Stock car racer Mike Chase was born April 17, 1952, and died April 18, 2025. After winning the 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series championship, he worked with Penske Racing and drove in Winston Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Trucks.
Mike Chase Obituary : His Biography and Legal Legacy
Mike Chase’s life
Chase moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1993 to race after being born in Redding, California.
Mike Chase Starting a career
Chase began racing NASCAR in the mid-1980s and won the 1987 Featherlite Southwest Tour at Shasta Speedway during his childhood. Chase debuted in the Busch Series at Darlington Raceway in 1986, finishing 32nd.
Chase won Rookie of the Year in 1990 after qualifying for the Winston West Series in 1989. He finished 25th in his 1991 combined Winston Cup Series debut at Sears Point Raceway. After a few Winston Cup and Winston West races, Chase’s best Cup finish was 24th at Michigan International Speedway in 1990.
Chase headed to stock car racing for A. J. Foyt Enterprises in the early 1990s and wanted to race in the Indianapolis 500 twice but was forbidden by USAC.
Mike Chase Cars and pavement
Chase was among the few racers invited to the 1994 Brickyard 400 stock car event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chase qualified as the Winston West Series points leader and started 43rd in the race, which was also on the Winston Cup Series schedule. Chase was too sluggish to join the racing field. Chase began at #50, but A.J. Foyt also arrived at #50, moving him to #58. He crashed after 91 of 160 laps, finishing 42nd.
Chase won the 1994 Winston West series after going unblemished. Chase joined the Winston Cup Series in 1995 to compete for Rookie of the Year in the No. 32 Active Racing Chevrolet. After failing to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500, his aspirations were ruined. Chase was sacked by Dean Myers, who replaced him with Jimmy Hensley.
Chase won two West Series games in 1995 despite playing part-time. He finished 27th in his first SuperTruck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway for Chesrown Racing after participating in eight races. He replaced P. J. Jones in the No. 1 DieHard Chevrolet for team owner Scoop Vessels and finished 16th in seven races later in the year.
Chase triumphed in seven 1996 Craftsman Truck Series races for Steve Sellers Racing. He finished thirteenth at Portland Speedway, his highest finish. Chase returned to Green Light Racing for a full 1999 season after a few Winston West Series events in 1998. He finished ninth in the standings.
Chase finished 27th in three Nationwide Series races for ST Motorsports in 2001. Chase retired from NASCAR after these races.
Mike Chase After the race
Chase worked as a fabricator for Penske Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, and others after retiring. Chase was also crew chief for the Nationwide Series.
Chase joined the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2010.
Honoring Mike Chase
In moments like these, we feel the loss deeply. Mike Chase left a lasting impact on many lives.
If you have any memories or thoughts to share, please feel free to leave a comment below. Let’s come together to remember and celebrate his life.
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