The Interview: Rick Crawford

IRVINGTON, Ala. (WALA) - He's known nationally as one of the best on the NASCAR Truck circuit. Mobile native Rick Crawford is a veteran driver who consistently captures "top ten" race finishes and in the point standings.

Crawford has also claimed his share of checkered flags during his 30-plus years on the tracks. He recently sat down to talk about his career and his future as he approaches 40-years of racing.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

"I played with go carts and things like that, motorcycles and all that growing up," Crawford said. "I was probably 15, 16-years-old when I decided I wanted to give it a shot driving on the racetrack. This racetrack had racing every Saturday night, and I felt like Saturday night I was supposed to be at Mobile International Speedway, so I raced here week in and week out."

Crawford has been racing for more than 35 years. He's a third generation race car driver in his family. Crawford said he wasn't forced into the profession. Rather, he said his grandfather and uncle let him make his decision.

As a teen racer, he started dreaming about where he could go.

"Dreaming of being at Daytona one day, dreaming of being in Atlanta one day and, but still you have to conquer here, MIS before you can go anywhere else", Crawford said.

Which he did. Crawford started winning races at Mobile International Speedway, was Rookie of the Year in 1975, and then won several championships in the 1980s.

"Winning an All Pro race here and then you won another one and then another one. I won the Snow Ball Derby in 1989, which is the biggest short track race, the Super Bowl of short track racing. I won that and its like your career has started to take off and get noticed", Crawford said.

MAKING HIS MOVE

But for a racing career, and to fulfill his dreams, Crawford had to leave his home track in Irvington.

"You had to chase racing. I had to leave here, I had to travel all over the United States, be on television where you're being in front of people that have the sponsors, that have the ownership that want to take you to the NASCAR level", Crawford shared.

Crawford was successful at the next level in the 1990's. With more than 60 top ten finishes and five checkered flags, he was in the winner's circle.

TRUCK RACING

In 1997, his team's owner was Tom Mitchell. Mitchell was in the trucking business with truck stops in southwest Texas. Back then, he shared an idea with Crawford.

"'You drive a truck to work, I drive a truck to work, you look out the same windshield, let's try that truck racing. Let's go buy us a truck.' We did and never looked back," Crawford said.

Crawford just missed winning rookie of the year, finishing second in his first season. Since then, he has been a consistent top ten finisher in races and point standings, which includes top-five finishes, six poles and five wins.

"The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been a lot of fun for me and full of excitement," Crawford said. "Those guys really know how to race. With over 300 and something starts and over 15 years of truck racing, what a career it has been. The 2003 Daytona 250 down there with the truck series was a very memorable race and I never will forget that."

It was a three-wide race to the finish, as a mid-40-year-old Rick Crawford took the checkered flag. The ageless Crawford won another race at age 48. At age 50, another top ten finish in the NASCAR Truck series point standings.

"I felt like I have stayed young and I'm still young, the truck series didn't come out until I was in my 30's. You know it was all about gaining experience, a win at Martinsville, you win at Bristol, no matter where we went, try to win, you try to be successful," added Crawford.

"This speedway, Mobile International, is 48-years-old, and has a history in Motorsports. The "Alabama Gang", Bobby and Donnie Allison, Red Farmer, Neil Bonnett, all of them have raced here at Mobile International Speedway. You had Gene Tapia that raced here, one of the NASCAR legends," he added.

MOBILE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Today Crawford, a Mobile Sports Hall of Famer, is back home and driven to bringing future NASCAR legends and race fans to his home track.

"I'm committed to run Mobile International Speedway and I'm having some fun with it. Also it's exciting to put on the Mobile ARCA 200. It wasn't just another race, it was a great event," he said. "People know they can come out here for family entertainment, and see some surprises I bring and you never know what you're going to expect. Our slogan is, 'The fastest fun around.'"

Another racer who got his start on the MIS track, Mobile native Cale Gale, won the ARCA 200 race in March.

Rick Crawford has big plans for more events at his home track, while he continues to drive in some races on the NASCAR Truck circuit this season. He said he's not retired and you will see his truck running on the tracks in Texas and at Talladega.