Brent Crews, the rising star from Hickory, North Carolina, is gearing up to make his NASCAR Truck Series debut on May 17 at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Driving the #1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage, Crews will compete against seasoned drivers such as Corey Heim, Tony Breidinger, Tanney Gray, and Gio Ruggiero in the 250-lap, 156.25-mile Window World race. This upcoming event marks an important milestone in Crews’ fast-growing career and has attracted attention from prominent figures in the motorsports world.
Double Daytona 24H winner Max Papis has publicly praised Brent Crews, signaling his confidence in Crews’ potential to shine in the Truck Series. Papis took to social media to share his support, quote-tweeting Crews’ announcement and hailing him as a star to watch. As a driver with extensive endurance racing experience, Papis’ endorsement adds significant credibility and excitement around Crews’ entry into NASCAR’s competitive truck ranks.
At just 17 years old, Brent Crews has already made waves across multiple stock car racing platforms. Beyond the Truck Series debut, Crews is actively competing in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West under Joe Gibbs Racing. He drives the #18 Toyota Camry in both ARCA and ARCA West, while making appearances in the ARCA Menards Series East behind the wheel of the #18 and #81 Toyotas. As a Toyota Racing Development driver, Crews’ involvement spans multiple tiers of stock car racing, showcasing his adaptability and promise as a young athlete.
Crews’ racing background is diverse, having also competed in the Trans-Am and CARS Late Model Stock Tour series. His versatility extends outside of stock cars into the sprint car arena, where he demonstrated remarkable skill earlier this year during events at Tulsa. Reflecting on his growth, Crews cited Cup Series drivers like Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and Christopher Bell as key inspirations, pushing him to elevate his performance. He competed directly against these established veterans in high-profile races like the Tulsa Shootout and the Chili Bowl, underscoring his commitment to challenging himself against the best.
In Tulsa, Crews claimed the prestigious Golden Driller trophy in the Stock Non-Wing Division, a significant accomplishment considering the competitive field included Larson, who raced in the A-Main category. This achievement added to the momentum building ahead of his NASCAR Truck Series debut and highlighted his rapid development across different racing disciplines.
Brent Crews’ upcoming debut in the NASCAR Truck Series represents a critical step forward, blending youthful enthusiasm with proven racing talent. His alignment with respected teams and endorsements from experienced drivers like Max Papis suggest that he could become a formidable presence on the circuit. As fans and analysts watch closely, Crews’ performance at North Wilkesboro may well set the tone for a promising future in NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
