Cedar Rapids teen leading late model division at Hawkeye Downs

Joey Gase became eligible for a driver's license this year. Imagine being his driver's education instructor. considering the 16-year-old makes a habit of zipping around a half-mile track in about 19 seconds.

Gase knows a little about driving, which is displayed weekly as he attempts to become the youngest late model points champ at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

The love for racing blossomed early from exposure to his dad's career. Bob Gase was a former modified champ, winning in 2003.

“Whenever I was a little kid, my dad always took me to the track and into the garage and stuff when he was working on the car,” said Gase, a third-generation driver. “I was raised around it my whole life so I guess I had to love it.”

He embraced it from the start, simulating races in his dad's driveway on an electric go-cart.

“We worked on my old car and he would just sit in our driveway and just do circles for hours and hours throughout the day until he wore the tires off them,” Bob Gase said. “He's always loved racing.”

Five to seven days a week are devoted to racing for the Cedar Rapids Xavier junior, During the school year, he visits the shop to work on the car immediately after classes.

“He's very, very dedicated to the sport. That's for sure,” Bob Gase said. “He really doesn't really have any other hobbies (and) racing isn't much of a hobby for him. He thinks of it more as a career already.”

Half of Gase's life has been devoted to racing. He started competing go-carts at 8, traveling around the Midwest for events five years later.

He advanced to modifieds, taking over his dad's ride two years ago. Last season was his first in the elite late model class. He captured rookie of the year honors, finishing fifth in points.

Now, he's ascended to the top of the division, currently leading the season points race with 20 more than runner-up Brad Osborn.

Joey Gase isn't surprised by the success.

“I'm not really,” he said. “I was hoping to be in the top five and (to) see what happened.”

The year started well for the youngster, who competed in the World Series of Stock Car Racing during Florida Speedweek at New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula, Fla. He finished fifth against drivers from across the country.

“Absolutely I'm a proud dad,” Bob Gase said. “He is a good kid all around. I'm really lucky.”

Gase said he aspires to match, or even surpass, the feats of Landon Cassill, a promising young driver from Cedar Rapids, who earned NASCAR Nationwide Series 2008 Rookie of the Year. Cassill, also a teen driver at Hawkeye Downs, earned five top-10 finishes last season for Hendrick Motorsports.

The two were friends and spent time with each other. It's hard to compare them.

“Landon's a great driver and they both have different styles,” Bob Gase said. “I hope some day Joey can achieve the same goals Landon has. That's why Joey works so hard on the cars.

“I believe he has the talent to do it. He just needs more track time.”

Racing is a source of bonding for father and son. Bob Gase helps with the car and serves as his son's spotter. An uncle is crew chief.

“It just means a lot to me,” Joey Gase said. “Without them I wouldn't be here. They're always working on my car, helping me. I would have never got involved with racing if it wasn't for them.”

A core group of friends come out to see his races and classmates consider it cool. Athletes playing other varsity sports may get more attention and praise, but he that doesn't matter. Joey Gase has a passion for all aspects of auto racing.

“I played other sports before this,” said Joey Gase, who owns a grade-point average higher than 3.0. “My adrenaline is always pumping in this and you never know what's going to happen. You just don't go out there and play. You actually have to work on your car and get things ready, too.”

[naviga:h6 class="zemanta-related-title"]Related articles by Zemanta

[naviga:ul class="zemanta-article-ul"]

[naviga:li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"]Chase Elliott Impresses in Late Model Debut (fullthrottle.cranialcavity.net)