Chandlers own top 10 at Boone

BOONE - The family that races together places together.

Brothers Brad, Dallas and Nathan Chandler, and their father, Merv, did just that by placing in the top 10 last week in the inaugural sport compact division of the IMCA Supernationals at Boone Speedway. Nathan won the feature, Brad was second, Dallas fifth and Merv 10th.

“It was a good accomplishment for us and our whole racing team,” Nathan said. “We brought eight cars total that we've worked on and seven finished in the top 10.”

The event had about 50 drivers in six heat races, three B-Main races and the final A-Main feature. Brad won a heat with Dallas finishing second behind him. Nathan was runner-up in another heat race to Gary Peiffer of Troy Mills, who finished fourth in the feature. Merv was third in his heat.

Although Merv had competed in the first year of Supernationals in 1983, his sons were making their first appearance. They had entertained the idea in the past and finally competed in Boone with drivers from Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. They will likely make a return trip.

“It's the biggest races of the year,” said Brad, of Cedar Rapids. “We always hear about it. ... We figured we'd try it out. It was fun.”

The amount of success the family had in the event came as a mild surprise.

“We expected to do well, but we didn't know if we'd finish as well as we did,' Brad said. “We didn't know who or what kind of cars we'd be running against.

Nathan, of Norway, changed to smaller tires for the final race, admitting that without experience and much practice they didn't know what setups would work. It paid dividends and he was motivated to claim the victory.

“I gave it all I had to make it to the front,” Nathan said. “I got there to first and was able to hold on.”

The Chandlers bond through racing and by working on cars together in the same garage. They were introduced to it early by watching their dad race. Brad, who joined Dallas and Nathan as a season points champion in the hornets division at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids this year, said most of their days during the summer are spent together, driving at Hawkeye Downs, Benton County Speedway, Columbus Junction Speedway and West Liberty Raceway.

“We all work together,” Brad Chandler said. “I'd say racing is a big part of it.”