Crump Searching for Elusive Glass City 200 Victory

In eight combined Glass City 200 appearances between the Outlaw and Template Super Late Models, Kyle Crump has finished second an astonishing four times. He was runner-up in three straight ASA/CRA Super Series starts (2018, 2019, 2021) and even finished second in both races in 2019, but has yet to find victory lane at Toledo Speedway.

His most recent runner-up result came in 2021, when he came from the tail to take the lead late in the CRA race. However, Crump would be passed on the final lap by friend Blake Rowe and came up just short at the line.

The Brighton, MI driver now heads to Toledo on Saturday fresh off a JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour win at Birch Run Speedway the weekend before. He has his goal set on one thing – win the Glass City 200.

“The Glass City stings, I think I’ve finished second four times now? I finished second twice in the same night with both the Outlaw and the Super,” said Crump. “I want this one bad to say the least, I feel like this one’s escaped me a few times to say the least. I usually either finish second or don’t finish so we’ll see going into the weekend.”

Toledo has been a favorite for the former Redbud 400 winner ever since his first start at the half-mile in April 2017. Since the 2020 season, his opportunities to compete at the facility have been limited to the Glass City 200 after CRA started making just one visit to Toledo annually.

“I love Toledo, I don’t get many opportunities to go there, it’s usually just for Glass City this time of year. We’re getting back to 200 laps with the ASA STARS National Tour and hopefully it’ll revitalize the Glass City to what it used to be. I’m looking forward to the event.”

It was the Glass City 200 in 2018 when he joined Crosstown Motorsports for the first time for the Outlaw Super Late Model portion of the race as a substitute for Johnny VanDoorn. A mechanical issue during practice kept them out of the race, but it started a partnership between driver and team that has continued to this day.

Based in Kalamazoo, MI, Crosstown Motorsports started off as an Outlaw Super Late Model team. As the partnership between Crosstown and Crump grew, the team added Template-bodied Late Models to the stable in 2021 and almost immediately won a JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

After racing with Stan and Judi Rosen for six years on the Template Super Late Model side, he has split 2023 with Crosstown and TK Racing. The cars have been about the only thing that changes when he goes from one team to another.

“Most of the crew stays the same. We’ve got JVD (Johnny VanDoorn) on the box for all the races. A lot of the Crosstown guys travel back and forth between the two teams. It’s pretty much the same car. It’s been very smooth and I can’t thank them enough, it’s been very easy.”

It’s been a mixed bag for Crump in his two previous ASA STARS National Tour appearances. He failed to make the field for the Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway in May, then returned to Anderson Speedway in July and finished fourth in the Redbud 400.

He hopes for a repeat of that success at Toledo, while finally crossing a long-awaited Glass City 200 win off his list.

“That would be huge. With it being the ASA STARS National Tour now, it would be really cool just to put my name down next to ASA as a winner. That would mean a lot.”

The ASA STARS National Tour heads to Toledo Speedway on Saturday, September 16 for the Glass City 200 Presented by DTS Drive Train Specialists and Courtyard by Marriott. Tickets are on sale now at toledospeedway.com/glasscity200tickets.

The Glass City 200 will be co-sanctioned with the ASA/CRA Super Series, the fifth race of the CRA season. Gio Ruggiero leads the ASA/CRA Super Series points standings over Cassten Everidge.

The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Ty Majeski is the most recent winner, claiming the victory in the Gandrud Auto Group 250 on Tuesday, August 1.

For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).

About the Glass City 200
The 35th Running of the Glass City 200 Presented by DTS Drive Train Specialists and Courtyard by Marriott roars to life under the ASA STARS National Tour banner in Toledo on Saturday, September 16th. Built in 1960, Toledo Speedway first hosted its signature event in 1968, providing some of the most memorable moments in Ohio pavement short track racing history. Local and national stars alike have raced in this historic event at Toledo Speedway, with a deep wins list that includes Joy Fair, Bob Senneker, Joe Ruttman, Danny Byrd, John Anderson, Brian Campbell, Junior Hanley, Harold Fair, Augie Grill, Johnny Van Doorn, J.R. and Tyler Roahrig, Tyler Ankrum, Carson Hocevar and many others. Click here for a full list of Glass City 200 winners. New in 2023, the return to the 200-lap main event will prove to be a new endurance test for many of the top drivers in the country. You can get your tickets now for this race by clicking the link.

ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March of 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced last October, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.

The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner; the ASA CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.

The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the Series, thanks to Team Construction.

Track Enterprises, a Racing Promotions Company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of the CRA sanctioning body in January and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President, Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.

-ASA STARS National Tour Release
-Photo credit: Bruce Nuttleman/Ultimate Lap Photo