Chase Austin
Encyclopedia
Chase Austin is an American racecar driver. He is a former development driver with Hendrick Motorsports and Rusty Wallace Racing. He is currently a part-time driver in the INDYCAR Firestone Indy Lights series.
, dirt track racing
modifieds
, and late model
s on dirt and asphalt. While competing in the Kansas area, he won over 100 features in karts, sprint cars and stock cars. He won the "Future Dirt Track World Championship", a dirt late model race for around a dozen of the United State's top teenaged drivers.
. Hendrick assigned him to race for the team's ally SS Racing in the ASA
Late Model Series.
In 2005, he won two races, with one top five, six top ten finishes and a pole position
.
Hendrick dissolved its driver development program in 2006. Originally backed by the new STAR Motorsports team, the deal fell through after STAR failed to fulfill its financial obligations. His family was given a race shop and car parts, so they used the parts to race in numerous series. While a 16 year old in high school
, Austin was the driver and crew chief
for the family effort. He raced in 23 events in the season, with 3 wins, six Top fives, and eight Top tens. He competed on dirt and asphalt. He competed in his first USAR Hooters Procup Series race.
He made one start at the 2007 Sam's Town 250
at Memphis Motorsports Park
for RWI, finishing 41st after crashing out. In that start, he became the first African American
driver to start in a NASCAR
Busch Series
(then the name of the Nationwide Series) oval track race, and the second African American driver to start in the series' history. He started in eleven NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series
races, with four top ten finishes. He had his first start in ARCA
that season. He was scheduled to run 15 races for RWI in the Nationwide Series in 2008, but those plans were postponed. He left the team later in the season. He was announced as the driver of the #32 Trail Motorsport Chevrolet Silverado
for Camping World Truck Series team in 2009, but the team closed very early in the season. During the Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway
on August 21, 2009, he crashed heavily with Kyle Busch
and Reed Sorenson
while dropping down the track following a punctured tire.
He ran a NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide race in 2010 for the newly formed United Racing Group with sponsorship from Walgreens and Forgotton Harvest.
in association with Brooks Associates Racing
to make his Firestone Indy Lights debut in the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
mother. He lives in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Background
Austin started racing when he was 8,in an old worn out go kart he built with his Dad. He earned over 60 wins while racing karts in the late 1990s to early 2000s. In 2001, he raced in micro sprint cars and won 16 features in two years. Then he moved up to full size sprint carsSprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, dirt track racing
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
modifieds
Modified racing
Modified stock car racing, also known as Modified racing or simply Modified, is one of the oldest types of racing in the United States, dating back to the days of the post-World War II coupes. The name for modified racing cars come from the fact that they are not stock but, rather, modified...
, and late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
s on dirt and asphalt. While competing in the Kansas area, he won over 100 features in karts, sprint cars and stock cars. He won the "Future Dirt Track World Championship", a dirt late model race for around a dozen of the United State's top teenaged drivers.
NASCAR career
In late 2004, at age 14, he signed a driver development deal with Hendrick MotorsportsHendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
. Hendrick assigned him to race for the team's ally SS Racing in the ASA
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
Late Model Series.
In 2005, he won two races, with one top five, six top ten finishes and a pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
.
Hendrick dissolved its driver development program in 2006. Originally backed by the new STAR Motorsports team, the deal fell through after STAR failed to fulfill its financial obligations. His family was given a race shop and car parts, so they used the parts to race in numerous series. While a 16 year old in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Austin was the driver and crew chief
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
for the family effort. He raced in 23 events in the season, with 3 wins, six Top fives, and eight Top tens. He competed on dirt and asphalt. He competed in his first USAR Hooters Procup Series race.
He made one start at the 2007 Sam's Town 250
Sam's Town 250
The Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 presented by the Southern Dodge Dealers was a NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car race that took place at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tennessee. The 2007 race had twenty-five caution periods, ten more than any other Nationwide Series race that has been...
at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
for RWI, finishing 41st after crashing out. In that start, he became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
driver to start in a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
(then the name of the Nationwide Series) oval track race, and the second African American driver to start in the series' history. He started in eleven NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series
NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series
The K&N Pro Series East is a regional stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. Races are held at oval tracks ranging from 1/3 to 1 mile in length and on two road courses, 1.53 and 2.45 miles in length...
races, with four top ten finishes. He had his first start in ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
that season. He was scheduled to run 15 races for RWI in the Nationwide Series in 2008, but those plans were postponed. He left the team later in the season. He was announced as the driver of the #32 Trail Motorsport Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
for Camping World Truck Series team in 2009, but the team closed very early in the season. During the Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
on August 21, 2009, he crashed heavily with Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
and Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
while dropping down the track following a punctured tire.
He ran a NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide race in 2010 for the newly formed United Racing Group with sponsorship from Walgreens and Forgotton Harvest.
Indy Lights
When unable to find a ride in NASCAR in 2011, Austin signed on with African-American former IndyCar driver Willy T. RibbsWilly T. Ribbs
William "Willy" Theodore Ribbs, Jr. is a racecar driver who competed in many forms of auto racing. After retiring, he became a sport shooter in the National Sporting Clays Association....
in association with Brooks Associates Racing
Brooks Associates Racing
Brooks Associates Racing is an American motorsport team based in Tucson, Arizona, which competes in the Indy Lights series. It previously competed in the Atlantic Championship where it won the 2008 season championship....
to make his Firestone Indy Lights debut in the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
Personal life
Austin is the son of an African American father and a CaucasianCaucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
mother. He lives in Mooresville, North Carolina.