Cole Robie is fresh off capturing the 2023 Young Lions Road Course National Championship after this year's Road Course World Finals from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and he's only been racing a Legend Car for a little over a year. But he's not just a road course racer. He's captured four win on ovals and podiumed 20 times in 2023 on asphalt ovals. He enjoys dirt biking which makes sense because his favorite memory behind the wheel of a Legend Car was when he got up on only left side tires.
Hometown: Windham, ME
Number: 29
Team: MPM Motorsports/GO Motorsports/Nick Lascuola Racing
Division: Young Lions
1. What do you love most Maine?
The beautifulness, the sights. We have a lot of mountain ranges, so it’s really nice to go up there and look off [into the distance], and the sunsets here are really pretty. There isn't much to do around here, so we do a lot of hiking, biking, boating, and jet skis.
2. Do you have any activities or hobbies that you do outside of racing?
I like dirt bikes. I mountain bike a lot. I’m pretty big into iRacing.
3. How old were you when you first started racing?
I started racing just when I was about to turn 14. I just recently turned 15. I haven’t been racing for too long, but it’s been fun.
4. How did you get into racing?
Originally I wanted to race go-karts. My family has always been around the racetrack. My dad, Jarod, he raced in the All Pro Series. My grandfather, Carlton, used to race open wheel modifieds. I just decided we’re going to go racing. One of my buddies (Nick Moulton) had a Legend Car for sale and we ended up buying it.
5. What is your favorite part about traveling the United States to race?
My favorite part is getting to go out when the race ends, me and my dad go out to all these new places and eat dinner. It’s cool to see how different states and cities, how they live [compared to where I’m from].
6. What is one thing that racing has taught you in your everyday life?
Keeping my head up. Before I started racing, I was always like okay I lost, whatever. Just don’t do it again. Now that I’ve started racing I’ve always lifted my head back up, just kept going and pushing and not quitting at all. Always pushing for more.
7. What is the best memory you've had at a racetrack?
My best memory on the track is at Citrus County Speedway the last race of the series for Winter Nationals. Hunter Jordan’s left front tire got popped and he came across the track and I hit him. I went up on my two [left] wheels sideways and all I could think about was a monster truck. You know how when they are on their side they just hit the gas and it flips them back over? That’s what I did. I just hit the gas and it flip me right back down. Either that or my first win at Crisp Motorsports Park last year.
8. What track would you like to race at one day?
I think I’d like to race at Bristol. My uncle is a spotter and he said that Kyle Busch told him that Bristol is one of the funniest tracks he’s ever raced at. I want to see if that is true.
9. If you could give advice to any new driver starting off, what would you tell them?
Look forward to the future and don’t look back at the past. If you’re looking back you’re thinking ‘yeah, yeah that happened,’ but if you’re looking forward you’re saying, ‘I got this. I can make it there.’
10. Do you have any pre-race rituals?
I don’t have any. Me and my dad just give each other a fist bump and that’s it.
11. What is the best piece of advice that someone has ever given you?
Ron Hornaday once said to me, and this isn’t going to sound like a piece of advice but he said, “You’re gonna make it one day.” And I was like I’m going to make it now!
12. What do you find most enjoyable about racing?
The adrenaline rush, going fast. When I was young I had a dirt bike and never was not full throttle. Never letting it warm up. Just going.
13. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in the racing world?
My biggest challenge was coming into this racing world knowing that the majority of the kids I am racing with have been racing longer than me. I feel like it put me a step down, but the encouragement from my dad, Zach Miller, Riley, Nick. Everyone that has given me has totally blown that right through me. I’ve been racing less than these kids and I’m already [here winning].
14. What do you enjoy most about road course racing?
There is never a dull moment. You’re not like turn left again, turn left again. In road racing, you have a right hander, you’re gonna let off the gas and have two down shifts and you have to hit the brake. You’re always looking at the gear indicator, at least I am, to make sure I’m in the right gear.
15. If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be?
I want to have a conversation with Will Ferrell. Why, I don’t know but that has just been on my bucket list. Fun fact, I had a chalk board when I was younger and it was a bucket list chalk board and talking to Will Ferrell was on that list.
16. If you get stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
If I was stranded on an Island, I would have a phone so I could call for help. I’d probably want a boat, but I’m stranded on an island so my boat probably sunk. I’d want to have a lighter so I can light a fire. And then I’d like to have a hunting rifle. So, I’d bring a phone, a lighter, and hunting rifle.
17. Have you met your 2023 racing goals?
My only goal was to win a Young Lions championship. If I’m able to win the road course championship that would be completing my Legend Car bucket list for this year.