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Chris Schaffer set for Fonda Speedway and King of Dirt Competition with ‘Mean Green’ RDR Racing Stable; Joins Chad Edwards and Greg Pessolano for 2016
Story and Photos By: MATT NOLES / RACERSGUIDE.COM
SPRAKERS, NY- January 19, 2016- The starting point of any achievement in racing isn’t found in equipment; it’s found in the desire of the driver.
For Canajoharie, New York native Chris Schaffer, success came slowly at first and then at a torrid pace which culminated in a banner year for the 30-year-old competitor in the sportsman division at the Fonda Speedway in Fonda, New York.
With an early season victory in a barn-burner over former track champion Mark Mortensen, Schaffer was off to a fast and furious start that didn’t let up for the remainder of the 2015 campaign and ended in a third place finish in points for the season.
Schaffer, a normally quiet and somewhat stoic driver, lit up enthusiastically when thinking about how last season went. “Last season was spectacular in my opinion,” stated Schaffer. “We had a rough ending to the year but we finished third in points at Fonda and we were always competitive. It was a lifelong dream fulfilled.”
After a chassis change between the 2014 and 2015 season, Schaffer found himself stressed and in a sea of anxiety. All of that changed with a trip to victory lane on an unseasonably cool April night.
“Getting that win early on in the year definitely relieved some stress,” continued Schaffer. “It took some pressure away after we put a brand new car together and switched manufacturers from Bicknell to HigFab. There were some question marks at first but boy am I glad I did. That car was awesome.”
Unfortunately for the Schaffer Racing Team, a late-season wreck destroyed his chassis leaving him with not only a destroyed racecar, but a broken heart as well.
“It broke my heart and it broke my father’s heart to lose that car,” Schaffer remarked. “We absolutely loved that car and it still sits in my garage but unfortunately the next step for that car is a demolition saw. It’s a little painful to lose a car and that was the first one that I’ve ever lost but you’ve got to pick up the pieces and move on.”
Moving on is an understatement. Though the pain felt over losing his car was certainly real, sometimes a better situation is born out of times of trial. Enter his new car owner for 2016, Rich Dodson.
“We teamed up with Rich Dodson at the end of last year and we’ll be there with him again this season,” Schaffer continued. “We’ll be with Chad Edwards and Greg Pessolano and as for me; I’ll be back down at Fonda every week again in 2016.”
Even though one of his teammates, Chad Edwards, will be racing two nights a week, Schaffer is a self-proclaimed one night a week driver. “Fonda is my love and my home,” stated Schaffer. “Rich [Dodson] gave us a brand new 2016 Bicknell to run there that we picked up in Syracuse [New York] and we’re getting ready to start putting it together this week.”
The odds are fairly good that race fans could see Schaffer at other places besides Fonda throughout the 2016 season as he looks to follow the successful King of Dirt Sportsman Series as it enters its second season under the guidance of Rob Hazer.
“We’ll probably run the King of Dirt Series again,” continued Schaffer. “Rich [Dodson] sponsors that series and last year when I did pick up the ride with RDR we did go to Lebanon Valley [Speedway in West Lebanon, New York] for a couple of races and Albany-Saratoga [Speedway in Malta, New York] for a couple of races as well. I’d be more than happy to go back and run the King of Dirt Series races for him.”
Schaffer, who hasn’t had the luxury of traveling to other speedways to compete before, found the high-banks of Lebanon Valley to be an eye-opening experience. “The Valley is definitely unique,” said Schaffer. “There’s no place else like it and I’m saying I didn’t enjoy it but when I go back I’ll probably dread it again. It’s a tough place to get around and there’s a lot of tough competition at that place. Going down that frontstrecth is something else.”
Albany-Saratoga Speedway on the other hand reminded Schaffer of one of his former stomping grounds. “Malta definitely reminded me a lot of Glen Ridge [Motorsports Park in Fultonville, New York],” concluded Schaffer. “I didn’t have a hard time getting around there and I’ll definitely be back there for the King of Dirt events and the 602 Nationals as well. We’re just really excited right now and really looking forward to the season.”
Matt Noles is a contributing writer to Racer’s Guide and Speedway Illustrated. He currently resides in Sprakers, New York.
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