A Nine-Year-Old With A Future
Austin Chalman has won five racing championships in five years of motor racing. What’s more, he’s done it in three different types of race cars. He’s also spent some time acting and modeling.
Austin Chalman
Did I mention that he is just nine years old?
Currently residing in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Austin may have set the tone for his future with the first words he spoke at age three…”Dale Earnhardt Junior”. Now he’s been called champion in quarter-midgets, go-karts, and mini-cup cars, racing throughout Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming for the most part.
“I like all three types of cars the same, but for different reasons,” Austin says. “The quarter-midget because it was the first thing I raced, the go-kart because it got me some experience on a road course, and the mini-cup because it’s as fast as the go-kart but on a bigger oval track that’s banked.” It was apparent that he adapts quickly as well, because he won his first seven races of the year at Big Country Speedway in Cheyenne this year (his rookie year of mini cup racing) before he had an “off week”.
As I spent time with Austin and his father Dave in Cheyenne recently, it was obvious that this young racer had a passion for his craft, and that he understood that it was not going to be easy for him to climb to the top of the racing ladder. Still, he stays focused on his goal, despite also sharing an equal passion (and equally strong ability) to play football, where he excels at linebacker, running back, and wide receiver.
When he was six, he wanted to be a formula one racer. Now, he has his sites set on NASCAR, and a shot at a Sprint Cup Championship someday. His father Dave says he’ll do all he can to help his son achieve his dreams in whatever sport he chooses. “You see so many kids whose parents just force 
them into something and burn them out at a young age,” Dave said. “I don’t want to be that parent for Austin. He loves racing and he loves football. I’m happy he’s doing both. We’re doing all we can on the racing side for him, but it’s tough because he seems to have exceptional ability in a car but there aren’t a lot of choices in this area for a ten-year-old to run. He just handles everything we put him in so easily and adapts so quickly. I’m as proud as a father could be of his son. He’s an “A” student in school and works hard at his sports. He’s a good kid.”
One thing’s for sure. Whatever sport Austin Chalman is doing at a given moment, he’s 100 percent folded into being the best at it. That’s a pretty good starting quality for a nine-year-old who wants to climb to the top of one of sports’ most challenging mountains!
