After that first year I was in the middle of building another building, an addition to my engine shop. One day I‘m looking around and I have no room, just a path around my shop because the building‘s not done. I called and asked Tyler are you interested in buying my half out. He was already invested in it. He ended up buying the car. He asked If I‘d still go and help. I told him if you‘re racing a sprint car and want me around, I‘ll help. That was our agreement and that‘s what we still do to this day. I knew the day he bought it he‘d take it and make it better. I don‘t know anyone who could take it and make it better than it already was except Tyler. He can out fabricate anyone and he‘s good on suspensions.”
Roahrig was a quick learner and adapted to non-winged sprint car racing quickly. In only his third start in the car, he captured the Tony Elliott Classic in October that year. The deal he put together with Jackson may have ultimately been the break he needed.
In the spring of 2019, Tyler was invited to South Africa to race winged pavement sprint cars. It was a unique opportunity and the friendships he built during the overseas trip are priceless.
“I went to South Africa with other American drivers Jason Blonde, Brian Tyler, and Mike Stutsman. That was a trip of a lifetime. Seeing all the stuff and the racing was fun. The best part was I made some lifelong friends. I literally talk to Jason and Brian every week now. Brian‘s helped me a lot with my program and what not.”
The atmosphere at a sprint car race in South Africa is much different than what Roahrig had been accustomed too. American drivers are treated more like rock stars than sprint car racers. The tracks are also different than those in the U.S., as most are usually a quarter-mile in length, with no banking, and are hard to pass. Even the race formats are much different than here in the states.
“It was nuts there,” Roahrig recalls. “There had to be 6,000-7,000 people in the stands each night I‘m guessing. All they wanna do is see the Americans. It was cool. We were there for like three weeks or something. The tracks there are nothing that remind me of anything over here. They are all flat. One of them had reverse banking in one end. They are hard to pass on. They got dirt cars, so they don‘t like to run very long races because they kill the tires. Their features are usually only like 12 laps. One race I lost the feature by two feet. Me, Jason, and a South African were almost three-wide coming for the checkered.
Most would assert that Roahrig is having a career year in 2021 that has already featured some big wins, including $25,000 for winning the Little 500. In addition, he won outlaw late model events that have paid $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000. But Roahrig argues that statement. “As far as quality of wins, I‘ve won all the biggest races that I‘ve ran in. The three biggest races I‘ve ran in I won. But I‘ve only won five races. As far as quantity, I‘ve won way more races in other years. I‘ve got something like seven second place finishes this year. That part‘s frustrating. The Little 500 obviously is the biggest race I‘ve ever won and ever will win. That‘s one I‘ve been chasing for a few years. That was cool obviously. It‘s been an up and down year for sure.”
His 2021 Little 500 culminated with opportunities in open-wheel racing he could have only dreamed of prior to 2021. In June he got the call most young drivers only dream of. “I think Bob (East) had been watching me a little bit. At the Little 500 we had been talking a little bit, but not about driving for him. Just casual conversation. Kyle Hamilton decided to retire after the Little 500. Bob just decided to put me in his sprint car, midget, and Silver Crown car. It‘s something I never forecasted. He‘s one of the most legendary car builders and crew chiefs, ever.”
“I had been trying to get some Silver Crown rides here and there. Kody Swanson even tried to get me a Silver Crown ride, but it just didn‘t work out. It ended up working out for me best getting in the Beast/Klatt No. 6 car.”
Roahrig‘s first-ever start in a USAC Silver Crown car at Lucas Oil Raceway on August 14 went better that he could have imagined. He finished second and was awarded the Hard Charger award by USAC for his efforts.
“I was happy with my first outing in the Silver Crown car. I got second but Kody (Swanson) was better than me. The car had been crashed the last time out, so they had to put it all back together. It was basically like a brand-new car. At the end of the race, I couldn‘t quite keep up with Kody. Lucas Oil Raceway is a tough place, and a place I haven‘t raced at a lot. Since it was the first time out for the car since it was rebuilt, there were some kinks. I only got 12 laps in the car before the race.”
Away from the track the now 30-year-old Plymouth, Indiana resident builds racing shocks for a living. “I only build Penske Shocks, but I own my own business ‘Rocket Fabrication & Suspension.‘ I‘m considered a dealer for Penske. I don‘t work for Penske so-to-speak. Mostly on the stock car side but I do a little bit of sprint car stuff. Right now, the sprint car guys I‘m building shocks for include Scott Hampton, Caleb Armstrong, Derek Bischak, Brian Tyler, and Dakoda Armstrong.”
I just wanna do whatever is fun, no matter what type of car it is. My plan is to race as much as I can, for as long as I can, if I have opportunities available. I can‘t say I have a ton of opportunities, there are a few different guys I drive for. Obviously driving for Bob East is a huge opportunity. I‘m pretty picky anymore on what I drive. It‘s gotta be top notch stuff.”
“What motivates me is running against the best people. I know if a race pays good, the best will be there. When I go to the races I wanna race against Kody Swanson, Bobby Santos, and Tanner Swanson. I wanna race against the best. Honestly what I think motivates me the most is when I get beat. It just makes me wanna work that much harder.