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| Born | March 4, 1961 Darien, Connecticut |
| Died | September 16, 1990 (age 29) New York, New York |
| Cause of death | Leukemia |
| Organization | World Stock Car Championship |
| Title | Director, Lites Division |
| Predecessor | Elliott Crawford, Jr. |
| Successor | Vickie Harper |
Joseph Mitchell "Joe" Crawford (March 4, 1961 - September 16, 1990) was an American racing executive who served as the second Director of the World Stock Car Lites division from 1987 until his death in 1990.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Crawford was born in Darien, Connecticut; he was the eldest child of Jack Crawford and Suzanne Taylor. He attended Darien High School and graduated from MIT with a Bachelor's in Mathematics in 1983. He joined the World Stock Car Championship soon after graduating, working as one of the company's finance officers.
Career[edit | edit source]
Crawford initially worked as a financial analyst, determining suitable markets to host races and, if necessary, finance the construction of racing facilities. He was named director of the finance department in 1986, and became a board member that same year. The following year, he was named as the Director of the World Stock Car Lites division, replacing his uncle upon the latter's retirement. The younger Crawford enacted several measures to control costs in the Lites Division, including:
- Spec chassis
- Race length capped at 250 miles/250 km
- Track size limited to 1.5-miles for ovals
- Schedule balanced between support and standalone dates, with support dates at more prominent races
Crawford was notable for defining the role of the Lites division as a development series; he stated in an interview with Motorsport Magazine in 1988 that "the ultimate goal of the Lites Division is help form a pipeline from local short track racing to the world stage. Lites is meant to be a stepping stone from the local, regional series - a proving ground, if you will." He later outlined the plans to define a global path to the WSCC.
Illness and Death[edit | edit source]
Crawford was diagnosed with leukemia on March 25, 1990, after complaining of persistent flu-like symptoms and weakness in his arms. Despite undergoing aggressive treatment, the disease progressed rapidly and Crawford died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City on September 16, 1990. He is buried alongside his grandparents in St. John's Cemetery in Norwalk, Connecticut.