Nashville, TN – The field of driver’s racing with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance in 2024 have officially been put on notice as Lapeer, Michigan native and defending JEGS Tour Champion, Chase Burda has announced his return to the Tour. Burda will try to join Cody Coughlin and Jack Dossey, III as the only back-to-back champions of the series since 2011. Burda will also attempt to build on his near-record-tying four wins in 11 races last season.
The 2023 season began with Chase Burda Motorsports sitting unsure of their intentions for the year. That changed during the opening event of the Championship Points paying campaign on Saturday, May 13 at Birch Run Speedway & Event Center. Burda not only set fast time by almost a tenth of a second, but went on to collect his first career JEGS Tour win after leading the final 60 laps by over seven-tenths of a second. The then 18-year-old went on to collect the richest win of his career at the Masters of the Pros 184 from Owosso Speedway, and both the World Stock Car Festival and Winchester 100 at Winchester Speedway to close out the season.
Burda set a record of his own while coming close to tying another record with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. Burda’s dominating season gave him the 2023 Title by a staggering 269 points over runner-up Brandon Varney. His margin of victory shatters the old record for Largest Margin in a Championship set in 2016 by Cody Coughlin at 126. Burda’s four wins tie him with Brian Campbell for second most in a single season behind Daniel Hemric who put up a massive 8 wins during the 2012 season.
The 2024 season for Burda not only includes the goal of repeating as the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion but also as a representative in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. Burda says the added pressure is welcomed and drives him to build on the 2023 season.
“We’re really excited, especially after last year,” Burda said. “I’d say [we have] higher standards going into this year after winning the championship. We’ve just got to match that and try to win as much as we can.”
Burda concedes that going back-to-back, while difficult in its own right, will likely be more of a challenge in 2024 thanks to the continued growth of the JEGS Tour.
“I think this year, there will be more competitors and it’ll be more difficult to back it up,” Burda explained. “I’m excited to see what we can do. I’m excited to race with more competitors and it should be a fun season,” he said. “With more people running the full [Tour] I think it’s going to be really important to be finishing top five anywhere you go. We can not afford any DNFs.”
The Kulwicki Driver Development Program, built on the namesake of late NASCAR star, Alan Kulwicki, is a platform designed to help boost the careers of rising short-track talent. Burda says he’s honored to have been selected as a finalist in 2024 and knows he’ll need his best all season long.
“For us to make it [as a finalist] is just incredible,” Burda said enthusiastically. “I think it’ll also help us and keep us motivated throughout the year; just knowing that we’re competing in [the Kulwicki Driver Development Program] and the JEGS Tour – hopefully we can come out on top at the end of the season,” Burda finished.
Burda’s quest to defend the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Championship begins on Saturday, April 27th with the $5,000 to win Season Opener at Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI. Discounted advanced tickets are available at BerlinRaceway.com. Fans who can’t make the trip can catch all the action LIVE on RacingAmerica.TV or TrackTv.com.
For more information, including a detailed schedule of events, competitor information, and parking guide, visit the event tab at CRA-Racing.com. Find CRA: Champion Racing Association on Facebook and follow @CRARacing on X.
