The fast ½ mile at Manzanita speedway has been the training ground for many open wheel and NASCAR drivers. It is said if you can run the high line against the cushion at Manzy, you can go anywhere in the United States and race. For 14 year old Chad Boat, he would become the youngest driver ever to race on the track and at the same time become the youngest to ever lead a feature event.

Chad was eagerly anticipating his debut on Manzanita’s fast ½ mile oval. He had only one night of practice, but was ready for race time. He started his heat race on the outside of Row 2, and moved to 3rd on the start. He passed the 2nd place car and stayed with the leader, challenging for the lead, but at the checkered flag, he finished in the 2nd position, which earned him a good starting position in the Main event.

Chad started the 25-lap Main Event on the outside of the front row, and as the green flag waved, he jumped into the lead. He not only captured the fans' attention in the first part of the feature, but the rest of the 24 drivers' as well. It was the 14-year-old sprint car rookie’s first start on the big track, and he surprised the field by leading the first nine laps before giving way to Jeremy Sherman, last year’s ASCA’s 360 Sprint Car Champion. Chad was impressive in his first race on Manzanita’s ½ mile and held on with a strong 5th place finish, the highest finishing rookie in the field. "For his first time on the half-mile track and starting in the front row . . . he kept his nose clean, ran a good race, led the race. That says a lot there," he said. "This half-mile is no simple place to get around. He's probably going to be here and gone before we know because he'll be going up through the ranks." Sherman said after the race.

“I had a good car, and I was just trying to run my own race,” Chad said after the race. “I was not running up in the cushion enough toward the middle of the race, which cost me a few spots. I learned a lot tonight and can’t wait till I get to run the ½ mile again.” Chad moved into the top ten in points, but he will miss next week’s ASCA race because of a conflicting schedule with the ASA Speed Trucks. Chad will make his debut at Orange Show Speedway near San Bernardino, California, a race he and the crew have been preparing for and looking forward to all year.