Name: Chance Atkins
Year / Make / Model Car: 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo SS
Number: 17
Class: Street Stock
Years Racing: 12
Job: Driver
1. How did you get into racing?
CA: Grew up as huge fan of the sport. My grandfather ran MMS in the 70’s and Dad raced motorcycles, so racing is in my blood. When I was 13 I got the opportunity to drive and its being going fast and left turns ever since then.
2. What would you be doing if you were not driving a race car?
CA: Probably spending just as much money doing something else. I could not imagine not racing though.
3. People who have inspired you the most while you have raced?
CA: My Dad, he’s the one that has pushed me to continue on even when we were’nt running well or had bad nights at the track. Of course can’t forget about mom either, she would honestly fight anyone who doesn’t agree I am the best out there.
4. What is the biggest obstacle you are facing in your quest to succeed in racing?
CA: Financial backing, its hard to compete without money behind you these days. I am proud to say though our success comes from a lot of hard work.
5. What driver are you a fan of?
CA: Big fan of Kyle Bush, he can literally drive anything and will normally win doing so.
6. Out of all the race cars you have driven, which one was your favorite and why?
CA: ARCA Car, Those things are basically an 800 horse power dump truck really gained a lot of respect for that series after I got to test in those style cars.
7. Pick one : CD player, I pod, 8-Track or Record player, and who do you listen to?
CA: I pod, Brantley Gilbert
8. What have you been doing during the off season?
CA: Thinking of ways to be faster next race season, and of course working on the car.
9. Is there any other type of race car that you’d like to drive that you haven’t yet?
CA: Sprint Car (Maybe), just don’t know how I feel about the drive shaft running between my legs.
10. Your best and worst moment in racing?
CA: Best, winning my first race and having my family there to see it. Worst, Wrecking my first late model at Five Flags Speedway nothing is worst than making a trip to a track and not being able to race, especially when you have a really fast car.
11. Any local legends that you admired while coming up in Short Track Racing?
CA: Jim Walker of course, Jim has done a ton to help me learn to drive especially a little later in my career and is always there to give advice. Also cant leave the likes of Marty Bean, he helped me a lot when we first started racing and if it wasn’t for his knowledge and help we may not have made several races.
12. What motivates you to be the best in your racing division?
CA: The other drivers, I feel like the street stock division has some of the best competition in all of racing, and to know you beat a guy that has been racing longer than you have been alive is a good feeling.
13. Favorite smell at the track : race gas or burning rubber?
CA: Race fuel
14. What’s the funniest thing you have ever seen on the race track?
CA: Either Jason Mayhan and David Wood’s mini demo derby or Stan Narrison trying to calm Dewayne Wessenburg down.
15. What local driver do you have the most respect for and why?
CA: Perry Patino, he earned a lot of respect from me this past season. He raced me very clean, and on top of that after each race he made sure to congratulate who ever won or raced against him that night says a lot about his character.
16. Do you have another sport you enjoy to watch or participate in?
CA: Love College Football, Roll Tide. Do enjoy some slow pitch softball whenever I get the chance to play.
17. What’s more important … racing for points or racing for the win?
CA: WIN, but wouldn’t mind being able to win a points championship.
18. Your favorite track and why?
CA: MMS, its always been home and seems to be one of those tracks that once you think you have it, something changes and your constantly chasing it .
19. Which describes you best : calculating driver or kamikaze driver?
CA: I would say I am more of a calculating driver.
20. Last Lap, you’re in a side by side dash for the win… who would you want to beat and why?
CA: Joe Bethea, more less because he is one of the only guys that I really didn’t get a chance to race side by side with last year.
A special thanks to Bill Atkins, Karen Atkins, Katelyn Atkins, Amanda Luckie, Butch Luckie, Linda Luckie, Bill Bethea III and Auto Performance Engines.
I would like to thank Chance for providing us with this information, and if anyone else would like to be featured here please contact me at ShortTrackTalk@gmail.com
