MONTEREY, CA | July 24, 2025 — As the Radical Cup North America championship rolls into the iconic hills of Monterey for Round 4 of 7, Crown Racing arrives at a track built on history while building the future of the sport.
Fresh off the recent acquisition of Radical Arizona, this marks the team’s first official Radical Cup weekend under the new banner. It’s more than a name change, it’s a signal. A signal that Crown is deepening its commitment to talent development, technical excellence, and building a racing culture that stretches beyond the paddock.
“Laguna Seca is a benchmark track for any driver or team. This weekend is not just about competing, it’s about showing how our program, our engineering, and our culture of people are aligned for the long haul,” said Curtis Brown, CEO of Crown Concepts. “Radical Arizona joining the Crown family opens up so much opportunity to better serve drivers and deliver a racing experience that’s second to none.”
Two Entries, One Unified Standard
Crown Racing will field two entries in the PRO 1340 class which is part of a packed 28-car field across the Platinum, PRO 1500, and PRO 1340 divisions.
Chris McMurry, longtime endurance racing veteran and polesitter for nearly every PRO 1340 race in 2024, returns to the seat for the first time in 2025. Alongside him is Monterey native Mike Dardin, racing for the second time this season after debuting at Sebring.
“I hadn’t raced a Radical here since before the Corkscrew had paint,” McMurry said with a grin. “Coming back to Laguna in one of these cars, especially in the PRO 1340 class, it’s a physical challenge. The bumps, the dust, the elevation… there’s nothing like it. What’s cool is being with Crown. They’ve brought a level of engineering detail that really lets you focus on driving.”
Local Track, Lifelong Dream
For Dardin, this weekend is more than just another race. It’s a homecoming.
Owner of Dardini Logistics and a lifelong racer, Dardin was born and raised in Monterey. As a kid, his entire year revolved around race weekends at Laguna Seca. He can still remember standing along the fence line. The sound of downshifts echoing off the hills. Watching the cars flick through the Corkscrew like they were defying gravity.
“This track was everything to me growing up,” Dardin said. “I’d beg my parents to take me out here for every race weekend. I remember thinking, ‘One day, I want to be on the other side of that fence.’ To come back now, racing in a Radical, with a team like Crown behind me… it’s emotional. You can feel the history under your feet at this place. And now, I get to be a part of it.”
Because sometimes the place you grow up chasing dreams, becomes the place you catch them.
Track Familiarity Meets Engineering Precision
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca demands more than bravery, it demands calculation. With low-grip pavement, elevation shifts, and some of the most technical corners in North America, it’s a challenge that Crown Racing is meeting head-on.
“Laguna isn’t about throwing the kitchen sink at the car,” said CEO Curtis Brown. “You win here by being calculated, knowing when to rotate the car, when to save, and when to attack.”
“Compared to last year, our baseline is in a different league,” said Joey Martin, Race Team Manager and former IndyCar engineer with AJ Foyt Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, and PacWest. “We’ve got the data, we’ve got the tools, and most importantly, we’ve got the people.”
Eyes on the Horizon
Beyond Laguna, Crown Racing is locked in for the full Radical Cup North America calendar and is expanding its footprint across motorsports. With three LMP3 races scheduled later this year and the Apex Motor Club Challenge Series returning in October, the team continues to build momentum. Crown’s presence is also growing at premier private facilities in Arizona like Inde Motorsports Ranch and Podium Club.
“We’re all-in on building a system that works for professionals and customers alike,” said Martin. “From the first-time Radical driver to the veteran gunning for a championship, we’ve built the infrastructure to support them every step of the way.”
It’s a big promise but Crown has never aimed small. The Radical Cup paddock is louder this weekend. Crown’s colors are here and so is the standard they set. As two time and returning 2024 PRO 1340 Radical North America Team Champion, they are proud to be amongst the field. Along with their national level race support, Crown brings a full service capability as a certified Radical PRO 1340 engine rebuilder.
And if you’re watching this weekend and thinking I want to be a part of that, there’s room on this journey.
About Crown Concepts
Crown Concepts builds, restores, and races high-performance and collectible vehicles from its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to its custom car operations and motorsport services, Crown now offers full support for Radical race cars across Arizona and beyond. More at: www.crownconceptsusa.com
Contact:
Curtis Brown, CEO
Crown Concepts
520-900-7586
📧 cbrown@crownconceptsusa.com
