Jak
Crawford
United States
·
Junior Formula Series
Date of birth | 2 May 2005 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
Age | 20 |
Nationality | United States |
Career start | 2011 |
Disciplines | Junior Team |
- 2022
- 6th F3 F Regional Asia
- 7th FIA F31 win
- 2021
- 3rd Euroformula Open8 wins
- 13th FIA F3
- 2020
- 2nd ADAC Formula 4 Championship21 races - 5 wins, 12 podiums
- 6th Italian F4 ChampionshipContested 14 of 20 races - 2wins, 7 podiums
- 2019
- 2nd in the INEX Legends Car Winter Nationals Professional Championship Series - Rookie
- 2nd in the FIA Formula 4 NACAM Championship Series (6 wins, 14 podiums) - Rookie
- Rookie of the Year – FIA Formula 4 NACAM Championship Series
- 7th in the Cooper Tyres USF2000 Championship Series - Rookie (missed first two races due to age)
- 3rd SKUSA SuperNationals XXIII - X30 Senior – Rookie
- 2018
- 2nd in the INEX Legends Car Winter Heat Young Lions Championship Series
- 1st in the INEX Legends Car Winter Nationals Young Lions Championship Series
- 2nd DKM Championship – Wackersdorf Race
- 3rd FIA Formula 4 NACAM Championship – Mexico City Race on F1 WeekendMexico City
- 2nd SKUSA SuperNationals XXII - X30 Junior
- 2017
- 1st in the Challenge of the Americas Championship Series - Junior Rotax - RookieU.S
- 3rd INEX Legends Car Young Lions Oval Nationals Championship - Rookie
- 1st INEX Legends Car Young Lions Road Course World Championship – Rookie
- 2nd in the SKUSA Pro Tour Championship Series – X30 Junior – Rookie
- 1st SKUSA SuperNationals XXI - X30 Junior class - Rookie
- 2016
- 1st in the Florida Winter Tour Championship Series - Mini ROKFlorida
- 1st in the US Open Championship Series – Rotax Mini MAX
- 2nd Canadian National Karting Championship - Rotax Mini MAX
- 1st Trofeo D' Autunno – Vortex Mini-ROK
- 5th Rok-Cup International Championship – Vortex Mini-ROK
- 2015
- 3rd in the Challenge of the Americas Championship Series – Rotax Mini MAX – Rookie
- 3rd US Grand National Championship – Rotax Mini MAX – Rookie
- 1st US Grand National Championship – Rotax Micro MAX
- 3rd in the SKUSA Pro Tour Championship Series- Vertex Mini ROK
- 1st US Open Championship Series – Rotax Mini MAX – Rookie
- 3rd SKUSA SuperNationals XIX - TaG Cadet
- 2nd Rok-Cup International Championship – Vortex Mini ROK
- 2014
- 1st in the Challenge of the Americas Championship Series – Micro MAX (swept series) • 1st Florida Winter Tour – Micro MAXFlorida
- 1st in the SKUSA Texas Pro-Kart Challenge Championship Series – Vortex Mini ROK
- 1st in the SKUSA Texas Pro-Kart Challenge Championship Series – Rotax Micro MAXTexas
- 4th SKUSA SKUSA SuperNationals XVIII – Vortex Mini ROK
- 2013
- 3rd in the SKUSA Texas Pro-Kart Challenge Championship Series – Vortex Mini ROK - RookieAustin
- Attended first national event in karting • Quarter Midget Oval Racing in Austin
- 2012
- 4-Stroke Cadet Kart Racing in HoustonHouston
- 2011
- Kids Kart Racing across Texas - started racing in May aged 6Texas
"My dad started racing around the time I was born. He used to take me around to the NASCAR shops when we lived in Charlotte and bought me a ton of small-scale cars from the race shops."
Jak started racing kid karts in 2011 at the age six first in Katy, Texas.
© Peter Clifford
"My dad was my mechanic, coach and everything for the first couple years in karts. He learned everything about the kart from the guys at the local karting club. Once I hit the national level in karting, my dad decided he needed to get me a better program. When he was coaching me he used to tell me that 'Excellence is small things performed well over and over again' and that is what I try to remember in racing."
"When I was in kids karts I was called Jetpak Jak and the name kind of stuck for many years. We don't use that nickname anymore now that I am older but whenever I used to race karts in Europe kids I didn't even know would come up to me and call me Jetpak. The nickname made it all the way around the world."
In 2014 at eight years old Jak made his debut at karting events in the U.S.
© Peter Clifford
"My mom is very supportive and happy to see me race. We have learned what works and what doesn't and at all my races in 2021 one of my parents will be there. They take turns usually so one can be back at home to handle everything in Texas. I can't thank them enough for all they have sacrificed and done to get me where I am today."
In 2015, Jak won more championships around the USA.
© Peter Clifford
"My mom helped me start my own charity a few years ago. It started out that we would go out to the local karting track and host special needs kids, mostly down's syndrome and autistic kids and young adults."
I would drive the kids around in a two-seater kart and we would become friends. We are transitioning the charity a little this year to be a big, two-day event and I will participate when I am home in Texas this summer. The charity is called Fast Friends Speed School."
Jak in 2017 with his "Fast Friend" Nathan at Speedsportz Racing Park.
© Peter Clifford
When he is not racing, Jak does a lot of sim training. "Since I travel so much, when I am home I enjoy sleeping in my own bed in Texas and playing with my dog, Bear."
"My goal as a kid was always to win the next race. My dad taught me to say that when I was very young. Other kids would say they wanted to be F1 drivers or IndyCar drivers and he never let me say that. Instead, he told me to say my goal was to win my next race. It is not always possible in racing but you still have to feel that way every time you strap down in a car. Winning makes it so everything else falls into place, so we will see for 2021."
Jak, twelve years old in 2017 winning one of the world's premier races.
© Peter Clifford
"Winning is the most important of course and knowing you drove the best and got the most out of the car. Also seeing how happy the team is after each race and all the work they all put in is put to good use. Winning and knowing that my parents are proud of me also gives me satisfaction."
In 2019, Jak and Rinus VeeKay visit to OHSU Doernbecher.
© Jak Crawford
2019 was another breakout year for Jak, in open wheel formula car racing.
© Peter Clifford
Having completed the transition Jak knows that his best car races are still to come but he already has some favourite places. "Imola has to be my favourite track by far having done thousands of laps on the sim and going there many times to race."
"I also love the Red Bull Ring. The low-speed corners create big passing opportunities. I also enjoy the high-speed sector 3 which is very satisfying to get right."
2017 was a big year for Jak showing his talent in multiple racing genres.
© Peter Clifford
"I have raced so many different types of vehicles even in the same year that I feel like I can drive anything. There is a big difference in a Legends Car with a lot of power but no grip and an entry-level downforce formula car with not a lot of power."
Winning in Mexico in 2019 - Jak ran the NACAM F4 series in 2019.
© Peter Clifford
"My dad always wanted me to go down a NASCAR path, but where I am at now has always been what I wanted to do. I am living my own dream not anyone else's dream for me."
Jak Crawford.
© Peter Clifford
“My best race to date was the Red Bull Ring Sprint Race 2022. It was my first F3 win and I was super happy with this result and the way the race went. We had good pace, I set off in 3rd, got pushed wide on lap 1 to 4th. Was making my way up and ended up getting the win with a good move on the Safety Car restart. On one of my favourite tracks in front of all the Red Bull support”
Spielberg F3 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull
“2022 was a tough year although it is the year I have learned the most on track and off track about myself. I had my highs and lows and unfortunately, the lows were too low and didn’t allow me to fight for the championship at the end of the year despite being in the top 3 the majority of the year. My best moment was in Red Bull Ring where I took my first F3 victory. I had very good speed all year and I am happy with my progression.”
Spielberg F3 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull
“I am looking forward to start a new adventure this year in Formula 2. I am back with Hitech GP whom I had previously been with in my first year in Formula 3. It feels like coming back to the team as it doesn’t feel like a new team to me. I am looking forward to learning the new car and all the new tracks I have never driven before. I don’t have any big expectations. Saying that I still want to do very well. I want to make the most of every opportunity and progress my driving skill to another level.”
Monza F3 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull