WM: Erin Crocker to run at Tucson, Irwindale

Crocker To Compete in Tucson, Irwindale Midgets

Erin Crocker of Wilbraham, Mass., who recently became the first woman to win a World of Outlaws feature, will partner with East Enterprises for the USAC National and Western Midget Car Series' final two races at the Tucson Raceway Park and Irwindale Speedway.

Crocker will run the No. 6 East Enterprises/Ford Racing Beast/Pink Ford in Saturday's "Old Pueblo Classic" in Tucson, Ariz., then is scheduled to compete in the 64th Mopar "Turkey Night Grand Prix" on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 in Irwindale, Calif. The races will be the first midget features for Crocker in USAC competition.

The 23-year-old World of Outlaws rookie won a WoO preliminary feature at Thunder Bowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., leading the final five laps and besting the likes of series regulars Paul McMahan, Jac Haudenschild, Steve Kinser and Brian Paulus.

Crocker, who earned the 2004 Kara Hendrick Spirit Award in May, has attempted on several occasions to compete in the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series, most recently in 2003. She made qualifying attempts at several venues early in the season but was unable to compete in a feature.

Crocker isn't the only woman driver entered for the "Old Pueblo Classic," which combines with the National and Western Midget Car Series and includes the USAC Valvoline Western Sprint Car Series. Destiney Hays of Fresno, Calif., who won Oct. 16 at Las Vegas, is expected to compete, as well as single-victory holder Shauna Hogg of Roseville, Calif. For the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Irwindale, the trio is expected to be joined by California Ford Focus Midget Car Series stars Audra Sasselli and Ashley Swanson, both victors in series competition this season.

East, of Brownsburg, Ind. and Johnny Rodriguez of Elk Grove, Calif. hold insurmountable leads in their quests for their first USAC driving crowns. Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. and Michael Lewis of Noblesville, Ind., the last two champions of the Western Sprint Car Series, are separated by 21 points heading into the series' 40-lapper at Tucson.

--USAC--