Michael Crawford Motorsports inks Jake Slotten
MCM signed the 21-year-old Kimberly, Wis., native after Slotten impressed the team with a very successful Indy Pro Series rookie test at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Jan. 30.
"The Indy Racing League has shown an interest in re-establishing the career path of Midget and Sprint Car racers climbing the ladder to IndyCars," team owner Michael Crawford said. "With this in mind, we see a tremendous opportunity to work with Jake this season and prepare him for our mutual goal, a future run at the Indianapolis 500. In years past, many great stars of Indy car racing started their careers on the dirt tracks of America. I am very pleased that we have partnered with a modern-day Midwest dirt track driver as he fulfills a lifelong dream."
Slotten has raced midgets in the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association and USAC National Midget Series, winning the BMARA Rookie of the Year award at age 16.
In 2005, he became one of the youngest drivers to make the top 10 in points in the Badger Midget Racing Series despite missing three points races while on a church-sponsored mission trip to North Africa to help in refugee camps.
"I am very grateful to Michael Crawford Motorsports for this great blessing and opportunity," Slotten said. "I hope to develop into a successful and respected driver while promoting the sport of open wheel racing. I look forward to bringing home race wins and achieving the goal of qualifying for the Indy 500 with Michael Crawford Motorsports in the future."