After an off-season full of turmoil for Brighton, Michigan native, Kyle Crump, many were unsure what or even if he would race in 2024. Crump's downfall began after going "all-in" with the now-defunct Crosstown Motorsports. The team, along with Crump, were set to build a Template Late Model empire that would compete with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and the ASA STARS National Tour. After the race team folded toward the end of the 2023 season, Crump was left without a ride. Now, in 2024, Crump will chase the 2024 Reveal the Hammer Outlaw Super Late Model Championship and make select Template Late Model stars for Tim Curry in his FLF Racecars No.90.
The season of new beginnings kicks off this Saturday, April 20th at Berlin Raceway for the traditional Ice Breaker. Crump will climb behind the wheel of the Curry-owned chassis for the first time in his career. Crump says Curry is making a concentrated effort to showcase the FLF Racecars/Finish Line Fabricating brand again in the north. The company, based out of Allegan, MI, has found great success in recent years in the south specifically in Florida. Crump says his goal is to bring recognition to the brand again in the north.
Hear more from Kyle Crump in the latest episode of the Horsepower Happenings Podcast
Crump will race the FLF Racecars No.90 at three events in 2024, all of which will be contested at the Marne, MI raceway. The aforementioned Ice Breaker on Saturday at Berlin Raceway kicks things off before the team returns for the Money in the Bank 150 on Wednesday, June 12th. the third and final scheduled event for Crump behind the wheel of a template car is for the Battle at Berlin 250 on Wednesday, August 7th.
The last time Crump raced a super late model was just prior to the closing of the doors for Crosstown Motorsports during the ASA STARS National Tour Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway. The event was a tough one for Crump who ended his day early after a hard crash into the turn one wall.
It's been an even longer time since Crump raced an Outlaw Super Late Model. Formerly a regular in the Crosstown Outlaw car prior to their focus on the template program, Crump says it'll take at least a couple of test sessions to feel truly comfortable in an Outlaw again. Once Crump is settled in behind the wheel, success should come quickly for him and the Bobby Blount Motorsports team based on the equipment alone.
Crump says that everything on the car is completely brand new. Blount has prepared a new Junior Hanley car, something that has Crump excited for the new year. The team will follow all the scheduled races for the Reveal the Hammer starting with the May 18th opener at Owosso Speedway. They'll move on to the Marty Jones Memorial at Kalamazoo Speedway on June 7th before the Bob Finley Memorial back at Owosso Speedway on Wednesday, June 19th. The Independence Day 75 at Berlin Raceway on Saturday, July 6th fills the middle of the summer before the non-sanctioned Kalamazoo Klash on July 13th. The team is back with Reveal the Hammer on July 20th at Owosso Speedway and then down to the Summer Sizzler at New Paris Speedway on August 2nd. The final two races on the Outlaw schedule are the Ron Hauser Memorial at Owosso Speedway on August 24th and the Iconic Owosso Nationals on September 21st.
Crump says that while the loss of the Crosstown Motorsports deal "sucks", he's extremely excited for the schedule they have put together for 2024. Crump notes that while he isn't behind the wheel this season as much as he usually is, he'll still be at the track nearly every weekend working with Indianapolis, Indiana driver Billy VanMeter on the ASA STARS National Tour as his spotter and driver coach.