Fresh off the Nashville Spring Series, Nova Scotia’s own Chase MacKay spoke with U.S. Legend Cars. He’s preparing for the 2023 Canadian opener at Scotia Speedworld and has a goal to make it the July Fourth doubleheader of Cook Out Summer Shootout races at Charlotte Motor Speedway this year. He also drives some pretty cool vehicles in his spare time when not behind the wheel of his Legend Car. It took him four years to win in a Bandolero, but aims to hone his skills to capture his first Legend Car win this year.

Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Division: Young Lion
Car Number: 71
Team: 860 Motorsports and Cory Hall Racing
Favorite Vacation Spot: Charlotte, North Carolina
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Movie: Talladega Nights
Favorite Food: Burger and Fries

1. What sparked your interest in Racing?

My dad used to race super late models back in the early 2000s until about 2012. When he sold out I kind of got interested in the Bandoleros and I started in 2016.

2. What all types of racing have you competed in?

Bandoleros and Legends so far. For up here it is our basic kind of younger racers. We don’t run late models until we’re about 16 [in Nova Scotia]. I was in Bandos for seven years before now.

3. What is your favorite racing memory?

I’m going to have to pick my first win at Petty International Raceway. It was a memorial race a couple years back and that’s something I’m never going to forgot about in my racing career is my first win.

4. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I would say my father and Cory Hall. My father has given me a lot of pointers throughout my racing career and ever since Cory Hall hopped on and started helping with our Legend program. He’s been a big help and inspires to race how I want to race.

5. If you pulled into victory lane right now who would you like to thank?

First, I would have to thank my parents for bringing me to the track every week and getting the car ready. Especially for always being there for me. Of course, all my sponsors for really helping us out and keeping me in the sport because without them I wouldn’t be able to race.

6. Outside of racing, what other hobbies or activities are you involved in?

I do a lot of motorized sports. I [drive] four-wheelers, side-by-sides, [and] I ski-doo up here in Canada. I live on the water so we boat a lot.

7. Is there anything you can take away from these motorized hobbies that helps you in a race car?

With all the four-wheeling and driving sports, it keeps you fresh with your driving style. [It helps] with your throttle control because everything happens so quick in a race car and everything happens really quick in a side-by-side or four-wheel and keeps you fresh and on the ball.

8. Anywhere special you want to race at in 2023?

I’m hoping to make it to the July Fourth weekend at the Summer Shootout [at Charlotte Motor Speedway] this year with the Legends. That’s one race I’m hoping to make it to this year and it would be a big accomplishment if I could make it.

9. What do you like about traveling to the United States to race?

I like the atmosphere around the track. There’s no animosity towards anybody, we all get along. It’s a different feel than what it is up here (Nova Scotia). Up here we’re racing against each other every week, all the time, and a lot of the stuff can happen with our teammates. I just like that when I go down to the States there’s none of that, we’re all friends. We just like to race and that’s what we’re there to do.

10. What is a challenged you faced at the Nashville Spring Series as a Legend Car driver.

I’m fairly new. This is my first full-time year. I’ve practiced and raced with Legends the last couple of years but just never [have] gotten out of the Bandos to go full-time in Legends. This year at Nashville I found that I need to stop driving it like a Bando. They are two completely different cars. One has power and brakes. One has no power and no brakes. So, I need to work on that and just get used to the Legend and find speed.

11. Who is your favorite race car driver?

Chase Elliott because he’s just someone I’ve always watched since I was really young.

12. Do you have any pre-race rituals or something you must do on race day?

I find it really helps to listen my favorite music. Something to calm your nerves, getting in the headspace to go out and race and calm yourself down and say, ‘You know what? I have a good car. I can go win this.’ Little bit of country. Little bit of rap. Something to hype me up a bit and then bring me back down.

13. What is your dream street car?

A ’69 Camaro. That is a car I’ve always liked. One of our friends around here has one and I’ve always liked that body style and the look of that car.

14. What is one random fact about you that others may be surprised about?

Not a lot of people expect me to drive all sorts of vehicles. I do a lot of motorsports, more than some. Driving some unexpected vehicles.

15. Why did you choose the number 71?

That was my dad’s original number when he ran a street stock, then went to late model. I don’t know what got him in the 71, I just always stuck with his number. That’s [also] where the yellow car was his car. It was always yellow and by the end of his career we always stuck with the same colors: yellow, red, and black.

16. What is your ultimate racing dream?

Racing the Snowball Derby in a late model. I know up here we’re not going to NASCAR. We don’t have the funds nor support to go to NASCAR, but late models are a very obtainable goal. I know Cole Butcher, who is from around here, has gone down and raced the Snowball Derby [and] the Oxford 250. That’s where I want to follow.

17. What advice do you have for kids looking to start their own racing career?

Don’t rush it, because I know a lot of kids in Bandos that are getting into it this year that I’ve known a long time. They always say, ‘I’m gonna go and win,’ [but] it took me a long time to win. Of course, I want to see a kid win in his first year. You have more fun racing and learning, but the first time you win you expect yourself to win every race. Take your time and enjoy it.

18. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in the racing world?

It’s my driving style. I was so used to driving a really comfortable car that’s prepared for me every week and I never really learned how to drive an ill handling car. Where a couple of my friends up here that are a couple tenths better than me, they can just hop in a car, go out, and drive it and make the car do what they want it to do. I’m slowly getting more like that, but it’s going to be a challenge.

19. Do other types of tracks beside paved ovals interest you?

The oval is kind of my go to, but there is a driver from around here, Danny Chisholm, he’s been trying to get me to go down to at least one road course and try it out. We might go down to one this year and try it out and see how it goes.

20. What are your 2023 racing goals and what do you hope to achieve?

I’m to at least win one of our local races in my first season [driving a Legend Car]. In my first year I just want to accomplish at least one thing it is to win. Once I do that, I know that I can do it again, and again, and again. In my Bando career it took me four years, I don’t want it to take four years in a Legend.