|
While
most fans and drivers from this area grew up
watching local dirt racers and occasionally
seeing a NASCAR event, Chad Paxton came from
an entirely different scene. Chad followed
his dad Charles as he competed in the ARCA
division until his retirement in the early
80's.. His memories are filled with drivers
such as Red Farmer, Jack Bowsher, Iggy
Katona, and the likes. He traveled with his
dad when able and says he still has fond
memories of visiting tracks such as the now
defunct Texas World Speedway, and Michigan
International speedway. So it was only
natural that when Chad began his racing
career, he would don the number 72 of his
dad and go asphalt racing in the Louisville
Ky area he called home.
Chad started out in 1989
Louisville Speedway and Charlestown Speedway
driving in their street stock classes. But
after a couple of years, Chad was ready to
move up. He stepped into the Late Model
division and began competing at such
historic tracks as Salem and South Indiana.
His racing career though was about to get a
serious sidetracking. Chad was given
the opportunity to move down south to join a
race team in the Winston Cup division as a
crew member. So he packed up and headed
south, and left his days of driving behind.
Or so he thought.
Chad began attending local dirt tracks
after settling into the Charlotte area in
'94, and before long he was getting the urge
to compete again. His first taste of our red
clay came at the Metrolina Fairgrounds late
in 97. from there he began competing at
tracks all over the south east. In the past
10 years, he has traveled to Gaffney,
Friendship, Thunder Valley, Wytheville,
I-20, Chester, East Lincoln, Lowes, and
Lancaster. In those years he has
amassed over 60 wins, and three track
championships. (2001 Friendship, and 2006,
2007 Lancaster Speedway).
part of the reason for his success in the
last few years all boils
down to a chance meeting late in 2005. Chad
drove a couple of races for the Sandwood
Company out of Camden. In only their second
start together, they picked up a win. The
chemistry was there, and so they decided to
join forces. Of course that meant Chad had
to retire his 72 in favor of the teams 16,
but two championships later, I think even he
would have to agree it was worth it.
|
