Mike Chase lived and breathed racing. From starting out at short tracks to competing in NASCAR’s three national series, the California native has been through it all. Known for both his driving skills and technical expertise, the 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series champion has seen it all in his illustrious career.

He recently passed away on April 18th, 2025, just a day after his 73rd birthday, leaving behind a great legacy both on and off the track.

Who was Mike Chase?

Born on April 17th, 1952, in Reddington, California, Mike Chase was a professional stock car racing driver. His passion for motorsports began at an early age, as he helped his father with supermodified cars before eventually transitioning to driving them on local tracks. His competitive career began at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, California, where he ended up winning multiple track championships in the 70s.

By 1982, Chase had become a full-time racing driver and made a name for himself in the West Coast circuit. His blue-collar roots and a relentless work ethic translated to on-track success, as he ended up winning the Featherlite Southwest Tour in 1987, securing 19 wins in the process. He also competed in the Busch Series in 1986, finishing 32nd at Darlington Raceway on his debut.

What were Mike Chase’s racing exploits in the world of NASCAR?

Mike Chase had quite a mercurial rise in the world of motorsports. He broke into the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1990, earning the Rookie of the Year award despite finishing no higher than 24th in his debut season. He later won 10 races in the series and claimed the 1994 Winston West championship as well. Five wins in 1994 earned him a provisional starting spot at the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he started in 43rd place and finished 42nd after an incident.

Chase also took part in NASCAR’s three national series in his career. He made a total of 13 Cup Series starts, finishing as high as 24th at Michigan International Speedway. He also competed in four Busch Series races, along with 15 Truck Series appearances, finishing 13th on multiple occasions. The California native tried to compete at NASCAR’s highest level as a full-time driver in 1995 with the No. 32 Active Racing Chevrolet, but was released by the team after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500.

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Mike Chase’s induction as the West Coast Hall of Famer?

Mike Chase was inducted into the West Coast Hall of Fame in 2010. It was a fitting tribute after his years of accomplishments in the motorsports world. Winning the Winston West title in 1994, record-setting Southwest Tour wins, and influence across NASCAR teams earned him that honor.

At the time he was inducted, Chase was serving as a crewman and technician. He had worked for some of the most recognizable teams in NASCAR, such as A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Wood Brothers Racing, and Team Penske, where he was employed as a fabricator. He also worked as a crew chief in the Nationwide Series. His role involved working on Brad Keselowski’s car in 2010, helping the racer secure six wins and 29 top-10 finishes.

Such was Chase’s commitment towards his role that he didn’t even attend the Hall of Fame ceremony that year, choosing to stay in the garage instead to make sure Brad Keselowski’s car was in perfect condition. It was a small but significant detail that Mike Chase was a true professional, always putting his work first.