Chad Finchum Starts 2008 Season With Two Championships
13-Year-Old Racer Claims Bandolero Young Guns Winter Heat and Winternationals Titles
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At the start of a new season, a driver attempts to kick off the year with solid runs and a few victories to set the tone early. Mostly, they are wanting to prove to themselves and the racing community they have what it takes to race strong and hard year long and be the top dog at every track they show up to race at.
Chad Finchum is one of those drivers who looked for early success in 2008, but the 13-year-old racer obtained more than just solid runs and a few victories, he also snagged two championships at two different tracks in winter-racing competition.
The start of Finchum’s early 2008 success happened in mid-January, when he won a road-course race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the Winter Heat Series and followed it up by winning the next day on the Rockingham Speedway (NC) road course. Then, after a week-long wait for the final points to be tabulated, Finchum was named the 2007-2008 Winter Heat champion on February 1st.
“It was great to get the championship, being it was our first time racing the Winter Heat Series,” said Finchum. “I was worried about the points during the races, but my dad told me to just race the races and the points would take care of themselves. We ran up front most of the races and won the championship. I had fun, and we plan on coming back next year to try for the championship again.”
After a break lasting just over a week, Finchum and the #19 A-1 Finchum Heating & Cooling Bandolero team headed south to Orlando Speedworld (FL) for the five-race Winternationals series. There, Finchum was the class of the field. Sweeping the Young Guns division races, he scored victories in all five races, earning him the 2008 Winternationals championship.
“The championship was awesome,” said Finchum. “We had a good week and ran up front during all the races. We did struggle a bit in practice late in the week, and in the features the competition was getting tougher and tougher, but we were able to get up front and win all the races. I am just thankful to get the championship, and I thank God for keeping us safe.”
While the Winter Heat championship declaration was delayed due to another competitor’s motor being protested by another racer and eventually found illegal, Finchum had to once again wait to be crowned the champion as his motor was protested during the Winternationals events. Monday late afternoon, a few days after the events concluded, their motor was declared legal by INEX, officially giving him the championship.
“We are straight up and do not cheat,” explained Finchum. “We have never cheated and do not plan on it. We run what we have and if it is not enough, then it is not enough.”
With just 12 races under his belt in 2008, Finchum has seven victories and two championships, firmly planting his feet in the ground as the driver to beat this season in the Bandolero Young Guns division.
“Our team has been great, my dad has been great, and we have had some great success. We have really stepped it up since 2007. I have improved on my driving, and we have learned a little bit more on the car. I want to really thank my dad, my crew and my sponsors for their support. Hopefully we will continue being successful all year wherever we race.”
Finchum will return to the seat of his #19 A-1 Finchum Heating & Cooling Bandolero on March 8th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
For more information on Chad Finchum, please contact Jason Buckley at (704) 788-2134 and be sure to stay tuned to a brand new Chad Finchum website coming soon.
