Hockman Set For New Challenge During Crawford Memorial

Case Hockman

TULSA, Okla. – Case Hockman will tackle one of the biggest outdoor micro sprint events in the country when he makes his debut at Port City Raceway this weekend.

Hockman is in the Sooner State for the 14th annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial 55, where he’ll compete in the Restricted class for Austin Barnhill’s AB Enterprises team.

It’s the first time the 13-year-old from Apollo Beach, Fla., will compete at the iconic eighth-mile clay oval, which is known across the United States as one of the most competitive micro sprint tracks in the country.

The weekend also marks just the second time since January that Hockman has had the opportunity to be behind the wheel, meaning he’s more than ready to strap back into the driver’s seat.

“I’m really excited for Port City and just the amount of track time that we’ll get through the weekend,” Hockman noted. “Thursday being an open practice day is big, not just because I’ve never been there before, but also because we don’t get as many chances to have a full practice night like that as a lot of other drivers do that have been racing on a weekly basis.

“To get to learn the track and the different lines is a great thing for me and hopefully we can put together two strong nights of racing.”

A full preliminary night program takes place Friday night before the championship features move to center stage on Saturday, giving Hockman double the opportunity to work toward strong finishes.

The teenager has studied some video in advance of the event, and Hockman already knows one thing to be cognizant of before he ever sets tire to clay for race laps at Port City.

“The infield tractor tires are something I can tell I’ll have to be careful of,” he said. “It looks easy to hit those if you miss the line on the bottom, and in these micros that can cause enough damage to end your night really easily if you’re not careful.

“The level of field for this race is going to be just as tough as the Tulsa Shootout, so my goals for the weekend are to race smart and just to make the A-main,” Hockman added. “If we can put it in the field with the caliber of drivers that are going to be there, I think that will be a really big moment for us.”

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.

Broadcast coverage of both nights of the 14th annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial 55 weekend airs live on Start2Finish TV. Racing begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) both days.

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.