Tulsa, Oklahoma | Jan. 14, 2012 - Third generation driver Donnie Ray Crawford was introduced to the sport of racing at a very young age. He was a mere two days old when he attended his first sprint car race in which his father, multiple time champion Donnie Crawford, was competing. Early on, Donnie Ray would experience what his life might be like in the years to come. That exciting and exemplary 24 year life ended today.
I did not know Donnie or his family, but I still cried when I heard the bad news. I knew of his shining reputation. Longtime and respected members of the Tulsa community, the Crawfords had been spending this week participating in the Chili Bowl midget races at Tulsa's Quick Trip Expo Center. That's where they were headed Saturday morning for the final races of the five day event when the Wagoner County Sheriff says a fight broke out between two family members....
The sheriff says 74-year-old Daniel Garcia entered a room in the house and started shooting at his 24-year-old grandson, Donald Ray Crawford III. Officials confirmed that Donnie Ray Crawford III died at the scene in the family home. Drivers and fans at the Chili Bowl are paying their respects to Crawford at his pits with tears, flowers, stories, hugs and handwritten condolences on a giant banner. His sister Chassi will be singing the National Anthem tonight. To further honor Donnie Ray, officials have announced they will be racing 55 laps in the A-Main , instead of the traditional 50. 55 was Crawford's regular car number.
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Donnie Ray Crawford's Last Update from Chili Bowl 2012 | Jan. 11, 2012
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| Donnie Ray Crawford III Oct 8, 1987 - Jan. 14, 2012 |
Donnie Ray began his racing career at age ten racing mini-sprints. Along the way, he has participated in a variety of sprint car, midget and mini-sprint competitions. He has won numerous point championships, Tulsa Shootouts, Pete Frazier Memorials, Al Lemmons Memorials, Oklahoma Nationals, ASCS2 wins, SMRS wins with an overall 2nd place point finish for the second year in a row, and Rookie of the Year titles, including Chili Bowl Rookie of the Year in 2007 by finishing 5th place overall (unprecedented for a rookie). This 5th place finish in the Chili Bowl was astounding for Donnie Ray being it was the first time he had ever been in a midget.
Donnie Ray Saves a Life | "He'll Always Be My Hero" - Harli White | 2008
video by Elliott Brand
It is hard for anyone to believe this type of thing could happen to the good people of a legendary racing family.
"He is the nicest person you will meet. He will do anything for you. Help you out if you need anything and he is great driver on top of that," says Blake Hahn, Donnie Ray's teammate.
"He came into my life and right away I knew this guy was a stand up guy, from a good family, loving people, he always cared was available to give an autograph at a moments notice," says Donnie Ray's car owner, Jon Kantor.
In addition to being a hero (see video above) and a popular Snap On Tools rep in the Tulsa area, Donnie Ray Crawford continued to pursue opportunities in gaining the knowledge, experience, and ability needed to take his racing career to the next level. We lost one of the good guys today and pray that God's Grace helps his family, friends and team find comfort and peace in this confusing time of pain and sorrow. God Speed Donnie Ray!
Donnie Ray Had Overcome 2 Crashes at this Year's Chili Bowl...
Tulsa Shootout Nt 3 | 600 Outlaw Non-Wing A-Main | Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011
Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011 - Donnie Ray Takes 11th
600cc Outlaw Non-Wing (142 entries) “A” Main RESULTS (25 Laps):
1. 10L-Brock Lemley (Bellingham, WA), 2. 77-Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK), 3. 2jr-Joe B. Miller (Millersville, MO), 4. 41k-Cole Ketcham (Muncie, CA), 5. 11a-Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO), 6. 13e-Steven Shebester (Pauls Valley, OK), 7. 15d-Andrew Deal (Caney, KS), 8. 144-Tim Buckwalter (Royersford, PA), 9. 32-Garrett Abrams (Rushville, IN), 10. 21b-Christopher Bell (Norman, OK), 11. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK), 12. 59-Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN), 13. 28-Karley Kay Dobson (Hulbert, OK), 14. 3-Jimmy Wood (Monticello, IN), 15. 49-Joel Smith (Tulsa, OK), 16. 19-Dalton Terrel (Blanchard, OK), 17. 29-Austin Stone (Visalia, CA), 18. 11h-Harlan Hulsey (Owasso, OK), 19. 7-Chris Cochran (McLoud, OK), 20. 52-Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK), 21. 41-Dominic Scelzi (Fresno, CA), 22. 17e-Blake Edwards (Claremore, OK), 23. 79-Chris Andrews (Tulsa, OK), 24. 51m-Caleb Martin (Houston, TX)
Tulsa Shootout Nt 3 | Non-Wing 'A' Class A-Main | Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011
Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011 - Donnie Ray starts on the front row and winds up 6th
Non-Wing 'A' Class A-Main RESULTS (25 Laps):
1. 91-Kevin Bayer (Bixby, OK), 2. 79-Chris Andrews (Tulsa, OK), 3. 11h-Harlan Hulsey (Owasso, OK), 4. 33z-Zeke Lewis (Farmland, IN), 5. 88-Koen Shaw (Fresno, CA), 6. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK), 7. 29s-Scott Sawyer (Broken Arrow, OK), 8. 12-Christopher Bell (Norman, OK), 9. 1c-Chett Gehrke (Broken Arrow, OK), 10. 27-Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK), 11. 15T-Tristan Guardino (Fremont, CA), 12. 01j-Jeb Sessums (Burleson, TX), 13. 89j-Jarrett Crouch (Jay, OK), 14. 35-Matt Sherrell (Owasso, OK), 15. 73-Alex Sewell (Broken Arrow, OK), 16. 7s-Jason Scheulen (Broken Arrow, OK), 17. 41-Allan Koch (Sweet Springs, MO), 18. 81-Josh Marcham (Newcastle, OK), 19. 82-Steven Shebester (Pauls Valley, OK), 20. 17e-Blake Edwards (Claremore, OK), 21. 99b-Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), 22. 19-Dalton Terrel (Blanchard, OK), 23. 32-Trey Marcham (Oklahoma City, OK), 24. 57-Cole Bodine (Rossville, IN)
Tulsa Shootout Nt 3 | 600 Winged Outlaw A-Main | Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011
Tulsa, OK | Dec. 31, 2011 - Broken Arrow’s Donnie Ray Crawford and Laton, California’s Heath Dunkerken led the 30-lap Outlaw Micro Sprint feature field to the green flag, with Crawford gunning into the lead at the outset.
Looking to add to his collection of Golden Drillers collected at the Tulsa Shootout, Crawford led early but Dunkerken kept the heat on. While Crawford worked the low line, Dunkerken worked the middle of the track masterfully and surged into the lead on the fourth circuit.
As traffic became a factor after ten circuits, Crawford kept Dunkerken within striking distance until the race’s first caution flew after 17 laps. With open track on the restart, Dunkerken wasted little time opening up a straightway advantage as teammate Michael Faccinto became a factor.
After starting ninth, Faccinto was fourth behind Dunkerken, Crawford and Andrew Felker by the lap 17 caution and was into third by the time a final caution appeared after 22 laps.
Faccinto slipped around Crawford on the 23rd round and slowly reeled in Dunkerken as the closing laps clicked off. Back into traffic in the final pair of laps, Dunkerken beat Faccinto to the stripe with just two car lengths to spare.
A straightaway behind the California duo, Crawford fought off Felker for the show position, with Kevin Bayer rounding out the top five.
600cc Winged Outlaws A-Main RESULTS (30 Laps):
1. 79-Heath Dunkerken (Laton, CA), 2. 1-Michael Faccinto (Fremont, CA), 3. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK), 4. 11a-Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO), 5. 91-Kevin Bayer (Bixby, OK), 6. 44h-Michael Dicely (Lewisberry, PA), 7. 8T-Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA), 8. 81-Frank Flud (Pryor, OK), 9. 29-Austin Stone (Visalia, CA), 10. 18-Stanley Kreisel (Warsaw, MO), 11. 121-Dylan Black, 12. 99b-Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), 13. 1j-Ryan Greth (New Bloomfield, PA), 14. 4F-Mitchell Faccinto (Fremont, CA), 15. 7b-Austin Brown (Millstadt, IL), 16. 88-Koen Shaw (Fresno, CA), 17. 13-Trent Carter (Terra Bella, CA), 18. 15x-Tyson Hall (Longview, TX), 19. 41-Dominic Scelzi (Fresno, CA), 20. 135-Cody Ledger (Omaha, NE), 21. 52-lake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK), 22. 10j-Justin Sanders (Salinas, CA), 23. 94-Andrew Peters (Greentown, IN), 24. 91T-Cale Thomas (Fairland, IN)
Chili Bowl 2011 | Weds A-Main "Flip Finish" | Donnie Ray Crawford Wins!
Tulsa, OK | Jan 12, 2011 - On my first ever visit to the Chili Bowl, Donnie Ray unknowingly provided the action for one of our most watched videos. After Bobby East faded, Cole Whitt, Damion Gardner and Donnie Ray Crawford produce one of the most dramatic endings in Chili Bowl history with Crawford and Thomas Meseraull benefiting from the melee. Donnie Ray became the first Oklahoman to win a preliminary feature at the Chili Bowl Nationals Wednesday night in this wild finish. Watch the Victory Lane interview and listen to the crowd to understand how much Donnie Ray was loved...
Chili Bowl 2011 | Donnie Ray Crawford Wins Qualifier | Alternate Views from Drift Track Cams of the"Flip Finish" | Jan 12, 2011
RIP Donnie Ray! You will forever be greatly missed. You were a gift from God and a true angel. God speed Donnie.
ReplyDeleteOur sentiments exactly...
ReplyDeleteI never knew about Donnie saving that girls life ? He really was a Hero. It seems like in life, that the good people in the world seem to be taken more often then the Bad people. I wonder why ? I'm sure that God is taking good care of him that's for sure. Godspeed Donnie ! RIP Dwane from Minnesota . . . . . .
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad to hear of this. such a good person getting taken away at such a young age. I just know he's with our lord and saveure up there where he and Jesse are running 'A' mains and never coming in second. God Speed. May God watch over the family during this hard time and guide them thru. Wayne, Nevada
ReplyDeleteI've literally known him all his life. When Jodie and her mom worked in a salon in eton square in the mid 80's before he was born, I met them. I had been a race fan all my life and this sounds tacky but everyone knew who Jodie(Donnie's wife and Donnie Ray's mom) was. She was stunning. We became good friends and I was actually closer to her than Donnie because he raced and we watched. I feel like donnie Ray and Chassi are more like nieces and nephews than the ones I have. I have heard many versions of the story but there are facts that were not brought out. It isn't my place to say a thing. None of us can imagine the pain that they are going through right now. When I mailed my cards I pretty much said it like this. "Nothing I could say would be the right thing." Truthfully nobody could understand. I just hope everyone really does keep the whole family in their prayers. They are one of the few families that I can truthfully say that I've never heard a harsh word about any of them except from people at a race track that didn't know them. I can't think of anybody that did a better job of raising their kids than Donnie and Jodie and it definitely shows. I could end this with something like everyone else said but truthfully, at times like this or 9 11, there just isn't a right thing to say.
ReplyDelete