Chase Mattioli...
...started racing at seven years old at the Lehigh Valley Quarter Midget Track, in Pennsylvania, for the Roselli Racing team.
“I remember the first time I got behind the wheel, I was petrified. I only got to make one turn before I crashed head on into a wall. Funny thing, it was that very moment I knew that I wanted to be a racecar driver.”
Continuing to race Quarter Midgets for the next three years, Chase racked up numerous wins, one in particular – and to this day his most important – the one you never forget. In his first season of competition he won the Kenny Hyme Open Quarter Midget race.
“There was a field of over twenty cars and I managed somehow to get the pole. It was the "perfect" day. I led all the laps and ended up winning the race. I remember getting out of the car and Mr. Roselli stated, ‘You raced like you were born for this stuff.’ The irony of this statement is that I knew it was true.”
Outgrowing Quarter Midgets, Chase went on to Legends cars and small stock cars at South Boston Speedway (VA), and Music City Motorplex (TN).
“These were awesome years where I learned about car setup and how to interact effectively with a race team. During these years, I continued to win races, but yet I still hungered for more of a challenge on the track.”
If he were ever going to live his dream to be a world-class driver, he knew he’d have to do more than just drive around asphalt ovals, and would have to diversify and grow his racing experience.
One of the first steps was racing a Dirt Modified at Big Diamond Speedway in PA. The initial transition from pavement to dirt was difficult, but it only took a few races until he had attained the skills to "play" in the dirt – the experience was another building block to an already solid racing foundation.
Expectations on and off the track
Chase’ family roots run deep in racing - his grandfather, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, was the founder of the NASCAR Sprint Cup track, Pocono International Raceway, and the family owns South Boston Speedway. His dad, Joseph Mattioli III, owns and operates Music City Motorplex.
Growing up he was a fixture at Pocono working in the family business - meaning cleaning the bathrooms, picking up old cigarette butts around the track, or painting track buildings.
Later Chase moved up, working in the Public Relations Department where he polished his public speaking capabilities – and confidence – by giving tours to CEOs of major companies, walking through the garage area with some of NASCAR's biggest names, and by discussing where the sport was heading with racing media legends such as Chris Economaki.
“Being the first one in the Mattioli family to pursue a professional driving career, I have a great responsibility to live up to. What I found out is the Mattioli name is well known among the motorsports media, and more media attention will be paid to me because of my last name... affecting the sponsors and race teams with whom I am associated. I really have to perform! Family and friends in NASCAR are watching.”
Off the Track
Chase is a senior at Scranton Preparatory High School student, a member of the Spanish and German Clubs, and has participated in the debate, football, and track teams. Academically, he’s maintained a 3.9 GPA and Honor Student status, and this fall will be attending Fordham University in NYC.
Chase is currently racing for Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the NASCAR Camping World Series.
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