Dawson Cram Bio
Dawson Kevin Cram, born September 12, 2001, is an American professional stock car racing driver, mechanic, and team owner. He has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Mike Harmon Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 74 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for MHR. Cram has also previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and became the youngest team owner in NASCAR history at the age of 16, when he began running his own family-backed operation.
Born in San Diego, California, Cram built his career by working his way through short tracks and developmental series before reaching the national NASCAR ranks. Known for his hands-on approach, he has served as both a driver and a mechanic, gaining a full understanding of the sport from the shop floor to the race track.
Early Life and Background
Dawson Kevin Cram was born on September 12, 2001, in San Diego, California, and grew up surrounded by racing. He started his motorsports journey in 2007 at the age of five, racing Mini Dwarf cars in his hometown. His passion for the sport was shaped by a family deeply rooted in NASCAR. His father, Kevin Cram, is a former crew chief who worked in all three of NASCAR’s national series, while his uncle, Clinton Cram, remains active in the profession.
When Dawson was older, he relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina, a hub of NASCAR activity, and transitioned to the INEX Bandolero Series. He won thirteen times in Bandolero competition, building a strong record that led him to move into Legend Cars in 2014. His 2017 schedule included starts in Legend Cars, Super Trucks, and late models in the Whelen All-American Series, as well as his first attempt at a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
Path to NASCAR
Cram’s entry into NASCAR began on October 24, 2017, when he was announced as the driver of the No. 11 truck for Cram Racing Enterprises at Martinsville Speedway in the 2017 Texas Roadhouse 200. A blown engine during practice forced him to withdraw from the event, but it did not slow his ambitions. In 2018, he returned to Martinsville driving for Beaver Motorsports, where he completed his first race with live pit stops, finishing seventeenth on the lead lap despite an early contact with a crew member.
By 2020, Cram was balancing driving duties with mechanical work, serving as a mechanic for the No. 6 NASCAR Xfinity Series team at JD Motorsports. That same year, he ran Truck Series races for both Long Motorsports and Reaume Brothers Racing before eventually purchasing Long Motorsports and rebranding it under the Cram Racing Enterprises banner. The following year, he voiced his intent to run a full Truck schedule and made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in July 2021 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Mike Harmon Racing.
Dawson Cram Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
From 2017 to 2021, Cram competed under his own family-backed team, Cram Racing Enterprises, becoming the youngest team owner in NASCAR history at the age of 16. His early Truck Series attempts were a learning process. After his first attempt ended before it began due to an engine failure, he posted a seventeenth-place finish in his next Martinsville start in 2018, one of the few races that season where he completed every lap.
In 2020, Cram split time between multiple teams, including Long Motorsports and Reaume Brothers Racing, before taking ownership of Long Motorsports. He continued to develop the team while also gaining experience as a mechanic at JD Motorsports, an experience that gave him a broader understanding of race operations and car preparation.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017-2024)
Cram’s Truck Series career has been a steady climb built on perseverance. He first attempted a Truck Series race in 2017 at Martinsville before going on to make several starts across different teams between 2018 and 2020. After purchasing Long Motorsports, he ran the No. 41 entry under the Cram Racing Enterprises banner for the remainder of the 2020 Truck season, an important step in establishing himself as both a driver and an owner.
By 2021, Cram was committed to running the full Truck schedule and continued to chase consistent results. In 2023, he drove the G2G Racing No. 47 in the Truck Series race at Darlington in May, though his team was later penalized with the loss of 25 owner points for having an outdated window net. He has continued to seek opportunities in the Truck Series alongside his Xfinity duties.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2021-2024)
Cram made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in July 2021 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Mike Harmon Racing. The following year, in 2022, he attempted the Xfinity Series’ September Darlington race driving the No. 35 car for Emerling-Gase Motorsports, where he qualified and finished thirtieth. He also attempted two races in the Mike Harmon Racing No. 47 but failed to qualify, before driving the MBM Motorsports No. 13 in the season finale at Phoenix, where he finished thirty-first.
In 2023, Cram ran the majority of the Xfinity Series season in the No. 74 car for CHK Racing, formerly Mike Harmon Racing, though he and the team failed to qualify for most of their attempted races. After qualifying for the Charlotte race in May, Cram and the team lost 10 driver and owner points due to an air duct violation, making him one of the few drivers in NASCAR history to hold a negative point total at some point in a season. He also drove the SS-Green Light Racing No. 07 at Martinsville in April and the Alpha Prime Racing No. 44 at Darlington in September.
On December 6, 2023, Cram announced plans to run full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024, driving the No. 4 car for JD Motorsports. After four races, he was scaled back to a part-time schedule following reports that JD Motorsports had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in April 2024. Starting at Pocono, Cram returned to Mike Harmon Racing in the No. 74 car and qualified for the race, the first race MHR had qualified for all year. He later drove the DGM Racing No. 92 entry for five races starting at Kansas in September 2024.
Mike Harmon Racing Era (2024)
After leaving JD Motorsports, Cram returned to Mike Harmon Racing in the No. 74 car, marking a return to familiar surroundings. At Pocono, he qualified for the race after the JD Motorsports No. 6 entry withdrew, becoming the first driver to qualify MHR for a race all season, although he crashed on Lap 1 and finished thirty-eighth. He returned to the No. 74 at Darlington but failed to qualify, then qualified at Atlanta before retiring after 18 laps due to engine trouble.
His late-season move to DGM Racing in the No. 92 entry for five races starting at Kansas gave him another opportunity to race in competitive equipment. Despite the challenges of the year, Cram’s adaptability and willingness to take on part-time opportunities have kept him active across both national series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cram is known for his mechanical knowledge and hands-on approach, having worked as a mechanic while pursuing his driving career. This background gives him a deep understanding of car setup and race strategy, skills that have been valuable in smaller-team environments where resources are limited. His experience running his own team has also made him a versatile driver, comfortable adapting to different cars and crew configurations.
Notable Races and Milestones
One of Cram’s most notable moments came at Pocono in 2024, when he became the first driver to qualify Mike Harmon Racing for a race all season. His Truck Series debut attempt at Martinsville in 2017, though it ended before the green flag due to an engine failure, marked the beginning of his NASCAR national series journey. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest team owner in NASCAR history, a record set when he was just 16 years old.
Dawson Cram Career Wins
Dawson Cram’s professional career has been defined more by perseverance and team-building than by wins in NASCAR’s national series. To date, no victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, or ARCA Menards Series are verifiable from available sources. His thirteen wins in the INEX Bandolero Series remain his most clearly documented achievements in stock car racing.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching NASCAR’s national series, Cram won thirteen times in the INEX Bandolero Series, a developmental series based in Mooresville, North Carolina. These early victories helped him earn a reputation as a rising talent and set the stage for his move to Legend Cars in 2014. His short-track success has been a foundation for his continued presence in the sport.
Dawson Cram Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing runs deep in the Cram family. Dawson’s father, Kevin Cram, is a former crew chief who worked in all three of NASCAR’s national series, giving Dawson an early education in the technical and strategic side of the sport. His uncle, Clinton Cram, is also a crew chief and served as Dawson’s crew chief for his first Truck Series attempt, a family connection that has shaped his path through the sport.
Personal Life
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Dawson later moved to Mooresville, North Carolina, to be closer to the heart of NASCAR country. His deep family ties to the sport, combined with his work as a mechanic and team owner, have made him a well-rounded figure in the racing community.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025, Dawson Cram’s competitive schedule has not been clearly outlined in available sources. Following a 2024 season split between Mike Harmon Racing and DGM Racing, his next steps in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series remain to be confirmed. His track record of running part-time with smaller teams suggests he will likely continue to seek opportunities across both national series.
Cram’s experience as a driver, mechanic, and team owner makes him a flexible candidate for a variety of teams, and his willingness to adapt has been a hallmark of his career. Any updates on his 2025 plans, including potential team announcements or race entries, will be key to tracking his progress in the coming months.
