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Interrogation
by Gary "Hammerdown" Costa |
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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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