Standing at a crossroads. That’s what the last couple of years have felt like in my racing journey. And it has led me to a decision that’s as bittersweet as it is exciting. There’s a real sense of loss in leaving behind a class that helped shape me as a driver. But for a number of reasons, it’s time to move on. As you’ll see in my next few posts, change, when embraced, can be a very good thing. But before we look forward, it’s time to say farewell to a series that taught me so much.
The Prequel
I have a little story to tell. I was always a fast driver, even though I wasn’t born into a motorsports family. Academics were first, sports second. But I always had a voracious appetite for competition. Something that would lead me to discover motorsports in my early 20s.
Early on, I developed a strong affinity for solo sports, particularly running, cycling, and swimming. Although I loved these sports, I was never particularly athletically talented. What I do have, though, is probably an unhealthy amount of grit. Let me explain.
Along with these solo sports came an intense level of training. That level of training led to injury, and by the time I was 20, I realized I had a problem, another crossroads. There is no way I could train at the level that I want with the chronic injuries these sports have heaped on my body. At that moment, a light bulb went off. If I am racing a car, my body no longer becomes the limiting factor. And the sports I grew up loving became a tool, rather than an obsession.
That is a highly condensed version of how Driftopia was born. Drifting was starting to make its way into American motorsports, and that is what initially caught my interest. And I found very quickly that my other talent, video games, translated very well to the sport. Where I was an average player in group sports, I was exceptional behind the wheel. Thanks, Nintendo and Sega. (Showing my age a bit.)
However, over time, drifting stopped scratching that itch, and I walked away for over five years to focus on my career. When I returned, it was time to try something new. I bought a Subaru BRZ and hit the autocross and time trial circuits, making lifelong friends in the process. It started with a focus on fun, but my competitive nature took hold.
That competitive spark led to multiple championships in my first year back before deciding to venture to the top of the motorsports pyramid. Wheel-to-wheel racing. That’s when I took the advice of one of those lifelong friends: ‘Go where the competition is.’ And that just so happened to be 944 Spec.
944 Spec – The Beginning
My first few races in 944 Spec were a disaster. When I say I was last, I mean I was DFL. A combination of nerves and awe at how the front-runners drove gave me a newfound sense of impostor syndrome.
And then two things happened. The race director for NASA Mid South pulled me aside and said, ‘Chris, I saw a lot of potential in you, what happened. I must say I’m a bit disappointed.’ …ouch.
That hit hard, and I made a promise to myself, ‘You have one year to get to the front or … you stop.’ It sounds dramatic, but motorsport takes way too much effort not to take it seriously, even in the amateur ranks.
After that promise, the rest is history. I won several consecutive regional championships, becoming the guy known for his smooth and relentless pace, who can drive anything fast.
Which brings me to the point of this post. I have learned everything the 944 Spec platform has to offer me. And from day one, my motorsport journey has been about growth. So, after a brief return in the 2025 season, I have decided to take that next step.
What 944 Spec Taught Me
Even though I am moving on, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge that I will continue to share. Some of the highlights:
- If you can drive a 944 Spec fast, you can drive anything fast.
- Real racecars don’t have driver assists.
- The platform forced me to get out of my head and focus on driving. (They aren’t new, they aren’t pretty, and you have to ‘let go’ to wring everything out of the chassis. Refer to point 1)
- The fastest way to improve is to race against people who are faster than you.
- Drive the car, not the track. (If that resonates with you, you understand racing more than you may realize.)
- I did indeed have a tall fifth. (in reference to 944 Spc gear ratios)
- Some drivers are faster hungover; I am not one of them.
- Check your hood pins. (IYKYK)
The State of 944 Spec in 2025
Before leaving, I raced a few more times in 2025, as the series has seen a renaissance of sorts. The COVID pandemic and economic pressures led to a significant decline in the field, with only a handful of drivers nationwide remaining from 2021 to 2023. However, I am happy to report that the field is back, and thanks to the serious efforts of a few racers and directors, it is coming back stronger than ever with 10-plus car fields in the Mid-South region alone.
I highly recommend the series to anyone looking to get started. Unlike the other ‘lower cost’ series, the chassis are still readily available, and the racing is much cleaner.
What’s Next
No need for teasers here. I’ve picked a higher mark for myself this time in the form of the Thunder Roadster series. It is another growing class nationwide, but this time in a tube chassis, motorcycle-engined rocket. I am finishing the season in a Tier 1 roadster that weighs 1,500 pounds with a 100-hp Yamaha engine. It will move to Tier 2 with the addition of a 150-plus-horsepower Hayabusa motor. It also brings a significant amount of competition.
Much more on the Thunder Roadster later. For now, I will end with some of my favorite pics and moments from my 944 Spec journey. I will see you all at the track.
A little over under action at Nashville Superspeedway.
A track record that will forever be mine. RIP Memphis International Raceway.
One of my favs. Two champs battling it out at NOLA Motorsports Park. Almost identical lap times, but getting there very differently.
