ASA/CRA Super Series
Champion Racing Association Launches Podcast; to Debut March 13
Mar 12, 2024
As the 2024 season quickly approaches, drivers' schedules are emerging as their intentions for the upcoming race season are revealed. For Ortonville, Michigan's, Blake Rowe, his 2024 season is about one thing - becoming a known threat in Template Late Model racing. The three-time Modified Hot Shoe 100 winner said "farewell" to his open-wheel days of racing as he looks to build a career as a Late Model ace that could win at any time across the country.
In August, Blake Rowe captured his third Hot Shoe 100 win at a third different track. Winning one of the country's most prestigious open-wheel Modified races for the third time solidified Rowe as a dominating threat to any Modified race in the country. Even with that in mind, quietly throughout the off-season, Rowe and his family sold everything related to Modified racing and focused all their assets on Template Late Model Racing. Not only investing in their family-owned operation, but Rowe has built a 20+ race schedule for the 2024 season that includes a run toward the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Championship with the help of two car owners; TK Racing and Stan + Judy Rosen.
Whether behind the wheel of the Stan + Judy Rosen No. 131, the TK Racing No. 71, or Rowe's personal No. 57, Blake Rowe's name will be a threat to win every time he rolls to the race track. VanDoorn Racing Development will prepare all three cars with John VanDoorn calling the shots nearly all season as the Crew Chief. Rowe's 2024 season begins on Saturday, April 20th at the Berlin Raceway Icebreaker in the No. 131, before returning to Berlin one week later for the $5K to win JEGS Tour season opener.
Most of the JEGS Tour schedule will be contested in the TK Racing No. 71, a team that has years of success in Champion Racing Association's history including multiple Redbud 400s and a Winchester 400. The duo will return to Toledo Speedway, the sight of Rowe's only CRA-sanctioned win, on Friday, July 26th with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. They'll then head to Owosso Speedway on August 3rd for the richest Pro Late Model race in the country, the $15,000 to win Masters of the Pros 185.
The rest of Rowe's stint with TK Racing will include a stop at Birch Run Speedway on Friday, August 23rd with the JEGS Tour, a return to Owosso Speedway on Sunday, September 22nd for The Owosso Nationals, and the Friday night JEGS Championship finale at Winchester Speedway. The final TK Racing event of the season will feature Rowe in a Super Late Model with the ASA STARS National Tour in the season finale All American 400.
As for the Stan + Judy Rosen No. 131, Rowe leaves Berlin and heads for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 100 at Anderson Speedway on Saturday, May 4th with the JEGS Tour. Then, it's four in a Rowe starting with The Big O Classic 100 at Owosso Speedway for $10K to win in the JEGS Tour. On Wednesday, June 12th it's back to Berlin for the Money in the Bank, and then over to Flat Rock Speedway for the ASA/CRA Super Series / JEGS Tour combo event on Saturday, June 22nd. The mid summer stint in the No. 131 ends with the ASA STARS National Tour Redbud 400 on Saturday, July 20th.
-Photo credit: CRA Media
Rowe reunites with the No. 131 on August 7th for the Battle at Berlin 250 and then again on August 17th for the ASA STARS National Tour 200 Lap event at Owosso Speedway. The final two events in the No. 131 in 2024 are with the ASA STARS National Tour; The Glass City 200 on Saturday, September 14th, and the Winchester 400 on Sunday, October 13th.
Holes in the schedule are filled in with Rowe's family-owned team. On Saturday, May 11th Rowe takes the No. 57 out for the first time during a weekly program at Berlin Raceway. The other scheduled appearance is during the All American 100 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on Friday, November 1st.
Two events remain as question marks for Blake Rowe in 2024, the Sunday, June 9th JEGS Tour event at Corrigan Oil Speedway and the Saturday, July 6th InstaCoat 4th Up North 104 at Whittemore Speedway. Rowe says one way or another, he'll be at those events, however, it hasn't been decided which car will make the start.
Rowe says his focus on Template Late Model racing in 2024 is to become a household name in Late Model competition. While being known as a Modified and Hot Shoe 100 ace is nice, Rowe says he wants the same recognition for the Winchester 400, Glass City 200, and others. Rowe says the dedication to the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour this season helps him prepare for a campaign on the ASA STARS National Tour in 2025.
-Story by: Zach Hiser
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America
