For the second installment of “In the Pits,” Rhode Island’s own Nicholas Chaber Jr. sat down in front of the mic just before the start of Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2023 Winter Heat. He was fresh off a second-place finish in Round 1. He would go on to finish 8th and 10th in Rounds 3 and 4, respectively. He has his sights on winning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the Granite State Legends series and another Rhode Island state championship!
Hometown: Cumberland, Rhode Island
Division: Young Lions
Car Number: 00
Team: Chaber Motorsports
Movie: Cars
Food: Pizza
Vacation Spot: Anywhere that's warm
Color: Blue
Dream Car: Mustang or Hellcat
1. What sparked your interest in racing? What made you want to start driving?
I used to watch NASCAR when I was little. One weekend, my dad asked me if I wanted to do quarter midgets. Then the next weekend, he took me to the track and showed me around. Then we went to this thing where you can test drive it and see if you like it, and I liked it. I then raced those for about 6 years.
2. What forms of racing have you competed in?
I started racing quarter midgets. I did Bandos after that, did it for two years before I went to Legends. I got 11 wins in those two years and a state championship for Rhode Island.
3. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in the racing world?
In quarter midgets, I flipped and got knocked out, and I had to go to the hospital. I started pole in the race, I led the whole race, there were two laps to go. Someone tried to pass me and didn't do it that cleanly. They sent me and rolled me around. I just passed out from the impact, or the force of the flip.
4. What is your favorite racing memory?
Probably getting 2nd last week at Winter Heat.
5. What are your racing goals? What do you hope to achieve?
Hopefully I can get a couple wins up in New Hampshire, I've been racing there all last year. I'm one of the fastest young lions now since everyone moved up to Semi Pro, I think I have a chance at getting a couple wins or at least top 3. Eventually NASCAR if we can do it.
6. Who is your biggest inspiration?
Probably Martin Truex Jr and Kyle Larson. Me and my family have been watching them race all the time and always wanting them to win. We watched then a lot growing up. It used to be Kyle Busch.
7. If you were pulled into victory lane right now, who would you want to thank?
I would like to thank my parents, my grandmother, my grandfather, my dad, my brother, my friends, and my mom. And also GO Motorsports for helping me get parts and setting up the car a little bit.
8. Outside of racing, what other hobbies or activities are you involved in?
I like playing iRacing a lot. Sometimes I play with my brother in the summer outside and when my grandfather comes over, we tend to go to the baseball fields and play baseball for a little bit. I used to [play baseball] when I was little but I didn't really like it because I hated standing out in the outfield when it was superhot.
9. What race or track are you most looking forward to this season?
Honestly, I'm really looking forward to racing [at Charlotte Motor Speedway] again, because it's super fun, super easy and I think I can get faster and hopefully win. I might want to go to a different track eventually when we can make time to go up there in the summer, not sure what track though.
10. Do you have any advice to someone who is looking into getting started in racing?
Mostly just practice. Keep your head straight and try your best to improve every time you go out. Just keep on practicing until you get better and better.
11. If you could describe your racing style in one word, what would you say?
Not really sure, maybe a little cautious but also a little crazy. When I am behind people I tend to be a little cautious and try to make really good decisions to try not to get into anything. But if I am out by myself, I tend to push the car too much and sometimes lose it a little.
12 .If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be and why?
Maybe Martin Truex Jr, so I can brag to my mom that I met him and she didn't.
13. Do you prefer Dirt, Oval, or Road Course?
I like Road Course. I used to want to do Dirt a couple years ago, I wanted to do sprint cars or outlaw cars. But there's not a lot of dirt here, so I moved to Legends and I've been running that since.