Brewster’s Chase See Races to Success

Brewster Central School District sixth grader, Chase See, has a natural talent for going fast. He is ranked ninth in the country in the Tobias Slingshot junior racing division. 

Slingshot race car driving is like NASCAR but better. Slingshot cars, which can be driven by anyone ages six to 79 (you don't need a license), have gas-powered engines, are reasonably priced, easy to transport and growing in popularity. Each week, 400 Slingshot cars can be seen racing at dirt and pavement speedways from New York to Texas.

“The first time I won a race in my new car was the most exciting,” said Chase. “I beat out a bunch of older kids. That was fun and I was surprised. I started when I was only four. My grandfather raced cars and so did my dad. They encouraged me to get involved.”

This year, after compiling points during a season of racing on dirt tracks in New York and Pennsylvania, Chase finished ninth in the country in the Tobias Slingshot junior division.

“Usually, my mom and dad and grandparents come to cheer me on,” said Chase. “I don’t get nervous at the start, but sometimes when the race gets tight and I am in a corner, it’s a little stressful. But my dad always tells me to be smart–I’m the driver. And I just love the competitiveness of driving and racing.”

Chase even has his own swag and sponsors: on the front of a black t-shirt is a giant neon yellow #5 and Chase See underneath, on the back are his sponsors: Scott Mill Masonry, Twin County Collision, Advanced Automotive of Carmel, Taconic Landscaping and his race car #5 in neon yellow. Chase has gifted t-shirts to his math teachers Karin Dakin and Samantha Rivera which they wear with pride.

“This coming season, which starts next month, I plan to enter more races to earn more points and hopefully rise the ranks. I’d love to win money so I can pay for parts for my car to make it faster. My dad and I work on the car in our garage. He taught me how to fix the rear axle and shocks. If it wasn’t for my parents and my sponsors, I would get to do what I love.”

Racing has also meant a lot to Chase off the track.

“I think I make better decisions because of racing–at home, in the classroom and on the baseball field (he plays first and third base for Brewster Little League)–like my dad says to me before a race, ‘be smart, you’re the driver,’ that has helped me to make good choices not just on the race track, but in life.”