Post-Nationals Interview with Nathan Weiler
By Greg Soukup
Even though the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals for 2016 has been run, we still have racers to interview. This week it is 30-year-old Nate Weiler from Omaha, Nebraska. Nate managed an 18th place finish in the Sunday A Feature.
Q: You didn’t have any racing experience before the Racesaver class started at Eagle, right?
Nate: No driving experience. I got my start in racing working side by side learning everything I could from Joe and Stu Snyder. And, when I got the chance, I went and worked a few times with Jack Dover when he needed some help.
Q: Your grandfather raced. Was he your inspiration for getting into a race car?
Nate: Yes, he did. But most of my inspiration comes from Stu Snyder. He called me at work one Saturday when I was 16 and asked if I could come help him at the track. I went to Eagle that day after work and fell in love with the track, the type of people I met there and the environment. I never looked back after that.
Q: What made you decide to run a Racesaver sprint?
Nate: In 2013, the year that we started the class at Eagle, Roger Hadan asked me if I wanted to try my hand at driving one of the Racesaver cars. And, since I’d spent the last 14 years on the slower side of the catch fence, I jumped at the chance to go play on the fun side of the fence.
Q: Yours is one of the lower budget teams. Do you think that the Racesaver class is a good deal?
Nate: I really wouldn’t call our team low-budget; more just a low-budget driver needless to say. Do we have top of the line? No. But, do we have a really good race car? Yes. The best thing about this class is that you can have a lower-end race car and still be just as fast as the high-dollar teams. Racesaver is the fastest growing sprint car class for a reason.
Q: The rules are very strict. Do you agree that it is needed?
Nate: I love the fact that there is no grey area in the rules; no plus or minus 2%! The rules that are set for this class is what is making this class grow and attract more drivers and teams.
Q: Did you enjoy racing at the Nationals?
Nate: Running the Nationals is always a good time. You get a chance to meet a lot of new people and see how well you can hold your own against some of the best in the nation that run the Racesaver class.
Q: What about racing against drivers from all over the country, and even one from Canada?
Nate: I think that it is amazing that the event has grown to what it is now in such a short period of time. It’s going to be cool to see what the event will become in 5 years from now. The fact that we have drawn so many drivers from all over the US and from Canada just means that the Nationals is no joke. You had better bring your A game when you come to Eagle Raceway in early September!!
Q: Your opinion of the 3-day qualifying format?
Nate: I think it’s a good deal. Say that you have a bad night on Friday; then you still have Saturday to come back and lock yourself in. The only bad part is that you need to draw good Friday or Saturday, because 90% of your weekend falls on your pill draw and your heat race.
Q: How about the 3-wide start?
Nate: I think it’s crazy!! The first start of the race I held back for a little bit; just waiting because I had a feeling that things were going to get messy. After two tries though, we got going and everyone started to get some room to move and race for position.
Q: Anything else that you would like to say?
Nate: I just can’t thank my parents enough for everything that they have done to help me keep going in this class. I can’t thank my crew enough for helping my brother Chase and I every weekend; making sure that our cars are able to hit the track. And I cannot thank Roger and Michelle Hadan enough for letting me drive a race car at Eagle. Last, but not least, thanks to my sponsors for helping keep my car on the track.