Last November, Christopher Tate impressed at the Late Model race in Florence, South Carolina. The US Marine spoke to 'Leftturnsonly.de' about his way from a spectator at the Coca-Cola 600 to the ARCA test in Daytona the past weekend.
"I have had a deep passion for NASCAR, or any kind of Motorsport, since I can remember. I went to my first NASCAR race in April 2004 at Texas when I was just 4 years old, and ever since I have just loved it and had the dream of being here one day", Tate explained right at the beginning.
The active US Marine, who is also 3F Racing's development driver, has set himself a clear target: To not only participate one day in the ARCA Series, but also to make the step into the Truck Series. "I met Dennis (Hirtz), and Paul (Wiedeler) back in May at the Coke 600 in Charlotte. I was a guest of David Starr’s for that weekend", he explained about his first contact with 3F Racing.
And added: "Paul happened to be doing his videography work for David that weekend. He and I got to talking, I expressed my desire to race in NASCAR and how my goal was to do the ARCA test this year. He ended up introducing me to Dennis later that same day, and we just hit it off like best friends."
"I could instantly tell Dennis had the same passion as myself just in the ownership role, so I think from him wanting to be an owner and myself wanting to be a driver with the story of me being a Marine and all, he just wanted to work together. But, I truly felt it was just meant to be looking back at it. We both had that childhood dream to be involved in NASCAR, and we just fit well together", the US Marine rounded off.
What happened, was that from then on, one door after the other opened for the development driver. After the South Carolina 250 in Florence, where he drove the 3F Racing car to a 16th-place finish, he reached out for an opportunity to do an ARCA test.
"I asked a couple of friends, such as Robby Lyons, and Zachary Tinkle, and they happened to get me in contact with Andy Hillenburg who owns Fast Track Racing", Tate pointed out. "He has had the faith in me to take one of his cars on the high banks here in Daytona, and that speaks so much volume to me."
However, before turning his first-ever laps at the ARCA test at Daytona, Tate explained: "I just want to have fun and really have people see that I am committed and serious about making it in this sport. I do not have the traditional background, so I am trying my hardest to get into the industry as fast as I can."
"But I am beyond excited to be driving here, I mean, not a lot of people got to say they have driven at Daytona. So, I am going to take it all in and savor every moment. Depending on how it goes, I will really start searching for potential partners for the race next month (Lucas Oil 200 on 18th February). This is all about just having fun, making memories and providing more opportunities down the road with ARCA."
After Tate completed his test on Friday, the US Marine was a spectator on Saturday. His lap time of 49.468 seconds was good enough for eighth on Friday, but after Saturday, he was twelfth overall out of 61. An impressive time for a first-time ARCA driver.
"I am just speechless to say the least", Tate summed up the test in a few words. "I lived the dream today that so many people simply hope to do, and I will never forget how fortunate I am to be where I am."
"The feeling of going around Daytona is simply unreal. It was something I have never felt for sure, just the way the car plants itself in the corner and sucks you down into the seat is just insane. Also, to finish the day drafting with some of the best cars and really gaining that experience, and to top it all off, finishing the day in eighth on the speed charts - it is hard to ask for a better day or first time in an ARCA car."
Photo by Gavin Newton/Running's Racing Designs LLC
"I have had a deep passion for NASCAR, or any kind of Motorsport, since I can remember. I went to my first NASCAR race in April 2004 at Texas when I was just 4 years old, and ever since I have just loved it and had the dream of being here one day", Tate explained right at the beginning.
The active US Marine, who is also 3F Racing's development driver, has set himself a clear target: To not only participate one day in the ARCA Series, but also to make the step into the Truck Series. "I met Dennis (Hirtz), and Paul (Wiedeler) back in May at the Coke 600 in Charlotte. I was a guest of David Starr’s for that weekend", he explained about his first contact with 3F Racing.
And added: "Paul happened to be doing his videography work for David that weekend. He and I got to talking, I expressed my desire to race in NASCAR and how my goal was to do the ARCA test this year. He ended up introducing me to Dennis later that same day, and we just hit it off like best friends."
"I could instantly tell Dennis had the same passion as myself just in the ownership role, so I think from him wanting to be an owner and myself wanting to be a driver with the story of me being a Marine and all, he just wanted to work together. But, I truly felt it was just meant to be looking back at it. We both had that childhood dream to be involved in NASCAR, and we just fit well together", the US Marine rounded off.
What happened, was that from then on, one door after the other opened for the development driver. After the South Carolina 250 in Florence, where he drove the 3F Racing car to a 16th-place finish, he reached out for an opportunity to do an ARCA test.
"I asked a couple of friends, such as Robby Lyons, and Zachary Tinkle, and they happened to get me in contact with Andy Hillenburg who owns Fast Track Racing", Tate pointed out. "He has had the faith in me to take one of his cars on the high banks here in Daytona, and that speaks so much volume to me."
However, before turning his first-ever laps at the ARCA test at Daytona, Tate explained: "I just want to have fun and really have people see that I am committed and serious about making it in this sport. I do not have the traditional background, so I am trying my hardest to get into the industry as fast as I can."
"But I am beyond excited to be driving here, I mean, not a lot of people got to say they have driven at Daytona. So, I am going to take it all in and savor every moment. Depending on how it goes, I will really start searching for potential partners for the race next month (Lucas Oil 200 on 18th February). This is all about just having fun, making memories and providing more opportunities down the road with ARCA."
After Tate completed his test on Friday, the US Marine was a spectator on Saturday. His lap time of 49.468 seconds was good enough for eighth on Friday, but after Saturday, he was twelfth overall out of 61. An impressive time for a first-time ARCA driver.
"I am just speechless to say the least", Tate summed up the test in a few words. "I lived the dream today that so many people simply hope to do, and I will never forget how fortunate I am to be where I am."
"The feeling of going around Daytona is simply unreal. It was something I have never felt for sure, just the way the car plants itself in the corner and sucks you down into the seat is just insane. Also, to finish the day drafting with some of the best cars and really gaining that experience, and to top it all off, finishing the day in eighth on the speed charts - it is hard to ask for a better day or first time in an ARCA car."
Photo by Gavin Newton/Running's Racing Designs LLC
