Name: TIM PENDERGAST
Age: 41
Hometown: Swanville, Maine
Race Series: OPS Late Model
Car: Henry Hudson Built Chassis, 06 Monte Carlo, #31
Sponsors: Ticket Town In Fairfield Maine (go to tickettown.net)
Brain Injury Association of Maine
Pit Crew:
Jim Pendergast Jr. Crew Chief
Kari Gray Car Chief
Dorance Gray Spotter
Jami Pendergast Jack Man, Mechanic
Jim Pendergast Sr. Tires
Donnie Gray Mechanic
Corey Pendergast Stats, Cook
Hayley Pendergast Marketing
Racing Stats • 2006, Purchased Late Model from Kevin Varney in preparation for 2007 season at Oxford Plains Speedway
• 2004, Developed marketing program with Hickory Speedway. Supplied Safety truck and uniforms to speedway. At end of season Raffled off truck and gave proceeds to Victory Junction Gang Camp.
• 2001-2002, Raced Limited Sportsman, Oxford Plains Speedway.
• 1988, Raced Limited Sportsman at Unity for Webber Racing
• 1987-1988, Raced 2 Years in Mini Stocks at Unity. 18 Top Tens
• 1982, first race. Unity Raceway Street Stock
Website – http://www.kometmotorsports.net
Q. What are your plans for the 2007 race season?
A. We are running for rookie of the year at OPS, and getting comfortable as a driver and crew with a Late Model
Q. Tell us about your association with the “Brain Injury Association of Maine”.
A. Labor Day 2005, 2 days after we moved back to Maine, our son fell 12 feet in his friend’s garage onto the concrete below. The only thing that saved his life was the fact that he hit the stairs on the way down. He had 5 skull fractures, frontal lobe damage of the brain, and blew his right eardrum completely apart. He is now deaf in his right ear. Our life changed 180 degrees from that point.
Most people do not realize the effects a Brain Injury has on people, as well as friends and family. So with that in mind we decided to partner with the brain Injury association to help raise funds and awareness of this very severe problem.
Q. What are your plans for the 2007 “TD Banknorth 250” race?
A. We are putting Chuck Lachance in our car for the whole 5 race challenge series at OPS. This includes the TD Banknorth 250. Chuck will also drive in the Coastal 200 at Wiscasset raceway.
Q. What made you decide to put Chuck Lachance behind the wheel, and how many races will he be running? (what car number will he be racing?)
A. Chuck is a very smooth and smart racer. He takes care of his equipment, and gets the most out of a smaller budget. With Chuck and Adam setting up the car it will help us tremendously for our sat night program as well.. We want our car in the 250, for our sponsors and fans. With the amount of entries received, and the qualifying format it seemed the smartest move was to put an experienced pro in the car. Chuck was the first choice as we know and trust him. He will represent our sponsors and fans like the pro he is. Also a big part of our decision was his son Adam Lachance, his knowledge of these cars and racing in general. My brother is following him around the shop like a big sponge.
Chuck will drive our number, the #31
Q. What do you think about the change from Pro-stock to Late Models racing in the 2007 “TD Banknorth 250”.
A. Obviously it is good for our team, and I think it is good for the race and racing in general. It opens the race up to cars up and down the east coast. I do wish they could find a way to let some of the guys with pro stocks run it as well. Make them put on koni shocks, and add weight to the straight rail cars.
But it does seem like most of the bigger names are getting rides or are building a car for the race anyway.
Q. How did you get started in racing?
A. My dad took me to Unity when I was 7 years old. I was hooked from then on.
Q. What is your most memorable moment in your racing career? (Example 1st win, side by side finish etc…)
A. Believe it or not it was the first time I took the green at OPS. for us. It is a 2 and a half hour tow one way. But we always said we wanted to race at Oxford. So to finally get their was huge. Now with a late model and the level of competition at OPS, we hope to add some trophies to the case this year.
Q. What was your wildest wreck?
A. 2002 at OPS, came off turn 4 too high, got in marbles and car spun around backwards and hit front stretch wall backwards and wide open. It bent rear of car so bad it took ten people to get car on trailer. We dug concrete out of driver’s side of car for a week. I would like to thank the Miaetta’s and their crew for helping us load car that night. We never got a chance to thank them for it, as they were getting ready to go out for their race, and stopped and helped us get car on trailer. That is what racing has that other sports do not. We all help each other out.
Q. What’s your favorite track to race at?
A. Oxford Plains Speedway, the tradition, and mystique of the place just gets to me every time I go thru those gates. When I think of all the people who have competed and won races there, I just want to add our name to that list.
Q. Where do you see your racing career in 5 yrs?
A. Running my late model around New England, and we want to have a second car and start a small scale driver development deal. Let’s face it there are some young up and coming drivers who will never be able to afford a late model. We want to try and find that next young person, (male or female) who can represent Maine on the big stage.
Q. What do you like to do when you are not racing?
A. I go to my Daughters softball games, and listen to my son crank up his guitar. Luckily for him his head injury did not effect his ability to play guitar.