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See You At The Races!!!

Interrogation
by Gary "Hammerdown" Costa

Racing With Lance Dewease

Lance Dewease needs no introduction. He calls Fayetteville, Pennsylvania home. We fans within the sprint car community have no doubt heard the name Lance Dewease. With wins coming from around the country, and coming against traveling clubs like the All-Stars, World of Outlaws or arguably against the toughest weekly competition in the country. Lance Dewease has attained super-star status and is a major player at each and every event. Track Championships at places like the famed Williams Grove Speedway, Port Royal Speedway and Lincoln Speedway. I personally find it inspiring that Lance keeps his competitive drive to win night after night. Lance runs against the warriors of the "PA Posse", and has garnered wins outside of home state of Pennsylvania as well. It doesn't matter where this man goes, he is always a contender and threat to win-anywhere. A true professional who is always on his game.

THEY'RE READY TO PUSH US OFF BUDDY, CINCH THE BELTS AND LET'S GO! Hang on tight for the ride of your life!

WHO OR HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN MOTORSPORTS? My father and uncles owned Late Models.

WHEN YOU WERE 16, AND RACING MICRO-MIDGETS. DID YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO RACE SPRINT CARS SOMEDAY? YES!

REFLECTING BACK ON YOUR MICRO-MIDGET DAYS TO NOW; A FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL SPRINT CAR DRIVER. WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR CAREER? That would be my parents. They have supported me my entire career.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GROW UP IN A PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT IS SO STEEP WITH MOTORSPORTS HISTORY? I got to see the best drivers in the country like; Lynn Paxton, Bobby Abel and Mitch Smith.

PLEASE SHARE A RACE THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET! It was at Silver Springs Speedway. Bobby Allen and Jac Haudenschild (in the Weikert 29). Bobby was hitting the inside fence and Jac beating off the outside fence, 25 laps for the lead!

IN YOUR ROOKIE YEARS, YOU HAD TO COMPETE AGAINST SOME LEGENDS IN THE SPORT. HOW TOUGH WAS THAT? Tough! Racing against Keith Kauffman and Doug Wolfgang every night was tough, but I also learned a lot!

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, YOU REALLY HAD TO FOCUS IN. GOING AGAINST THE LIKES OF BOBBY WEAVER, JOEY KUHN, DAVE KELLY, STEVE SMITH, BOBBY ALLEN, DAN DIETRICH, RANDY WOLFE, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON! It has gotten tougher! Because everybody has good equipment and equal cars. It's harder to race and win.

YOU SAY IT HAS GOTTEN TOUGHER TO WIN, BUT YOU KEEP WINNING. DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY? Yes! Our handicap system is one of the toughest ways to compete. High-point man starts in the back of the heat race and must qualify in the top 3 to transfer into the A main. Once qualified, the high point man can start no better than 12th!

YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE WHEN THE TRAVELING CLUBS TOW INTO PA! It relates to how tough the weekly competition is.

YOU ALSO HAVE RACKED UP BIG WINS OUTSIDE OF PENNSYLVANIA! Yes, Oskaloosa's Front Row Challenge twice, the East Bay Nationals, The Hall of Fame race at Knoxville.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. WITH THAT SAID, WHAT ADVICE COULD YOU GIVE ME TO MAYBE BECOME THE BEST IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA? Race as much as possible, against the stiffest competition. Race Williams Grove which is one of the toughest tracks in the country. And try and learn everything about race cars.

I RECALL A DETERMINED DAN DIETRICH WINNING FROM DEAD LAST ON A DRY-SLICK GROVE SURFACE. PLEASE SHARE A RACE THAT YOU HAVE WON, ON SHEER DETERMINATION! The 2002 Williams Grove National Open. I started 13th and drove past Danny Lasoski for the win with 8 laps to go!

BESIDES GREAT EQUIPMENT, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES THE "PA POSEE" SO TOUGH! Good owners, good drivers and the tough handicap system.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TOUCH ON ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. BUT WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT(S) STAND OUT TO YOU AND WHY? Winning three Williams Grove National Open's for three different car owners.

ANY SHINING MOMENTS IN REGARDS TO YOUR 2005 SEASON? There was no shining moment. The 2005 season wasn’t up to my standards, even though we had 9 wins.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF OFF-SEASON. DO YOU REFLECT BACK ON THE PAST SEASON, OR DO YOU LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, SINCE THE NEW SEASON IS BASICALLY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER TO GET FASTER? I do both. I look at the past season to determine what we need to do for the next year to make it a better year.

1990 NATIONAL OPEN. STEVE KINSER IS HOT! THEY PENALIZED HIM FOR HAVING AN EXTRA MAN OVER THE FENCE ON A RED. HE STARTS AT THE BACK AND WINS! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THAT MAD, AND STARTED PICKING OFF GUYS LIKE HE DID THAT NIGHT? There have been a number of times I have been that mad, but the results weren’t the same as his!

WE'RE AT WILLIAMS GROVE. WE'RE ALSO IDLING AROUND UNDER A YELLOW FLAG SITTING IN 3RD SPOT. HODNETT IS LEADING, RAHMER IS 2ND, AND MARK SMITH IS BEHIND US, SITTING IN 4TH.........WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? I would be thinking about how Fred is going to try to pass Hodnett, and how I could capitalize and pass both for the win!

YOU'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO DRIVE SOME OF THE LEGENDARY SPRINT CARS IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT'S AN EXTREMELY STOUT LIST! I have been very fortunate to drive for some of the best owners in Central PA. Car owners like Walter Dyer, Joe Harz, Al Hamilton and Bob Weikert. They were all different, but were great owners.

YOU'VE BUCKLED UP 103 TIMES FOR THE 2005 SEASON. HOW DOES YOUR WIFE HANDLE NOT ONLY THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SPORT, BUT THE PRESSURE THAT'S ON YOU TO PRODUCE. AND WITH THAT PRESSURE, COMES COMMITMENTS. HOW DOES SHE HANDLE ALL THESE THINGS? She is very supportive and handles it well. I am extremely fortunate to have a wife that understands what it takes to be married to a professional driver.

THEIR IS A GREAT QUESTION ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE QUESTION IS THIS; 'THE BEST ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A CHILD IS?' YOUR RESPONSE WAS "MAKE A DREAM A REALITY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE" NO DOUBT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE SACRIFICED FOR YOU TO BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY! My whole career has been a sacrifice which does pay off!

IN ENDING LANCE, IS THEIR ANYONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK? Yes! I would like to thank all of those who have helped me throughout my career and the fans for being so supportive!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND TIME. WISHING YOU AND RENNE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS 2006! Happy Holidays to you and we look forward to 2006!

gary_costa1@yahoo.com                                                                                              www.LanceDewease.com                                                           

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