This months showcase driver for the Late Model class is Wayne Chinn.

Intro... Well, right off the bat, I knew this would be an easy interview. Wayne comes across very charming, and warm. Very easy to talk to and I noticed he was very open to questions. "This was nice way to start", I thought to myself.. I had remembered seeing Wayne race this past year, it was hard not to notice him. The car was appealing to look at, and FAST! One of the races I saw Wayne in, was at Moler Raceway Park. His car ended up in a pile up, with his car on top of another car! He was ok, and actually, still ended up racing that night! I also remembered him from Lawrenceburg Speedway, where he went the extra mile for his fans and signed cards and talked with young fans. He had time for them, and that just stood out to me. I just wanted to compliment Wayne on his demeanor before I got in to the interview itself. And now, on to the interview!~ Moler Raceway Park

A little about Wayne

Wayne grew up in Tipp City, Ohio. He currently resides in Bradford, Ohio. He has been racing since 1995.

Wayne started out racing go-carts at age 15, then went on to midgets at age 17. "We raced midgets and sprints until 2003. In 2003, we started racing modifeds then in 2004 we went to super late model which have been in since.". Wayne added.

I asked Wayne if he was married, and he stated he is not married, but has a girlfriend, Jaemie, and that he is a new dad! Only (6) weeks into this new adventure, a son Carter William Chinn. Congratuations on the new baby, Wayne!

In his spare time, besides racing, he enjoys four wheeling, snowmobiling, and playing Poker.

When asked what insprired him to get in to racing, he answered that he grandfather raced, his dad raced, so he pretty much grew up around racing. They raced pavement modifieds and dirt modifieds. "I never got to see my grandfather race though", added Wayne.

I told him, "So, the focus is all on you now, huh?", he laughed and said, "yea, all on me now, I am the only one in the family racing now. "

I asked Wayne out of all of the wins he has had, which one does he cherish the most?

"Wow, hmmm, let me think", then he laughed, "That would have to be this past year at Florence, we went from 24th place to 1st the first night. The night actually started out kinda bad, we got stuck, and we blew a tire. And we ended up starting 24th in the feature, but ended up going around all of them and winning."

Then he also added, "But I think my greatest accomplishment is getting 4th in the World 100!".

Wayne at World 100 - 2007

Who does Wayne thank for his success?

We all know that it takes more than us to be successful in racing, and I asked Wayne if there was anyone he contributes his success to, he answered his "whole family"! "My father, actually, just my whole family! And my sponsors!", he stressed. (see below for a listing).

So far, he has been fortunate enough to not be in any major wrecks, and we wish him luck that it stays that way!

Some of Waynes Career highlights include:

2006

• Four feature wins

• Nine heat race wins

• 46 top five finishes

• 64 top ten finishes

• 79 top fifteen finishes

2005

• Battle of Bluegrass Series – 8th in national points – 2nd in rookie points

• Battle of the Bluegrass “Most Impoved Driver of the Year” award

• Chinn Motorsports as a team received the Battle of the Bluegrass “Sportsman of the Year” award

• Eldora Speedway – 8th in Championship points

• Lawrenceburg Speedway Late Model Feature Win

2004

• Florence , KY Speedway Late Model Rookie of the Year

• 9th in Eldora Speedway Late Model Points

2003

• Ohio UMP Modified Points Champion

• Eldora Speedway Points Champion Runner-Up

• Lawrenceburg Speedway “Big Dawg 100” Hard Charger Recipient : Finished 7th out of 200 teams

• Montpelier Speedway Modified Feature Win

2002

• UMP Modified – Most Improved Driver at Eldora Speedway

2001

• Chili Bowl, Tulsa Exp National Hard Charger Recipient

• Chili Bowl, A-Main place 13th out of 187 teams

2000

• All-Star Midget Champion Race Winner, West Virginia

• Keith Kunz Chassis School

• Winchester Speedway “Sammy Session” Podium Finish

• 1st Ryan Newman, 2nd Clay Klepper, 3rd Wayne Chinn

• NAMARS National Series Top 10 in Points (7 th )

1999

• NAMARS National Series Runner-UP Champion

• Indiana Five Crown Top Ten Points

1998

• NAMARS National Series Top Ten in Points (9th)

1997

•Jimmy Sills Midget Driving School

• Karting – Briggs Heavy Champion

• 1995-1997 104 Karting Victories

1996

• Karting – Briggs Light Champion

• Karting – Briggs Heavy Champion

• Kenyon 3K Racing Chassis/Set-Up School

1995

• Karting – Jr. Series Most Improved Driver Award

What advice would he pass on to a rookie?

When asked what advice he would pass on to a rookie driver just getting in to racing, it was 'To understand your race car.", He explained to me that it is really important for adjustments - geometry - to understand it, so you can transfer that information back to the crew. "If you don't understand what is going on with it, how can you tell the crew if something is wrong, etc.?"

Plans in 2008?

Wayne told me no big changes yet, to continue on as this year, normal races, independent series, all the big races. "Until the schedules, or if we get another big sponsor, that all may change", he stated.

To keep up on his progress or where you can watch Wayne Race, go to his website.

http://www.waynechinn1.com/

Thanks Wayne! ...from the Dirt Scoops Group!