When Chris Raabe ended the 2008 and 2009 seasons, it was hard to imagine that the following seasons could possibly be any better. Raabe drove to victory lane 22 times in that 2008 season, winning the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman championship at the age of 17.
He also won the track championships at Thunder Alley Speedway, Brockville Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway and the DIRTcar Northeast championship. The following year, Raabe equaled that feat with a back-to-back Mr. DIRTcar title, the DIRTcar Northeast crown, and track championships at Thunder Alley Speed Park and Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park.
In 2010, Raabe looked to at least duplicate those numbers, but he knew it wasn’t going to be easy, with a very impressive group of talented young racers in the Sportsman division looking to de-thrown the current Sportsman King.
The season started off with a Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman series race at the Blackrock Speedway. Raabe finished second in this event, and followed that up with an impressive streak of top two finishes for the next six races, including three first place efforts.
By the end of May, Raabe had a total of eight wins already in just 13 starts to date. Other then one DNF at Cornwall in these races, Raabe’s lowest finish through the end of the month was a 3rd place run at Brockville.
Raabe’s winning ways continued into June with another six victories in just 10 starts during the month. A second place finish and a fourth place were separated by a pair of DNFs at Cornwall and Mohawk Raceway, a result of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Another ten races in July were on the schedule for the Raabe team, and again the team shined with seven more victories. At this time, talk of the all-time DIRTcar Sportsman single season record for victories was running through the pit area. Tim Hindley, set the record at 24 wins in a season back in the mid 90’s and already through the month of July Raabe had 21 victories on the season.
Raabe tied Hindley’s record at the Mohawk Raceway on August 20th, and broke the record just one week later. The next goal for Raabe was to achieve 30 wins in a single season. That feat had only been accomplished by four different drivers in the past, and Raabe looked to etch his name into the DIRTcar record book once again. Raabe ended the month of August with another five wins, bringing the season total to 26.
Raabe grabbed 4 more wins in September, with the 30th win coming at Mohawk International Raceway on September 17th. Raabe joined an impressive list of DIRTcar Motorsports Hall of Fame drivers Will Cagle, Bob McCreadie, and future Hall of Fame drivers Alan Johnson and Danny Johnson as the only drivers to have 30 or more wins in a season in all of DIRTcar racing. Raabe also picked up a Mr. DIRTcar series win at Humberstone Speedway for the second year in a row.
October turned over a new page in Raabe’s racing career as he dabbled in the 358 Modified division at Super DIRT Week at Syracuse. Chris Raabe made his 358 debut at the moody mile and drove straight to victory lane. Raabe also continued his success in the Sportsman ranks with a win at Rolling Wheels Raceway, increasing his win total to 32 for the season, including the Futures race victory. The season ended at Brockville for the DIRTcar Fall Nationals, and tire problems, while leading the race ended his chance at his 33rd checkered flag of the season.
With the final checkered flag of 2010, Chris Raabe closes another chapter of a record breaking career. At the age of 19, he has 93 sanctioned and unsanctioned feature wins, 8 track championships, 4 series championships, and 2 overall Mr.DIRTcar championships.
DIRTcar Records
· First 14 year old to win in open wheel Modifieds
· Age 15, Youngest Track Champion in DIRTcar History
· Age 17, Youngest Mr. DIRT Champion in DIRTcar History
· Age 18, Youngest Back to Back Mr. DIRTcar Champion in DIRT History
· Age 19, Set the all-time single season win record in Modified Sportsman with 31 feature wins and 1 Modified 358 win
PHOTO: Chris Raabe won in his first ever race in a 358 Modified in the Futures Race at Super DIRT Week. (Jay Fish Photo)
Release by: Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
