Chad Atkinson
Chad Atkinson

Chad Atkinson
Oak Harbor, OH

Driver Information

RACING BIO:
Chad began racing go-karts on asphalt ovals in the stock flat-head classes. During his first racing season (2000), the team stayed close to home only participating in the Friday Night Oval Track series at Fremont Raceway Park. Chad finished third in driver points and third in owner points. In 2001, the team expanded their racing horizons participating in the Fremont Raceway Park point championship, the Buckeye Karting Championship (BKC) series, and select events with the Premiere Karting Association at the Toledo Speedway. The team was able to finish 2nd in both the Fremont and BKC point standings. In 2002, they competed in the Fremont, BKC, and the World Karting Association (WKA) Ohio Speedway Pavement Divisional Series. To add further challenge in 2003, an additional kart came into the stable with an over-head valve engine primarily raced in the WKA Divisional races, and also the initial WKA National race in 2004. Late in the 2003 season, the team purchased their first midget racecar. The team competed in the Wolverine Outlaw Winged Midget Series (WOWMS) during the 2004 race season, a regional pavement series based in Michigan. Chad won the hard charger award two times, and was awarded the "Little Big Guy" award at the end of the year. For the 2005 season, a new TCR midget chassis was purchased. The team again raced in WOWMS making strong showings with the new car picking-up their first midget heat race win at Kalamazoo Speedway. Also, Chad tried some non-wing racing by participating in the USAC National shows at Toledo Speedway and Mansfield Motor Sports Park. During the 2005 off-season, Chad won an Eagle sprint-car chassis at the Kear's Speed Shop Open-House. The 2006 season was looking promising for the team; however, due to an engine failure while practicing the midget, Chad did not participate in any 2006 racing. The team wasn't able to complete the sprint-car in time for the 2007 season, so the midget was raced in the new non-winged, Wolverine Outlaw Midget Series (WOMS). The team finished its highest point position ever in WOMS, bringing home a 6th place standing out of 32 drivers. Chad finished a career-high in a midget feature race of 2nd at Springport on June 23rd, 2007. Also, out of 7 races, he recorded 5 Top-10 finishes. The 2008 racing season brought 3 Top-10 finishes out of 3 midget races, and getting the sprint-car on the track for the final 3 Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series (HOSS) races. The 2009 season had one last midget race with the USAC National cars in Columbus, OH. The rest of 2009 brought more seat-time in the sprint-car with the HOSS and Auto Value Super Sprint (AVSS) series. The 2010 season had many ups and downs by receiving accident damage about every other sprint-car race; however, Chad did finish the season with a B-Main win at Angola, IN. In 2011, Chad accomplished a Top 10 finish in USAC pavement sprint-car competition. Due to travel costs, Chad only raced once each year in 2012 and 2013. The sprint-car equipment was sold at the end of the 2013 season, and the team acquired an open-wheel modified to race locally at Sandusky Speedway. The car was only practiced during the 2014 season, but in 2015 Chad competed in 8 shows learning more and more every time out. The Sandusky Speedway Modified division was the focus of Chad's 2016 racing season; however, due to rain-outs and other factors beyond their control, Chad did not see any racing action, only practice sessions. The 2017 season started off somewhat slow for the team, but they were able to finish strong with many laps led in heat races and some Features. The first modified race victory proved to be allusive though. The 2018 season was again rather short after a mechanical failure the first race of the season, but the team was able to pick up heat race wins both nights of the Hy-Miler Nationals. The joy was short lived though because the car broke and hit the wall during the 2nd night Feature, ending the season. For 2019, a brand new Impala modified was put together and ready to do battle. Unseasonal rains cancelled many early races, and then an illness kept the team sidelined. In July, Chad and Lindsey welcomed their second son, so racing was put on hold for a little bit. The team planned on competing in the modified at Sandusky Speedway in 2020 with an eye on the track points, but during the COVID pandemic lock-down, Chad suffered an accident to his wrist at home which required surgery to repair and no racing in 2020. The 2021 season was short-lived as well. After battling a couple gremlins the first couple races, Chad's crew chief/dad needed shoulder season which brought an end to competition. The 2022 season presented a new obstacle for asphalt racing overall, tire shortages. The of number of races was greatly reduced and once again, schedules did not align. After a difficult 4 yrs, Chad is eager to getting back on track for a full 2023 season!

Career Highlights


2014-Present racing Asphalt Modifieds
-2018, 2 Heat race wins

From 2008-2013 raced Winged and Non-winged Pavement Sprint-cars with Auto Value Super Sprints, Hoosier Outlaw Super Sprints, and USAC
-2011, Top 10 finish at Toledo in USAC pavement sprint-car

From 2004-2009 raced Winged and Non-winged Pavement Midgets with Wolverine Outlaw Midgets and USAC
-2004, Wolverine Outlaw Midget Series (WOWMS) Little Big Guy Award for accomplishing the most with the least support

From 2000-2004 raced Speedway Pavement Karts
-2000-2003, multiple karting heat and feature wins

Most Memorable Moment


7/12/03, WKA Ohio Speedway Pavement Divisional, BeaveRun
-After spinning at the start, made up a 3 sec. deficit to battle for the win in the closing laps, just missing the top spot at the checkers.

Hobbies


Singing, playing piano or guitar, spending time with family and friends

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