Fourteen year old Chase Austin was awarded the Pro Motorsports "Most Improved Driver" award at the recent TORA banquet in Wichita Kansas. The banquet was held Saturday, November 8th at the residence of three-time TORA points champion, Larry McDaniels. Mr. McDaniels presented the award on behalf of TORA and Pro Motorsports. The young racer also received an award for his eleventh place points finish in the overall point standings.
"It was a honor to get the most improved award," Chase said, with a smile during the festivities after the awards ceremony. "Not just the award, but it meant a lot to me that Larry presented it, because he and Lonnie Smith, (TORA promoter) have helped me so much," stated Chase. "Larry won the points championship, and he should have been talking about that, but instead he started talking about my career and he presented me with that award."
Although he has received several offers to run in some South-Eastern series, Chase has elected to run the TORA series full time in 2004. "We will probably hit some MARS and quite a few Xtreme races on our off weeks, but we felt like it was important to make a commitment to TORA this year. We want to try to pay back Lonnie and Larry for giving us an opportunity last year. No one thought a 13 year old kid could run a late model, but Lonnie and Larry believed in me and gave me that chance," said Chase.
Chase plans to run two more years in dirt late models before moving up to Hoosier Pro Cup or possibly ARCA. "We will have to wait and see," stated Chase. "We are trying to find some sponsors that kind of want to grow with me. I don't know if that will happen, but I know that we need to get involved with some larger companies to reach our goals. I think we have a lot to offer because we will be running several different regional series and some national stuff, even some TV," said Chase.
Chase was also recently presented with plaques for "Rookie of the Year" and "Favorite Late Model Driver" by "Inthepits.net" web site. "Those In The Pits guys have kind of watched me from the beginning. It was neat to have them give me the Rookie award," said Chase.
With numerous feature wins in Karts and Micro Sprints, Chase has a room in the race shop devoted to trophies and plaques. "It was great to be able to add quite a few Late Model wins to the trophy room this year," said Chase. "Especially the big trophy I won at the Future DIRT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. When asked if he had run out of wall space for awards Chase commented, "No, I'm only fourteen, I just started, I think we are going to have to get a bigger room."
"It was a honor to get the most improved award," Chase said, with a smile during the festivities after the awards ceremony. "Not just the award, but it meant a lot to me that Larry presented it, because he and Lonnie Smith, (TORA promoter) have helped me so much," stated Chase. "Larry won the points championship, and he should have been talking about that, but instead he started talking about my career and he presented me with that award."
Although he has received several offers to run in some South-Eastern series, Chase has elected to run the TORA series full time in 2004. "We will probably hit some MARS and quite a few Xtreme races on our off weeks, but we felt like it was important to make a commitment to TORA this year. We want to try to pay back Lonnie and Larry for giving us an opportunity last year. No one thought a 13 year old kid could run a late model, but Lonnie and Larry believed in me and gave me that chance," said Chase.
Chase plans to run two more years in dirt late models before moving up to Hoosier Pro Cup or possibly ARCA. "We will have to wait and see," stated Chase. "We are trying to find some sponsors that kind of want to grow with me. I don't know if that will happen, but I know that we need to get involved with some larger companies to reach our goals. I think we have a lot to offer because we will be running several different regional series and some national stuff, even some TV," said Chase.
Chase was also recently presented with plaques for "Rookie of the Year" and "Favorite Late Model Driver" by "Inthepits.net" web site. "Those In The Pits guys have kind of watched me from the beginning. It was neat to have them give me the Rookie award," said Chase.
With numerous feature wins in Karts and Micro Sprints, Chase has a room in the race shop devoted to trophies and plaques. "It was great to be able to add quite a few Late Model wins to the trophy room this year," said Chase. "Especially the big trophy I won at the Future DIRT TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. When asked if he had run out of wall space for awards Chase commented, "No, I'm only fourteen, I just started, I think we are going to have to get a bigger room."
