Getting Up To Speed With…Rob Lindsey
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
Rob Lindsey has spent the majority of his career in the Midget ranks but this year has stepped up to Sprint Cars. Lindsey comes from a racing family including his Grandfather Bob, Father Joe, Uncle Bill, and even his brother Barry have all raced at one time in their lives. The third-generation driver from Wilsonville, Oregon will be competing fulltime with the Northwest Wingless Tour in 2013 and is in contention for the Rookie of the Year award presented by NWSprintCarHistroy.com. Lindsey is a former champion at Salem Indoor Speedway in the Micro Sprints and in 2010 won the title at the Cottage Grove Speedway in the Midget division.
Driver: Rob Lindsey
Home Track: Cottage Grove Speedway
Hometown: Wilsonville, Oregon
Occupation: Golf Management Team Owner
Age: 44
Years Racing: 12
Classification: Northwest Wingless Tour
Car Number: 23
Chassis: XXX Race Company
Sponsors: Maxline Cases, Competition Suspensions Inc., Speedmart Inc., Summerfield Golf and Country Club
Special Thanks: Barry Martinez
BD: You’ve got quite the diverse racing background spanning from Micros to Midgets and now Sprint Cars. How did that get started?
RL: I started racing with the Washington Midget Racing Association on the pavement back in 2001 up until 2007. I also ran Micro Sprints at Salem Indoor in the wintertime for Alan Norton for a few years. When I moved from Washington to Oregon I sold my pavement car and got a dirt Midget. Last year I spent most of the time with the Bay Cities Racing Association in California racing with them.
BD: I’ve seen you race the #23 for years. Is there a reason for that?
RL: The first car I bought had the number 23 on it so it started out random but has stuck with it. But I’ve always been a big basketball fan and liked Michael Jordan so it is a number that I like.
BD: You have a real interesting sponsor. A golf course?
RL: Yes, it’s Summerfield Golf and Country Club in Tigard and I manage it. I have them on the car as marketing for the course and exposing it to a different kind of crowd.
BD: I see you have a former racer turning the wrenches on your car. Mr. Rich Gentes, correct?
RL: Rich actually owns the engine that is in my car. He and I have been great friends over the years. I’ve had a chance to run one of his vintage cars and I plan on doing that later this year in Cottage Grove.
BD: What attracted to Non-Wing Sprint Cars?
RL: I’ve always wanted to race a Sprint Car. I enjoy the Sprint just as the Midgets but with the Sprints you have so much power and are really fast.
The Cottage Grove Speedway returns to racing action this Saturday `June 8th. The Northwest Wingless Tour will be on hand as well as Late Models, Dwarf Cars, and Hornets. For more information visit the website at www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
- Ben Deatherage on Jun 06, 2013
- Article Date: 6/6/2013