3/19/2014
Cottage Grove Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With…Chris Sine
Getting Up To Speed With…Chris Sine
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
Chris Sine was absent in 2013 but this year he looks to be back out at the Cottage Grove Speedway in a new class, with a new car, and sporting a new number. The last few years have been quite busy for him of the track marrying his lovely wife April Howard, now April Howard-Sine, and the two had their first child around six months ago, a son, by the name of Racin Marcus Sine.
Sine’s career started one night in the 1990’s at Madras Speedway when him and his father watched some races together and decided to build a car. Eventually Chris would follow in the footsteps in his father Robert and would go on to become a two-time Madras Speedway Mini Stock champion. Now let’s get up to speed with Chris Sine.
Driver: Chris Sine
Home Track: Cottage Grove Speedway
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
Occupation: Construction Contractor
Age: 36
Years Racing: 20
Classification: Street Stocks
Team: Hilltop Racing
Car: 24
Chassis: 1970 Chevy Camaro
Sponsors: Pro Auto, Dennymite Race Cars, Stipe Engine Specialties
Special Thanks: April Howard-Sine (Wife), Racin Marcus Sine (Son), Becky and Robert Sine (Mother and Father), Jan Howard, Kady Howard, Denny Deatherage, Mike Wichart, Tim Sine (Brother), Danny Sine (Brother), Todd Neal, Jeff Steele, Danny Harry, Wayne Short, Adam Whitworth
BD: You haven’t raced for a full year. Are you excited or nervous about coming back?
CS: I’m extremely excited. I’ve been saving a lot of parts and I got a good motor and good transmission. I’ll be changing things up going from Late Models to the Street Stocks. In the long run for me it’s more affordable.
BD: Since you haven’t been racing you’ve been quite busy. Getting married and now having your first child. Life must be good.
CS: It definitely is. Those have been the two major priorities the last two years. My wife had our son Racing Marcus six months ago and he’s growing up fast.
BD: Chris you’re originally from the Central Oregon region. Turn any laps at Madras Speedway back in the day?
CS: Yes that’s where I started racing in 1994 when I was sixteen. I was rookie of the year that season and the following year I was runner up in points. In 2002 and 2003 I was the champion in the Mini Stocks.
After that I started racing Camaros in the Sportsman class and then eventually Late Models. I moved out here around 2007 for a job with my work at the time and met April. Everyone went back when the job was done but I stayed and had an opportunity to live over here.
BD: Is there any reason why you have chosen to race the #96?
CS: Well this year I’m changing it to #24 because I was born on 24th, Racin was born on the 25th, and Mark on the 26th. I figure it’s cool to keep the numbers going that way.
When I started out I was #58 for a little bit but I changed it to #96 because that was my graduating year. I’ve had that on about twelve different cars up until now.
BD: Do have any goals that you have set up for yourself when it comes to racing?
CS: My short term goal is to win a main event at Cottage Grove. Every track I’ve been to I’ve won at but not at Grove. I’ve got about thirty-five main event wins between Madras, Medford, Eugene, and Willamette.
I would really would like to win a championship at either Cottage Grove or Willamette. It might not be this year but I hope next year or the year after to compete for a championship. Long term though I’d really like to get my son into racing as early as possible.
The Cottage Grove Speedway is set to host a test and tune play day on Saturday April 5th while the first race of the year is planned for the following Saturday on the 12th. Log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com for news stories and articles related to the upcoming 2014 campaign.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage