Rowe the Boat Back to Shore, Blake Rowe Eyes Another CRA Championship in 2026

📸 Eric Young | Dream Bigger Media

Ortonville, MI - In 2024, Blake Rowe committed to the full season with the Turn One CRA Pro Series Presented by Chevrolet Performance. At the time, Rowe was an Open-Wheel Modified standout who was looking to make a name for himself in Template Late Model racing. He had spot starts at Berlin Raceway and with the ASA/CRA Super Series, but aside from that, didn’t have a lot of Template Late Model experience to fall back on. In his first start that season, he won. Then, won again at Birch Run Speedway before going on to win the Championship. Now, the Champ is back.

It does feel like deja vue for many drivers and fans around the CRA Pro Series in 2026. The schedule, the anticipation, and the drivers making a return to the Series give it a circa 2024 feeling that has everyone ready for the season to begin. Blake Rowe feels that same buildup as he again prepares to battle with drivers like Chase Pinsonneault, Albert Francis, Kevin Cremonesi, and Jimmy Tucker, just to name a few. Not only does the buildup and excitement for this season feel like it did two years ago, but Rowe’s logistics are similar, too.

“It’ll be a similar situation to what we had in 2024,” Rowe explained. “We’re going to run four races in my car and the remaining six with [Tom Kmak and TK Racing]. It’ll be a split season again, but that’s what’ll make it work for both programs and give us a chance to chase this deal again.”

Although Rowe missed a full schedule in 2025 with the Series, he kept his face around with three top 10 finishes, including a runner-up at Kalamazoo Speedway in five starts. Rowe says the competition this year could be the toughest yet.

“I think we’ve got a really good group [of racers],” Rowe said. “It’s going to be challenging, I think everyone that’s on board this year is smarter, faster, wiser than they were before. I’m excited for the group we’ve got.”

Rowe’s bid to join names like Cody Coughlin, Dan Leeck, and Jack Dossey III as a multi-time CRA Pro Series Champion begins on Saturday, April 18th at Toledo Speedway. Advanced tickets are available at ToledoSpeedway.com. For more information on the Turn One CRA Pro Series Presented by Chevrolet Performance, visit CRA-Racing.com.