Chase Austin took his first green flag at the age of eight in a worn out little go-kart that he pieced together with his dad, Steve. Little did Chase know at the time that just ten years later and barely eighteen, he would become the first bi-racial driver in history to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide Series oval track event, at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Determined from the very beginning to earn his way up the racing ladder, Chase Austin spent his formative years competing in anything with an engine and four wheels, from tiny 900 pound midgets to intimidating 700 horsepower dirt late models. Racing exclusively on dirt, and mostly in equipment fielded by his unsponsored, family-owned team, he continued to chase the dream by earning victories in virtually every type of car he drove.
A crowning achievement was winning the "Future Dirt Track World Championship." One of the youngest in the starting field at just thirteen, Chase bested an invitation-only group of the country's top teenage dirt late model drivers. By the time he was fifteen, Chase had posted more than 100 feature wins and had earned numerous Points Championships and Rookie of the Year awards in the process.
Signed to NASCAR powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports right before his fifteenth birthday, Chase made history as the youngest driver to secure a contract with a NASCAR team. His first season on asphalt, he earned two wins, one top five, six top ten finishes and a pole award. Sadly, Chase lost not only good friends, but also the Hendrick opportunity, in the tragic plane crash which took the lives of several key Hendrick Motorsports executives, including those responsible for Driver Development.
While under contract with Rusty Wallace Racing in 2007, Chase made history again as the first black driver to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide Series oval track event. The highlight of the 2007 season for Chase was his sixth place finish at one of the most imposing and difficult tracks in NASCAR; the high-banked Dover "Monster Mile". The plans for 2008 were to enter Austin in a minimum of 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series events but unfortunately, the economic climate prevented fulfillment of those plans due to lack of sponsorship. "Chase has a lot of talent, and with enough seat time and the right financing, he can definitely be a star in NASCAR," said Rusty Wallace in announcing the demise of the Nationwide plans for Chase.
With sponsorships, and consequently NASCAR "rides", in short supply in 2009, Chase was able to run only a handful of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races this season. Yet Chase remains resolutely undaunted. I'll just keep praying, keep digging and make the most out of any seat time I can get until the right opportunity comes," says Austin. "And I definitely still believe it will come."
"They say that every cloud has a silver lining, and I really believe that," concludes Austin. "There are a lot of other talented young drivers out there, and some of them will give up on their dream when times get really tough. With my faith in God, and with the faith that others continue to have in me, the only way I can fail is if I quit. And I can promise you that's not going to happen."
For more information contact:
Austin Racing Enterprises, Inc.
785.393.0136 Austin@sunflower.com
For sponsorship and/or media opportunities contact:
Rob Albright
704.787.8737 Competitive@msn.com
