In windy (20-45 mph gusts of wind) and sunny, 80-degree weather at Las Vegas International Raceway, The Super Lap Battle Qualifier weekend completed with a crowd of people standing on the walls watching as the cars battled it out. Crawford Performance performed far better than expected for their first debut of the year with new driver, Thomas Smith at the helm.

In sunny, 80-degree weather at Willow Springs International Raceway, Crawford Performance marked a huge day at the October 10th SubieFest 2009. Exhibiting their own vehicles and contributing performance engineering to other teams, Crawford Performance sponsored six cars in the weekend event sponsored by SubieSport Magazine. Highlights from the weekend included a first place finish and SubieFest track record by LIC Motorsports in the Unlimited Time Attack-sponsored 2004 Subaru STI driven by Dr. Russ Warr. The car featured a Crawford S3RL-i short block, CP35R turbo kit and engine management tuning by Crawford Performance and finished with a new Subie Fest track record with a 1:22.519, demolishing the previous year’s record by over 6 seconds.

Competing in the Redline Time Attack Round Two at Willow Springs International Raceway on May 30th and 31st, Crawford Performance driver Tarzan Yamada placed second in the AWD Unlimited Class in his first competition at this track. The sleek Crawford Performance Subaru driven by Yamada was outfitted with a new 2.65 liter engine, the same engine used in Ken Block’s Gymkhana 2. The vehicle also boasted a more powerful turbo that delivers 585whp and 670 feet/pounds of torque, and a reduced-weight chassis, shedding 25 pounds to enhance performance. Yamada blazed around the track, shaving a full five seconds from last year’s time.

This past weekend, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Team Crawford continued on their pioneering venture with their new 2008 WRX STI earning a 2nd place finish ( 1:42.327) at the Redline Time Attack. However the success was not without its challenges. The innovative skunkworks crew was faced with severe braking issues on the NASCAR ROVAL. Thankfully Tanner Foust (X-Games gold medalist, Drift Guru , Stunt Driver and now Top Gear USA TV Host) was on hand to pilot the 160mph WRX STI to another podium finish on Sunday.

This past weekend Crawford Performance and their 2008 WRX STI, piloted by drivers Tanner Foust and Russ Warr, earned a spot in the Super Lap Battle Finale ( November 11th).  Despite excessively high ambient temperatures and the even hotter Mojave Desert winds, the Skunkworks team was also able to pull off two 1st place wins at the Willow Springs Raceway event.

The team traveled to Willow Springs Raceway, noted as the “Fastest Road in the West”, to compete in the two-day regional NASA (National Auto Sports Association) event. The decision to do so way two fold. One; to qualify for the renowned Super Lap Battle finale in November Two; dial–in the new WRX STI chassis for high speed scenarios. What better way to accomplish two distinct goals then to have two different drivers, Russ Warr and Tanner Foust.