10 to Go with Chris Rogers
This week’s 10 to go is with Legend driver Chris Rogers.
When did you start racing?
Chris Rogers: At eight-years-old, I ran go-karts at Medford Raceway.
How did you get started?
Rogers: I actually came here (Riverhead). We came out for Old Timer’s Day and I was seven-years-old, and a bunch of go-karts were running. The kids were coming off of the race track and going onto the scales. It is kind of funny. I turn around and I was like ‘dad, those guys are pretty short.’ He goes: well, they’re kids. I asked him how old he thought they were. He was like: oh, eight or nine probably. Well, I said I’m going to be eight-years-old next year. Can I race? He said ‘eh, we’ll see. Ask when your birthday comes up.’ My birthday came around and I said: dad, can I race? He was like ‘yeah, okay.’
How many types of cars have you raced?
Rogers: I raced go-karts for five years. This is my sixth year in the Legend, and I also ran a Figure Eight car in practice a couple of times.
Which vehicle has been your favorite so far?
Rogers: I like the Figure Eight car because you have to go both left and right – making them more fun to drive. Racing wise – I like the Legend car. You can really get up on the wheel and you have to really drive the car. If the car isn’t working, you have to make it work.
Which track do you want to go to that you have never been to before?
Rogers: I’d like to go to Wall Stadium (Speedway in New Jersey) and race. I want to feel the speed and just go there to feel the experience. I’d like to go there and also to Seekonk (Speedway in Massachusetts).
Do you have any lucky charms or superstitions that you do every week prior to racing?
Rogers: Not really a superstition or anything, but we hang the American flag off of the back of the car. Every week we had it on the car, we always ran well. After a while, we just said let’s leave it on the car, but that’s about it.
What’s your most embarrassing racing moment?
Rogers: It had to be (while I was) racing go-karts. I was up in Poughkeepsie Speedway and I was running for the championship. I got underneath the leader and was getting ready to pass the leader in the race. If I would’ve passed him, I would’ve won the championship. I got underneath him in Turn 4 and they threw the white flag and I thought it was the checkered flag. I lifted and got hit from behind. I ended up losing the race and the championship on top of it.
What has been your favorite moment while racing?
Rogers: I have a couple. The one that sticks out in my mind is my first win – my one and only win right now – at the Bethel Motor Speedway in 2012. I have one from here. I drove from dead last (27th in the field) and drove up to seventh at the end of the night. That was a really good drive. That was a tough race from green to the checkered. I was surprised I ran up through the field.
Have you ever sustained an injury during a race?
Rogers: Nothing major. A few bumps and bruises. I banged my wrist up one night, but no broken bones or anything like that.
What’s the ultimate goal for you?
Rogers: I’d like to go travel and see what kind of racetracks are out there. I’d like to get out of Riverhead and go places with the Legend. Eventually, I want to move up into Late Models. I’d love to get into a Modified. We’ll see what the future holds.
Do you have a nickname?
Rogers: Not really. No nicknames in particular. I have been called a lot.
Source: Joseph Wolkin/LongIslandJam.com