Seventeen-year-old Brent Crews, a standout Toyota driver and four-time ARCA Menards Series winner, is taking a significant step by creating his own NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. After competing part-time for Tricon Garage this season, including a notable eighth-place finish in only his second Truck Series race at Lime Rock Park, Crews plans to debut his team, Brent Crews Motorsports (BCM), at the upcoming Watkins Glen event. This development adds new excitement to the NASCAR season and highlights the surge of youthful talent reshaping the sport.
Watkins Glen: The Chosen Venue for Brent Crews Motorsports’ Inaugural Race
Crews has strong ties to Watkins Glen, having made his ARCA Series debut on the track with a third-place finish, making it a symbolic choice for BCM’s first NASCAR appearance. The team will compete in the No. 70 Toyota truck, backed by sponsorship from Pristine Auction. Crews is eager to race on this renowned road course again, driven by the current enthusiasm for road course competitors in NASCAR and his personal connection to the track.
I don’t really know where this is going to go, but with all the buzz around road course guys right now, it didn’t seem right to miss Watkins Glen. I love the track. I have a win there. I don’t know what to expect from our team, but I will give it everything I’ve got. Watching on TV was not an option.
—Brent Crews, Driver and Team Owner
Youthful Leadership and Passion Behind Brent Crews Motorsports
BCM’s leadership includes several teenage NASCAR stars such as Jesse Love Jr. and Connor Zilisch, highlighting a new generation fueling the team’s ambition. For Crews, transforming his dream of building race cars into reality as a team owner is deeply personal. He reflects on his early experiences of hearing stories about resourceful mechanics working with limited means, which inspired his passion for the sport beyond just driving.
I grew up going to dinner on race weekends with guys like Nick Tucker and Brian Keselowski, listening to stories about building race cars and engines out of spare parts and barely getting to the track. Even though everyone would tell them they were crazy, it always sounded like so much fun to me.
—Brent Crews, Driver and Team Owner
Connor Zilisch NASCAR Rising Star Joins Forces with Brent Crews
Amid this exciting new team formation, 17-year-old Connor Zilisch, another rising star with an impressive Xfinity Series start, is collaborating with Crews on BCM’s executive team. Zilisch’s remarkable early NASCAR achievements add weight to BCM’s outlook as a proving ground for young talent in stock car racing. The involvement of emerging drivers like Zilisch signals a growing trend of teenagers making significant impacts both on and off the track.
Balancing Dual Roles: Crews’ Continued Partnership with Tricon Garage
Although Crews is now a team owner, he will continue competing part-time for Tricon Garage, dividing his focus between driving and managing his new venture. This simultaneous commitment reflects a strategic effort to gain maximum experience behind the wheel while steering BCM toward success. As the Truck Series season progresses, all eyes will be on how this youthful team performs amid seasoned competition.
Significance and Future Prospects for Young NASCAR Talent
The emergence of Brent Crews Motorsports and its youthful leadership, including Connor Zilisch, demonstrates a shift in NASCAR toward younger drivers shaping their careers and the sport’s landscape simultaneously. By establishing a team at such an early stage, Crews is blazing a trail that could inspire others and contribute to the dynamic evolution within NASCAR. The upcoming race at Watkins Glen will be a critical milestone for BCM, potentially serving as a launching pad for sustained success in the Truck Series and beyond.