Over a recent two-week period in May, Jak Crawford has earned the championship lead of both the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) Fikse Wheels Pro Tour and the Rotax US Open events.
Celebrating his birthday with a win on May 2nd and domination of the Pro Tour in Phoenix, “Jetpak” Jak emerged in the TAG Cadet ranks as the one-to-beat just before summer racing begins. Similarly, this last week at the US Open in Dallas, Jak was the one in front of all the Mini Max Rotax powered drivers that everyone was chasing all week long. The on-off again rain fest at the track outside of Dallas this last week was a test for all of the drivers and tuners. Jak managed to excel in both the rain and in the dry conditions. Not known in the past as the best rain racer on the circuit, Jak stepped up his game in the rain and was very fast in rain qualifying but lost his pole position on the last lap, relegating him to starting P2. With a partially dry/wet track later the same day, Jetpak won the first heat.
The next day on Saturday in dry conditions, Jak won two heats and narrowly lost another after leading the most laps. In fact, Jak led the most laps all week long and took home a points lead if not an outright win in the feature event. For the final race on Sunday, again with a partially dry/wet track with all the drivers on slick tires, Jak was poised to win. Then he and the other leaders caught a backmarker that had spun off the track, splashed up water onto the track, and at that moment was straddled across the track with the driver and the race director standing in the middle of the track under a yellow flag condition. Jak lost his growing, four kart-length lead due to the yellow flag and slipping his chassis twice on that same wet corner, settling a few laps after the yellow flag incident for a second place finish on the day.
Piloting a cadet-sized Energy kart in Phoenix then a full-size Tony Kart in Dallas two weeks later, the talented young driver has showed his exceptional driving range and ability to reach up to the next rung with skill and ease, then go back down again. The ten-year-olds’ ability to adapt quickly seems unlimited at this point.
“Jak is being trained to adjust to tracks, chassis, and their constant changes and not to memorize one way. He is more interactive both during and after track time. We feel we are at the point where we don’t have to show up early to test and tune but can still win races. It’s a fun time right now,” explained Tim, Jak’s father.
Jak is surely on a roll and wishes to thank OMP, Energy Corse, Palmetto MDR, Nash Motorsportz, Rolison Performance Group, Precision Works Racing Engines, P1 Engines, and Chris Hatfield for all their help and support. Jak wishes to congratulate Payton Durrant on his win in the main event in Dallas. Jak and his family express their condolences toward the surviving Savappolous family.
For more information on ‘Jetpak’ Jak, or to place sponsorship or calendar inquiries, please contact Nikki Crawford at nikocraw@gmail.com. Also, be sure to like ‘Jetpak’ Jak Crawford on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jetpakjakcrawford.
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