Hockman Has Up-And-Down Crawford Memorial Weekend

Case Hockman in action at Port City Raceway.

TULSA, Okla. – Case Hockman’s maiden micro sprint weekend at Port City Raceway was a roller-coaster affair, but he did highlight the trip by qualifying for the Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial opener in the Restricted A-Class.

Hockman’s preliminary performance Friday was an impressive start, as he charged from fifth to second in his heat race at the eighth-mile dirt oval to transfer directly into the night’s main event.

The 13-year-old from Apollo Beach, Fla., successfully evaded a first-lap incident in the prelim feature, but his No. 17a Friends of Jaclyn Foundation-supported entry for AB Enterprises suffered an engine failure on lap four that forced Hockman pit-side for the duration of the race.

With the support of Jett Nunley Racing providing a backup motor, Hockman was able to remain in competition and tackle Saturday’s DRC Memorial Championship Night.

After lining up sixth in the third heat race Saturday, Hockman was in position to move forward on the start, but was tangled in an incident where he got upside down on the opening lap of the heat.

The crashed caused enough damage to end Hockman’s weekend, but not before the teenager learned “a great deal” about one of the most historic micro-sprint tracks in the United States.

“Obviously, it’s not the end to either night that we hoped for with AB Enterprises, but it was so much fun to get to race at Port City for the first time and compete against some of the best in the business,” said Hockman. “To make even one of the features is a big deal, because I don’t have near the amount of laps in these micros that others do and it’s a huge source of pride for our entire team.

“I hate that we had the motor issues Friday night, because I do think I was learning a lot of skills to go forward, but we can’t say enough thanks to Thomas and Jett Nunley and their whole family for loaning us an engine to stay in the game and finish out the weekend,” Hockman added. “Saturday’s heat-race crash was a bummer, but we’re thankful that Austin Barnhill has safe race cars and that I was able to walk away to come back and compete another day.

“I feel like I grew a lot over the laps that we were able to run; I know I made some mistakes in Friday’s heat race, but was able to learn from them and make myself better. Looking forward to our next race!”

Even more importantly, Hockman was appreciative of the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious event and help honor the legacy of the late Donnie Ray Crawford, a prodigious Oklahoma racer who was tragically killed during a domestic incident in 2012.

“Last weekend wasn’t just about racing. It was about honoring someone who embodied the spirit of motorsports in Donnie Ray Crawford, because his legacy lives so far beyond the track,” said Hockman. “In 2008, Donnie Ray did something few would dare: he ran toward a burning car to pull fellow racer Harli White to safety. He didn’t hesitate and he saved her life.

“To help remember that kind of person – a racer, hero, and man who made a difference – that’s something that I and my team don’t take lightly,” he continued. “We’re proud to have raced in his honor and I hope to carry forward the values he lived by – courage, kindness, and relentless drive.”

To learn more about the Donnie Ray Crawford Legacy Foundation and its mission to help provide financial assistance to young adults in need in the motorsports community, visit the foundation’s website at https://donnieraycrawford.com/.

Hockman would like to thank APR Auto Group, Central Florida Transport, Bryce Comer Racing, Ambassador Racing School, Rack City Ribz, Miss Marie, Velocita USA, Race Face Brand Development, and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for their partnership and support of his racing endeavors.

The next planned race week for Hockman is on the pavement from Sunday-Tuesday, June 8-10, when he’ll test with Redhead Racing in both a pro late model and a Legend car at North Carolina’s Caraway Speedway before tackling the opening two rounds of the Cook Out Summer Shootout Series.

It will mark the first time for Hockman in both disciplines, and the pair of Summer Shootout races will be his Legend car debut at the quarter-mile oval built into the frontstretch of famed Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

About Case Hockman

Case Hockman is a 13-year-old racer from Apollo Beach, Fla., who aspires to reach the top levels of NASCAR and currently competes in both INEX-sanctioned Bandolero cars on pavement and on dirt in 600cc micro sprints and Jr Sprints.

Hockman’s need for speed started at a young age. At just three years old, his father Richard had him behind the wheel of a go-kart, laying the foundation for his future as a driver.

By the age of four, Hockman tackled his first race. Inspired by his father’s racing career, the younger Hockman quickly became determined to take the wheel and pursue his own passion for speed.

After cutting his teeth and honing his skills in the karting world, Hockman moved to Bandoleros and Jr Sprints, transitioning between dirt and pavement and building toward a planned debut in the Spec Late Model class at California’s Irwindale Speedway in 2025.

When not behind the wheel or at a racetrack, Hockman enjoys playing soccer, flag football and racing RC cars. He is also a supporter of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s efforts to better the quality of life for children battling pediatric cancer.

Follow Hockman’s career at https://www.casehockmanracing.com/ or on Facebook and Instagram by searching Case Hockman Racing.