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Q
and A's with Rob Chase
1. The usual questions.
Favorite form of motor sports?
Nextel Cup
Favorite driver?
Mark Martin
Favorite race track?
Daytona
Favorite car?
ONE THING FOR SURE IT IS NOT A CAVALIER !
Probably the favorite would be a chopped and customized '50 Merc.
What type of vehicle do you drive
on the street?
DAILY DRIVER - 1989 ESCORT GT, IT WAS BOUGHT TO
BECOME A FUTURE RACE CAR .
THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKED GREAT AND WITH THE CURRENT GAS PRICES ? THE CREW CAB
DUALLY ONLY HAS TO GO ON RACE DAY NOW !
2. What one race that you competed in stands out the most in your mind?
MAY 29TH. I WON AND WHEN I PULLED IN TO GO TO
TECH I SEEN THE #33 CAR SITTING IN THERE, SHE FINISHED 4TH ! SEEING HER THERE IN
4TH, WAS AS EXCITING AS GETTING THE WIN !
3. What is one thing in your opinion that would improve the fans at 24
Raceway's experience at the races each week?
NONSTOP ENTERTAINMENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE PLANED
EVENTS AT INTERMISSION AND POSSIBLY BETWEEN CLASSES. SOMETHING TO DRAW AND KEEP
KIDS ATTENTION WOULD BE GREAT , WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND KEEP
COMING BACK. I THINK THE SPEAKER SYSTEM SHOULD RARELY BE QUIET. IF THERE IS
NOTHING ON THE TRACK, THE ANNOUNCER SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT DRIVERS , SPONSORS,
UPCOMING EVENTS OR AT LEAST PLAYING MUSIC. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE DESCRIPTIVE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASSES AND THEIR RULES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST
TO THE FANS.
4. Can you describe what a typical night at the races is like for you, how
you get pumped, and how you wind down after the races?
A TYPICAL NIGHT AT THE RACES STARTS ABOUT NOON.
MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS READY, FROM TIRES , FLUID LEVELS, SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND
A THOROUGH WALK AROUND. THE FIRST CAR ARRIVES AT THE TRACK AT ABOUT 3:00 AND I'M
BACK WITH THE 2ND BY 4:00. PLENTY OF TIME TO FOR LAST MINUTE STUFF AND A LOT OF
VISITING.
I DON'T GET INTO RACE MODE UNTIL I SEE THE LINEUP . WHO IS WHERE, WHERE
DO THEY RUN AND WHERE AM I HEADED. I TRY TO HAVE A STRATEGY, SOMETIMES TALKING
TO OTHER DRIVERS LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE I AM GOING WHEN THE FLAG DROPS.
A COUPLE OF $1 BEERS UP AT THE BEER STAND MAKES FOR A SUITABLE END TO A
GREAT EVENING OF RACING.
5. Which classes of cars would you
race locally if given the opportunity?
AS
LONG AS THE GAS IS ON THE RIGHT, I WOULD TRY ANYTHING.
I THINK SMALL STEPS BEST, MOVE UP TO A HOBBY NEXT YEAR, THEN SPORTSMAN
............. OR MAYBE SOMEONE WILL ASK ME TO DRIVE THEIR A-MOD NEXT YEAR.
I THINK MAYBE I WOULD SKIP A FEW OF THE STEPS AND GIVE IT A TRY !
6. If you were leading the points at
two different tracks and the schedules overlapped due to specials how would you
determine which race to go to and how would it make you feel?
I WOULD BE AT 24, THIS IS THE HOME TRACK, THIS
IS WHERE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE AT !
I REALLY WANT THE POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT WE ARE HERE FOR THE FUN OF
RACING, IF YOU LOOSE SIGHT OF THE FUN, YOU NEED A NEW HOBBY !
7. Who do you least want in your rear
view mirror on race day, and who do you least want to try
to pass for the lead?
BLAKE FISHBECK, HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE WILL HIT
YOU TO GET AROUND YOU. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THAT.
CASEY WALTER IS WHO I LEAST WANT TO HAVE TO PASS. CASEY IS ALWAYS FAST
AND RARELY MAKES A MISTAKE. IF YOU GET AROUND CASEY, YOU EARNED IT, HE GIVES NO
FREE PASSES
8. How do you feel about having
Kristi on the track with you?
I sometimes worry that the competition will
eventually cause problems but it has yet to come up. I am probably more into the
competition side than she is. Kristi is having fun and not too worried about
where she finishes although she does get upset when something happens and she
can't race. Kristi drives a good clean race and handles the car well and I trust
that this sport is safe. I hope sometime we can finish 1st and 2nd racing all
the way to the flag. Both cars will be in that trophy picture ! I am glad that
this a hobby that we both enjoy just wish that we would have started a few years
sooner !
And is there a free pass rule between or do you treat each other as regular
competition?
NO FREE PASSES HERE, THE HUSBAND / WIFE
RELATIONSHIP IS AT IDLE AS LONG AS THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR
THAT I WOULD NOT LET HER WIN. IF SHE HAS ANY DOUBT , WHEN SHE DOES GET THAT WIN
, I DON'T WANT HER TO QUESTION IF SHE EARNED IT OR NOT. IF I EVER SEE HER
CHALLENGING ME FOR POSITION AND SHE IS FASTER, I WILL NOT HOLD HER UP, HOPING
SHE CAN GET UP FRONT. BUT IF IT IS FOR THE LEAD, SORRY, I WILL RACE HER TO THE
FINISH.
9. How long have you been racing?
THIS IS THE FIRST FULL SEASON, I WAS IN TWO
FEATURES LAST SEASON, ONE IN EACH CAR.
And what got you started in it?
THE RENT-A-RACER .
KRISTI RENTED IT ONCE AND CAME HOME THE NEXT MONDAY WITH PHONE NUMBERS OF CARS
FOR SALE. I SOON REALIZED THAT I WOULD BE WORKING ON HER CAR AND SHE WOULD BE
HAVING ALL THE FUN. NOT, IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO DECIDE THAT WE NEEDED 2 CARS
!
THANK YOU GARY WILSON !
10. What do you say to kids who wish
to become a race car driver professionally or otherwise?
START NOW !
FIND ANYTHING WITH WHEELS AND FIND A PLACE TO RACE IT .
DON'T BE PICKY ABOUT WHAT IT IS, JUST GET IN IT AND HAVE FUN . THERE IS
SOMETHING OUT THERE FOR ALMOST EVERYONE, START SMALL, PROVE YOUR ABILITY, WORK
HARD AND YOU WILL FIND YOUR PATH TO VICTORY. THERE IS MANY WAYS TO ENJOY THE
SPORT. THE OBVIOUS IS WINNING, BUT THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH RACING CAN BE
JUST AS FUN. LEARNING ABOUT YOUR CAR AND LEARNING TO DRIVE IT AND THEN THE
CONSTANT CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE CAN BE VERY DEMANDING AND VERY ENJOYABLE. ALSO,
THE PEOPLE YOU WILL MEET AT THE TRACK WILL BECOME LONGTIME FRIENDS, WHAT ARE YOU
WAITING FOR ?
JUST DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOUR 36 AND WONDER WHY YOU DIDN'T START 20 YEARS
AGO !
Requested Questions for Rob Chase.
Being in the same class as your wife are you worried the whole time your out
there with her?
I do try to see
where she is if a caution comes but I don't worry about her at all. Both of our
cars have very good roll cages, quality seats with head supports, new belts and
we rely on our safety equipment , and when used properly injury is rare. I have
complete faith in her ability on the track and allot of trust in our fellow
competitors.
If you were side to side out of turn 4 with your
wife would you take it, or ease out and let the wife have it?
TAKE IT, she has to earn it to be able to appreciate it. I would expect for her
to do the same thing. She will get that win and when she does, she will know
that she earned it.
Thanks a lot Rob, you are doing
a great job this year. Good luck to you and Kristi the rest of this season.
Next week Dave Easley, owner of the 99 B-Modified, will take his turn
under the Q and A interrogation lamp.
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