Chad Boat Collects First USAC Sprint Victory at Hagerstown

The United States Auto Club’s Pennsylvania Tour turned to gold Saturday night for Chad Boat as he won his first USAC national sprint car race at Hagerstown Speedway.  The 16 year old used the high groove to lead 22 of 30 laps to become the youngest driver in the history of USAC to win a national sprint car race.

After qualifying in the 6th position, Chad had moved from 7th to 3rd in the heat race before a brake problem moved him out of the transfer position. He came back to finish 2nd in the semi, earning a spot on the front row for the feature event.

At the drop of the green Chad outraced Levi Jones into turn one and took his car to the high groove, running the cushion inches from the Hagerstown guard rail.  Chad battled with Cole Whitt, with Whit running the low line, for the top spot over the next 8 laps, until he took the lead for good on lap 10. He drove the next 20 laps perfectly, crossing under the checker flag 8 car lengths ahead of the 2nd place Whitt.

“This is awesome,” Chad said in victory lane. “I knew I had a good car, and I knew it was my kind of track.  I like to run the top, and we finally got a race track that built a cushion.  Once I got out front I just focused on running as hard as I could and hitting my marks every lap.” 

The victory comes in Chad’s 6th start on the dirt in the 410 USAC sprint series, competing against the USAC powerhouse teams of Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne. 

Of the scheduled four races on the Pennsylvania tour, rain claimed two of them.  Chad had a great 2nd place qualifying effort and fifth place starting position for the feature the first night at Grandview Speedway, only to have the rain come just as the feature was lining up.  The second night at Williams Grove was a washout,  while a dry track and a loose race car relegated Chad to a 17th place finish the third night at Big Diamond Speedway.