Gase secures sponsor, to make first Cup start

Every racer who's ever strapped on a helmet at some local track in the United States has fantasized about racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or IndyCar Series at one time or another.

It's a dream few see realized.

But on Sunday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway, Cedar Rapids native Joey Gase will, making it two young men from Cedar Rapids that will take the green flag.

'It's really cool. I don't know if there's too many other cities out there that can say they have two people racing in the Cup Series (at the same time, from the same town),” Gase said. 'I think Cedar Rapids should be proud, and I'm glad Landon (Cassill) and I can represent Cedar Rapids.”

It's a bit of déjà vu for Gase, who will make the start for Go Green Racing in the No. 32 Ford. The 21-year-old made his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series start for Go Green Racing at Iowa Speedway in 2011, and Gase said he's grateful for the team having given him this opportunity again.

And as with any team in the Cup Series, the deal wouldn't be happening without sponsorship, which Gase has in the form of Zimmer, a joint-replacement technology company, and their Forever Hip device.

Gase said it was a quick process to put the deal together, and wasn't sure if they'd be able to pull off finding sponsorship.

'It was one of those deals where you didn't know how to react. I just couldn't believe it was actually happening, and then the next thing was going after sponsors. Luckily, we found one just last week, and they jumped on board with us,” Gase said. 'It was kind of, honestly, a shot in the dark. We didn't expect it to work, but it did.”

The reality of what's in store for the weekend hasn't totally sunk in yet, but he obviously hasn't ever looked forward to a race weekend more.

He'll be pulling double-duty, racing his No. 52 Nationwide Series car for Jimmy Means Racing on Saturday before going to the 'big show” on Sunday. Gase said he's doing some extra workouts and minding his nutrition to prepare for the extra 400 miles he'll race.

And like his first Nationwide start, his first Cup start coming in Chicago will allow family and friends who saw him cut his teeth at Hawkeye Downs Speedway against the likes of Griffin McGrath, Tim Plummer and Dudley Fleck will be able to make the trip and see him take the next step in his career.

'It's definitely going to be a crazy experience being a part of the big show with all the people there,” Gase said. 'I'm real excited. It'll be a very fun and very, very busy weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

'And it's really cool being able to have my first Cup start in the Midwest. We're going to have a lot of friends and family out there, and a lot of sponsor support. It should be a very fun weekend.”

Sunday's race at Chicagoland Speedway is set for 1 p.m.

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