Chase Austin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chase Austin
Austin at Nashville Superspeedway in 2007
Born	(1989-10-03) October 3, 1989 (age 35) Eudora, Kansas
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
6 races run over 3 years
Best finish	89th (2009)
First race	2007 Sam's Town 250 (Memphis)
Last race	2010 Carfax 250 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
3 races run over 2 years
Best finish	63rd (2009)
First race	2009 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Last race	2010 VFW 200 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 19, 2011.

Chase Austin, born on October 3, 1989, is an American professional race car driver. He used to be a young driver in training for big teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Rusty Wallace Racing. Chase competed in NASCAR's Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. He also raced in the Firestone Indy Lights series from 2011 to 2014.

Early Racing Days

Chase Austin started racing when he was just 7 years old. He built his first go-kart with his dad. He quickly became very good at kart racing. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won over 60 races in karts.

In 2001, he moved on to micro sprint cars. These are small, fast open-wheel cars. He won 16 races in just two years. After that, Chase raced bigger cars like full-size sprint cars and late models. He raced on both dirt and asphalt tracks. While racing in Kansas, he won more than 100 races across different types of cars. He even won a special race called the "Future Dirt Track World Championship." This race was for the best teenage dirt late model drivers in the United States.

NASCAR Adventures

In 2004, when Chase was only 14, he got a big chance. He signed a deal to be a development driver with Hendrick Motorsports. This meant Hendrick Motorsports would help him learn and grow as a racer. They had him race in the ASA Late Model Series. In 2009, he won two races in this series. He also had six top-ten finishes and earned a pole position.

In 2006, Hendrick Motorsports ended its development program. Chase's family then used car parts they had to keep racing. Even as a 16-year-old in high school, Chase was the driver and also the crew chief for his family's team. He raced in 23 events that season. He earned 3 wins, six top-five finishes, and eight top-ten finishes. He raced on both dirt and asphalt tracks.

In 2007, Chase made his first start in the NASCAR Busch Series (now called the Xfinity Series). He raced at Memphis Motorsports Park. He finished 41st after an accident. This race was special because he became the first African American driver to start a Busch Series race on an oval track. He was also the second African American driver ever to race in the series. That same year, he raced in eleven NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series races. He finished in the top ten four times. He also made his first start in an ARCA race.

Plans for Chase to race in 15 Nationwide Series races in 2008 were delayed. He later left the team. In 2009, he was supposed to drive for Trail Motorsport, but that team closed early. Chase then joined Xxxtreme Motorsport. He drove the #07 Chevrolet part-time. During a race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2009, he was involved in a big crash. This happened after his tire went flat. In 2010, Chase raced in a Camping World Truck Series and a Nationwide Series race. He drove for the new United Racing Group.

Indy Lights and IndyCar Dreams

When Chase couldn't find a full-time ride in NASCAR in 2011, he tried a new type of racing. He joined the Firestone Indy Lights series. This was with former IndyCar driver Willy T. Ribbs and Brooks Associates Racing. His first race was the Firestone Freedom 100 at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also raced in the Freedom 100 in 2012.

In August 2012, there was exciting news. It was announced that Chase Austin would drive for A. J. Foyt Enterprises in the 2013 Indianapolis 500. However, another driver, Conor Daly, ended up driving that car instead.

About Chase's Life

Chase Austin lives in Eudora, Kansas. His father is African American and his mother is Caucasian.

Images for kids

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  Austin at Nashville Superspeedway in 2007