LAS VEGAS — Chase Cabre is eagerly awaiting his chance to return to the Only Bulls Open Wheel Showdown at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway November 5-7.
The young driver was introduced to the winged pavement sprint car world during last year’s event. Since then, a lot has changed and he has gained valuable experience this summer competing in events all across the country.
He was a rookie in every sense at last year’s event. He had never driven a pavement sprint car prior to the event. Florida car owner Kirk Morgan gave him a chance at the suggestion of Davey Hamilton Jr. The rookie was impressive.
He was in the upper half of the field in practice with no prior laps. He ultimately qualified eighteenth out of forty-five cars. He made the 100-lap A-main. Certainly, no easy task for a rookie.
A lot has happened since then. He hooked up with the Daleville, Indiana based Sam Pierce Racing Team at the start of the season, and he has been nothing short of sensational. He broke the all-time track record at Owosso Speedway in Ovid, Michigan in early June during a $30,000-to-win winged pavement sprint car event.
In early August, Cabre earned the pole at Iowa Speedway in his first USAC Silver Crown Series start. He was leading the race going away before mechanical issues sent him to the sideline late in the race.
Cabre has competed in a variety of open-wheel machines this summer including midgets, non-winged pavement sprint cars, winged pavement sprint cars, pavement USAC Silver Crown cars, and dirt USAC Silver Crown cars. He’s looked impressive in every single disciple.
Cabre returns to the Open Wheel Showdown with experience and a lot of laps under his belt. Due to the success he’s had this season, and Aaron Pierce turning the wrenches, Cabre is a contender for the win in the winged sprint car portion of the Open Wheel Showdown.
“I was just thinking about last year’s Open Wheel Showdown recently,” explained Cabre. “In 2020 when I stopped racing NASCAR stuff, I didn’t think I’d ever run at a high level again. Five years later this opportunity popped up with Davey Hamilton Jr. and Kirk Morgan. That led to me driving for Aaron Pierce. It’s crazy that so much has happened in a year. “Sometimes I have to sit down and think to myself this is so cool. Sometimes you forget when you’re in the moment how bad you want it. Now that you got it, you’re doing it, and things are happening, you have to slow down to appreciate it.”
Cabre wishes his results had been better this season.
“It’s been a very good year. We haven’t had the best end of the day results,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve fought some gremlins throughout the year. Races I think we should have won, unfortunately we had some sort of issue mechanically, or whatever. But when we are running, I feel like I showed we’re capable of winning and have the speed to do it. It’s been a blessing for everything that’s happened this year and as fast as its happened.”
The on-track performance that Cabre has displayed this year hasn’t gone unnoticed. It was recently announced that Cabre will be driving for five-time Chili Bowl Midget Nationals champion Sammy Swindell at the Chili Bowl this coming January.
“It feels good that so many people have recognized it,” he said. “For five years I couldn’t get a ride to save my life. Within one year it feels like I can’t stop getting rides. Its awesome and I appreciate each and every individual who has let me drive their race car.”
Everything that Cabre learned about the Bullring last year may get tossed out the window. The track was recently repaved and it’s all new to everyone including Cabre himself with no prior laps.
But Cabre may have an advantage. His fiancé, NASCAR development driver Hailie Deegan recently ran an ARCA West race at the Bullring, and he might be able to pick her brain about the new surface.
“I feel like I might have a little advantage this year. Hailie just ran an ARCA race there a few weeks ago. I’ve got a lot of notes from her already,” Cabre said. “I’ve picked her brain a ton. I paid attention to that race in depth. Tire life, how the track sped up during the week, if the top worked, and everything like that. I feel confident in what I’ve already learned.
“Last year I was a little disappointed with my Las Vegas effort,” he continued. “When qualifying came around I struggled. I didn’t understand how to qualify one of these winged sprint cars. I feel like it’s something I understand now, at the time I didn’t. I didn’t know how to pass. In the race it took me a long time to make up ground.
“I’ve learned so much since last year. I’m excited to go back. It’s now my favorite event of the year. There is so much hype. I love everything about it. It feels like everything has come full circle.”
Watch the Open Wheel Showdown on SPEED SPORT 2.
