crockpot manhattan clam chowder

Ingredients

• 6 - strips of bacon cooked crispy and crumbled,and some of the bacon fat
• 1 cup uncooked potatoes,chopped
• 1 c cup celery,chopped
• 1 cup onions.chopped
• 1 cup carrots,chopped
• 1 - 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cans large size of v-8 juice
• 1 teaspoon thyme, dried
• 1 - bay leaf
• 4 cans minced or chopped clams,including juice
• - salt and pepper to taste