Mike Chase, former Winston West Series Champion is making a run for the championship. "Our PAD (People Against Drugs) racing team owner Gene Christiansen has a lot of energy." Chase said. "He wants to win and has given the team what it needs to be a winner! The team's crew chief is our secret! (Chicago Fred). Our main goal is the big picture a CHAMPIONSHIP!"

Chase continued praising his team saying, "The team is working very hard to give me great racecars and is practicing on pit stops. Our team is all top fuel and funny car regulars making the change to NASCAR racing. We have a ways to go. The team is around 97% with each day they can see the light getting closer at the end of the tunnel."

RacingWest: After the Craftsman Trucks the Spec Trucks and the rest of the series putting down all the different kind of rubber, do you feel track conditions might be an issue and why or why not?
Mike Chase: All the rubber put down should make the Winston West tires last longer.

RW: Being the event at Mesa Marin is a one-day show, will you be prepared to be fast off the truck and get every thing done in short order?
MC: With the team that we have all guns will be loaded.

RW: After a couple races on the super-speedways on radial tires, how is it going to feel to make the jump back to the short tracks?
MC: The team is ready to race. We like short tracks and can't wait to get to Mesa Marin to race. We have a lot of fans based in the Bakersfield area.

RW: If you are fast, you come up on the lap traffic pretty quick on a short track. How tough is it to work the lap traffic and what are your secrets?
MC: We will try to move to the outside of slow cars. I love to race in traffic but it makes Gene the car owner a little nerves.

RW: Are you happy to be racing in the day?
MC: It makes no difference night or day.

RW: Will you be entering any other races at Mesa Marin during the weekend?
MC: Not that I know of however I would like to run in the truck race!

RW: Which track holds the highest prestige for you Mesa Marin with its history and million-dollar improvements or the new Irwindale Speedway and why?
MC: Mesa Marin because I have a lot of time racing there, lots of fans. I cant wait to get to Irwindale I have a good feeling about that track.

RW: What's your favorite memory of Mesa Marin?
MC: Winning both Southwest Tour and Winston West races on the same weekend.

RW: Who do you see as this year's toughest competition in the Series and why?
MC: I look at all the teams to be tough. The past Champs and the new rookies. It is a great year for the fans because we have a great field of competitive cars and drivers.

RW: Which Winston Cup driver do you hold the most respect for and why?
MC: Dick Trickle, he is great friend, willing to help all you have to do is ask.

Crew: Rick Johnson, Andy Woods, Kevin Simpson, Larry Board, Steve Lambert Mark McGowan, Tim Williams, Ed Galloway and Denny Strimple (North Fork Photo).

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 4/10/99