DeYoung is first at Crystal

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Feb. 27, 2023) – He’s already been a race car driver and owner, but Brian LeBaron sees a childhood dream come true this season as the new promoter and general manager at Crystal Motor Speedway. “One of the things I love most in life is dirt track racing. This is something I always hoped would happen,” said LeBaron, who takes over the helm of the 3/8-mile Michigan clay oval now owned by his brother Jake and childhood friend Steve Vernon and purchased from long-time owners Ron and Mary Jane Flinn. “It’s something we started talking about at the 2021 awards banquet. It has taken a while but it finally happened.” “I know there are big shoes to fill, literally, and Ron left us an incredibly good product,” he continued. “I love the family atmosphere at Crystal and look forward to seeing my racing family again.”  Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds have run at Crystal, the longest continuously sanctioned track in both Michigan and the Eastern Region, since 1988. Saturday night IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Jun. 21, 2025) — Chase Rosebrugh capitalized on late-race drama to win the Saturday night finale of the Dan Salay Memorial weekend at Crystal Motor Speedway. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified event, paying $2,000 to win, capped off a thrilling tripleheader in front of a packed crowd. Austin Harnick, the reigning Great Lakes Nationals winner, set the tone early in the 40-lapper by taking the lead on the opening circuit. He held command through a pair of early cautions on laps two and 18, and stretched out his advantage over Rosebrugh by a decent margin with a big gap back to third. Harnick looked to be in control as the defending Merritt Speedway track champion, while Rosebrugh—last year’s DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region Rookie of the Year—held steady in second. But with four laps to go, Harnick was collected with a lapped car and slapped the front stretch wall, handing Rosebrugh the lead on the final restart. Rosebrugh nailed the restart and stormed away for a signature win, his fourth of the [Read More]

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Feb. 15, 2023) – Looking back at the end of one era and the beginning of another, Ron Flinn hopes to be remembered for the respect he showed the drivers, race teams and fans.  It’s a good bet he’ll be remembered for his height and his sense of humor, too.  Owner and promoter Flinn and his wife Mary Jane have announced the sale of Crystal Motor Speedway, Michigan’s longest continuously sanctioned Friesen Performance IMCA Modified track. The Flinns and son Ryan have handed the keys to Jake LeBaron, Steven Vernon and Brian LeBaron and will help the new ownership team in the transition.  “It’s been a long and treasured ride for sure. I have been so blessed,” said the 81-year-old Flinn, the tallest promoter in IMCA at 6-8 and a regular in senior basketball action across the country when not at the track. “I have been blessed by my racing families and my basketball families, to say nothing about my personal family. They are all near and dear.” Now a Michigan Motorsports Hall [Read More]