PHOTO: Nick Sweet stands between Eric Chase’s race cars after being hired by Chase to work on his racecars next season. (VMM Photo)
–by T.J. Ingerson
BARRE — A good, lasting impression may sometimes leads to a new opportunity. And for Nick Sweet, that may not be any truer. Sweet, who drove for fellow late model competitor Eric Chase on three occasions last year, has been hired by Chase fulltime to work on Chase’s racecars in 2012.
Chase first asked Sweet to drive into his car at the American-Canadian Tour event at Beech Ridge while Chase was away on business in Japan in July. That race saw Sweet drive the No. 40 Mansfield Heliflight/Gary Clay Builders Chevrolet to a seventh place finish after starting 22nd. Sweet then drove Chase’s car to a 14th place overall finish two weeks late in the inaugural ACT All-Star Challenge at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Sweet drove Chase’s car in a return visit to New Hampshire for the ACT Invitional and Sweet may have impressed even further. Sweet would finish runner-up to winner Eddie MacDonald in a thrilling race that saw Sweet and MacDonald battle side-by-side for the race win over the final five laps.
“Eric [Chase] has hired me full time to work on his race cars,” confirmed Sweet. “It’s just a great opportunity to do something that I love every day, and get paid for it. It sure beats being an electrician.”
Sweet, who resides in Barre, has been moving Chase’s equipment there to help him with not having to commute to Chase’s shop in Milton.
“Eric is moving his cars to Barre for me to work on them,” said Sweet. “We’re going to have his cars and our car under one roof. It makes it easier for me by not having to commute every day. We’re hoping this makes us both better next year.”
Sweet’s performance in the ACT Invitational had led to the belief that Sweet could be tabbed as a full time driver for Chase on the American-Canadian Tour. Sweet denied that claim, stating that Chase is planning to race the car.
“Eric is still planning on driving,” Sweet said. “I’m working on my own car in preparation for Thunder Road. Who knows, we may do something similar as last year, but, right now, we’re moving forward for Eric driving the full season.”
Sweet will look to regain his “King of the Road” crown during Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl’s 53rd season, while Eric Chase tries to gain his first career ACT Late Model win in the season opener at Lee USA Speedway on April 15.
