Gase answers call for ride in USAR Pro Cup Series event

When opportunity knocks sometimes you have to do whatever possible to answer, which sent Joey Gase's race team into a scramble this week.

Gase's latest racing chance came in the form of a Wednesday phone call from Benny Gordon Racing, offering a backup car for the 17-year-old Cedar Rapids native to race Friday night's USARacing Pro Cup Series event.

So, less than 24 hours after taking the call Gase arrived Newton, preparing to race in the USAR Pro Cup Series Blue Ox 150 at the Iowa Speedway set for at 8 p.m. The race kicks off the race track's last big race weekend that features the NASCAR Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

According to Bob Gase, Joey's father, Benny Gordon heard about Gase and contacted the team thanks to a mutual racing acquaintance of Bob Gase and Gordon. It was the first time the two groups have joined together.

"I asked Joey if he wanted to go and we were trying to make everything work in a the matter of a day," said Bob Gase. "It's a big opportunity for Joey to go racing so we had to jump on it."

Things became hectic as Gase tried to assemble a crew to work the race. A few made the trip but Bob Gase said a Nationwide team will likely be hired to work his son's pit stops during the race and their services are "reasonable" since many are looking for practice.

"It was a lot of work," Bob Gase said. "It's amazing on one-day's notice."

The offer caught him off guard as the defending late model season points champion was prepared to race at Hawkeye Downs Speedway Friday night. Working with a championship team with a large series in a televised event was too good to refuse.

"Yeah, I was a little surprised," said Gase, who became the youngest late model season points champion last summer at 16. "I was just excited. It's a good team, so we hope we are able to do really good."

Gase will make his third appearance at Iowa Speedway this summer. He previously ran in NASCAR K & N Series and ARCA Series races at the race track. He ran in the middle of the field in the K & N series event May 23 and finished 23rd. In ARCA's Prairie Meadows 200 on July 10, Gase was in the top 15, pushing the top 10, when a wreck at the halfway point ended his night.

Trips to the Iowa Speedway have been successful for the Cedar Rapids Xavier student, who previously had a developmental contract with SS Green Light Racing.

"It's a really fun track. It's fun to drive," Gase said about the 7/8-mile oval. "I'm pretty good at it, I guess."

This has been a big year for the young driver. He's competed on various circuits, including the Pro All-Star Series and Sunoco National Tour, in addition to ARCA, NASCAR K & N and now the USAR Pro Cup Series. His stock has grown in value and the goal is to garner some attention from those in the Nationwide series this weekend.

"Joey's adapted really well to all the classes," Bob Gase said. "He really can't go higher than ARCA until he turns 18. That's why we're getting as much experience and running as many different classes to get his name out there."

A strong showing Friday night will certainly help the cause. A sense of optimism surrounds this competition.

"I'm hoping for a top 10 or 15 finish," said Gase, making his USAR debut. "I think it should be a really good running experience."

This is the USAR's fifth race at Iowa Speedway after running the race track's very first event in 2006. Iowa Speedway Vice President of promotions and Communications Craig Armstrong was very complimentary of the series.

"It's some of the best short track stock car races in America," Armstrong said Thursday morning. "They put on a heck of a show."