley – is a three-time American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) champion.
The blooming racer’s mature mindset wasn’t only apparent on the track at Volusia. He came across well-spoken and articulate in interviews. He also made it clear he still has plenty of improving to do and a long road ahead. He doesn’t merely want to start first in World of Outlaws Features. He wants to finish up front, too.
“The biggest thing right now is I run up front, but I’m struggling with restarts and struggling with dirty air,” Crawley admitted. “The first night dirty air was my biggest problem on top of some motor problems, but I also had to fight some issues driving. I’m kind of just learning as I go.
“I’ve got to stay out of my own head. I beat myself down and get in my head then I lose 20 spots in a Feature. But at the same time, I’ve hardly ever done this before. I’ve only ran five 410 races in my life. It’s all just a learning process, and it’s going to take time.”
Track time is something Crawley will have plenty of as the season continues. The nine-month campaign takes the tour to 41 ovals of various shapes and sizes in 19 different states. Many new tracks await Crawley during his debut year with the World of Outlaws. But fortunately for him, the schedule also takes him to familiar territory soon. March and April boast a dozen races combined in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri – all not far from home for the Arkansas driver.
“I think I should be alright at some of those places,” Crawley said. “It’s more similar to what I’m used to. The biggest thing is just going to be the power difference for me. It may take three or four nights to get comfortable again, but I think all of that will go over decent. There’s definitely some Oklahoma tracks that I’ve already been to that I’m really looking forward to, Muskogee (Thunderbird Speedway) and 81 (Speedway) in Kansas, some of those places. They’re bigger tracks, but I feel like I’m a little bit better on the bigger tracks here recently.”
The 2024 season currently sits in a small break as teams regroup from four straight nights of racing during DIRTcar Nationals. The grind resumes in two weeks with another trip to Volusia, and Crawley isn’t thinking about replicating his Qualifying speed. He’s ready to put a full night together. He’s ready to learn what it takes to run up front with The Greatest Show on Dirt on a nightly basis.
“I’m just trying to get a little bit more consistent, put together some good laps, and get some better results.”
Crawley’s rookie World of Outlaws campaign continues in two weeks at Volusia Speedway Park’s Bike Week Jamboree (March 3-4) in Barberville, FL. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action live on DIRTVision.
LANDON CRAWLEY ANNOUNCES PLAN TO JOIN WORLD OF OUTLAWS WITH SIDES MOTORSPORTS
Landon Crawley has joined Sides Motorsports with plans to run full-time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in 2024.
Set to turn 16 in January, Crawley, of Benton, AR, will run for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year title, piloting Jason Sides’ famed #7S Sprint Car.
When the 2024 season commences at Volusia Speedway Park for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10, it’ll also be Crawley’s debut with the World of Outlaws. However, it won’t be his first time working with Sides.
Crawley made his 410 Sprint Car debut at Oklahoma’s Tri-State Speedway with the POWRi 410 Wing Outlaw Sprint League in November, driving for Sides. In the two races, he finished 21st and sixth.
“Jason gave me a great opportunity to make my 410 debut,” Crawley said. “I learned a lot driving his car those two nights against guys like Aaron Reutzel and Cory Eliason. It’s been a dream to get behind the wheel in a 410 and I can’t thank Jason enough for giving me this opportunity.
“I never dreamed an opportunity like this would come so early in my career. I can’t thank my family, friends and marketing partners for helping my dreams become a reality. I am looking forward to the Chili Bowl and the 2024 World of Outlaws season opener at Volusia. I am excited to drive for [Sides Motorsports] knowing the vast amount of knowledge and experience that Jason and his team have with the World of Outlaws over the years.”
Crawley, son of three-time American Sprint Car Series National Tour champion Tim Crawley, began racing go-karts at 7-years-old. Rising through the ranks, Landon joined the ASCS National Tour at 14-years-old, racing alongside his father. This year, he won the Greg Hodnett Memorial at Riverside International Speedway and won with the United Sprint Car Series at Magnolia Motor Speedway.
Next year will mark the 25th season Sides has been a part of the World of Outlaws, whether as a driver or owner. He stepped away from driving in 2022, retiring with 15 career Series wins – including the 2004 Kings Royal. He also won the World of Outlaws’ Crew Chief of the Year Award in 2022.
If Crawley can win the Rookie of the Year title, he’ll join Sides (the 2003 ROTY) on the list of drivers who’ve accomplished the illustrious feat.
The 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season will commence at Volusia Speedway Park with drivers chasing the Big Gator Championship during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 7-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision.