The Chris Raabe Story
Chris Raabe was born March 26, 1991. He is the son of Mike and Lana Raabe, and the brother of twin sisters, Heather and Jenna. The Raabe family lives in Napanee, Ontario Canada.
To say that Chris was born into racing would be a very accurate assumption, as you can tell by the photos throughout the story, from birth, to toddler, to young child, to teenager, Chris Raabe was born to race.
By the age of 3, Chris was following his dad each Saturday evening to the Brighton Speedway. Mike raced street stocks, and then moved into the late model division. Mike won several feature races, and championships in both divisions.
At the age of 6, Chris was chomping at the bit to get behind the wheel, so dad purchased a go kart, and they struck an agreement that would see Chris race his kart on Friday nights, and Dad would continue to race his Late Model on Saturday nights. That plan lasted all but three weeks, when Chris picked up his first of nine feature wins in a row at age 7, and Dad's racing career was history. Since 1999, the Late Model has sat parked beside their family home in Napanee, Ontario, as the family focuses their efforts on Chris' racing career.
For the next seven years, the "LITTLE CREEK STREAK" built up a legendary record in karts with more than 230 feature wins, 13 tracks championships, a WKA Northeast Championship, and numerous National and Indoor championships. Chris raced from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, to New Jersey to upstate New York, and Canada.
During his early Karting career Chris teamed up with local media celebrity, 'BIG G', Garry McColman. Soon the 102 racing number and radio station logo became the team's trademark. By the age of 14, Chris was getting bored of the karting scene after dominating for so many years, and was looking for a new challenge. It was the summer of 2005 that 'BIG G' suggested that Chris get some seat time in a DIRT sportsman modified. Although not completely convinced that this would be the best for Chris and his future in racing, his dad hesitantly agreed, and an old Bicknell modified was located in a barn near Renfrew, Ontario. The car had not been raced in several years, but everything was there, and a deal was struck.
Just one week after purchasing the car, 14 year old Chris was in his first DIRTcar sportsman event. He started last and worked his way up to a very respectable 8th place by the end of the race. Just three weeks later, Chris would pilot the KIX Country 102 car into victory lane in only his fourth start. At the age of 14, Chris would set the all-time DIRTcar record as the youngest feature winner in their 33 year history.
DIRTcar rules actually did not allow a driver under 16 years of age to have a DIRTcar license. At the time, nobody looked at Chirs' age, just his past accomplishments in karts, and a license was granted. After winning the event, DIRTcar revisited the rule, and have since changed their policy, allowing drivers under 16 years of age to race, providing that they have proved they are capable of racing at this level. Chris only ran just a handful of event that season, because the car was purchased mid-season.
The following season, in 2006, Chris went out and set another all time DIRTcar record. At the age of 15, Chris became the youngest open wheel track champion in the history of DIRTcar racing. He won the championship at the Brockville Ontario Speedway, and backed that up with a second place in the season championship at Thunder Alley Speed Park. Chris also led the feature win totals for both tracks.
The 2007 DIRTcar season proved to be a learning season for the 01 team as they gain valuable experience over the course of the season. The team came just short of winning the track championships at Brockville and Thunder Alley.
In the fall of 2007 Chris got his first asphalt late model start at Adirondack International Speedway. This was an ASA sanctioned tour race, and Chris started 24th, and finished 10th.
By the start of 2008 racing season, the 01 team had been labeled as the team to beat by fellow competitors and fans at both the Brockville Ontario Speedway, and Thunder Alley Speed Park, in Evans Mills, NY. It wasn't long into the season before everyone's predictions had come true. By the end of the season, Chris won the track Championship at both tracks, as well as the track championship at the Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, NY.
Along with the weekly appearances at Thunder Alley and Brockville, the 01 team decided to follow the entire Mr. DIRTcar sportsman series. From April to October, the team competed in 45 events. Although expectations were high, nobody could predict what would be the final outcome.
To say that Chris Raabe and the 01 racing team had a season they will never forget would be the understatement of the year. 22 feature wins, 31 top 5 finishes, and 35 top 10 finishes. 3 Track Championships, DIRTcar NorthEast Championship, Lucas Oil Sportsman Championship, and the biggest of all, and yet another DIRTcar record as youngest overall champion, the 2008 Mr. DIRTcar championship. Its not just the 01 team that will remember this remarkable season.
Following the 2008 season and heading into 2009, the team was hoping to go full time into the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Financing didn't come through to make this happen, so it was back to the DIRT for the 01 team. It was going to be hard to back up the previous season's stats, but Chris and the team were up to the challenge.
For Chris Raabe, the task was simple, just go out and do it all over again, and that is exactly what he did, erasing virtually every other name in the DIRT Motorsports Sportsman Modified record book. Chris went on to win 20 more times in 2009, in just 50 races, and he collected every championship that he contended for, which included a second consecutive Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship. Raising the bar was top priority, and setting new records along the way. The back to back Mr. DIRTcar title and being voted Inside Track Canadian DIRT racer of the year award highlighted another banner year for the 01 team. Raabe beat out fellow Canadian and DIRT racing icon Pete Bicknell by capturing 41% of the votes, while Bicknell secured just 24%. Mr. Bicknell is a legend in this sport, and for an 18 year old, this was certainly a very special honour to receive.
Chris did get his first crack at pavement racing in 2009, making his debut in the Ontario Sportsman Series at Flamboro Speedway. In his first start, he went to the back after an early race incident, but the car was on a rail all day, and with 2 laps remaining Chris was challenging for the lead, but slid back to finish 5th...a very impressive debut. In his second attempt at racing on pavement, Chris and the 01 team traveled to Delaware Speedway and qualified 5th. By lap 13 he was in the lead, and lead up until 4 laps remaining, when contact from behind ended his day. While continuing to dominate on DIRT, Chris also proved that it wouldn't take long to adapt to racing on the pavement.
2010 was another record setting season for Raabe. While the pavement racing got put on the backburner for the time being, Chris returned to the Sportsman ranks and continued to dominate, posting 31 Sportsman feature wins, 42 top five finishes, and 44 top tens in 54 events. Raabe also won track titles at Mohawk Raceway and Cornwall Speedway. At the end of the season, Chris made his debut in the 358 Modified division and won the first time out in the DIRTcar Futures race at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
2011 was Raabe's first season in the 358 Modified division. He started the year off strong with wins at Chapman's Can Am Motorsports Park and Mohawk International Raceway. Raabe would go on to win the Mohawk Raceway track championship, setting more records along the way as youngest 358 Modified champion in track history and the only rookie to win the championship. He also traveled to Le RPM Speedway in St. Marcel, Quebec mid-season, and set a new track record in his first appearance at the track. Towards the end of the season, Raabe had announced a deal to drive three races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series as a teammate to Scott Steckly, who won the series championship. Raabe was very impressive in his three race deal, and posted top ten finishes in his first two events at Barrie Speedway (10th), and Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia (9th). In his final race, he had a top 10 car, but was sidelined early with mechanical problems.
2012 is setting up to be a great year for Raabe and the 01 team, and plans will be announced soon regarding both the DIRT and pavement sides of the Raabe Racing team. Stay tuned to our main page over the offseason.
