Spring Hill's Friel Pursuing Pro Dream

Chris Friel has spent the better part of his life dreaming about becoming a professional racecar driver.
"I've always loved racing because my father raised me around racing, because he's always been into motor sports," Friel said. "It's pretty much what I've always wanted to do. I don't really have a desire for anything else besides being a professional racecar driver."
Finally, Friel has reached the point in his life where he can begin to make that dream a reality.
The 18-year-old Spring Hill resident, the son of Jim and Joanne Friel, graduated from Nature Coast Technical this past spring.
Though he is currently taking classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College, while also working as a mechanic at Sunrunner Automotive, jump starting his career has become his focus.
This year Friel plans to join the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Lites Championship series, a series developed to support the American LeMans series featuring open-cockpit cars with races around the country.
"I thought it'd be best to go with the American LeMans series," Friel said. "It's getting bigger. There's a lot more money and TV time going into that. I'm trying to make my next step the right one.
"...It's just more the type (endurance) of racing I like. There's strategy behind it. I think it's clever."

Making a name

Friel began racing go-karts at 12-years-old, and after finding great success on that level moved up to formula cars in preparation for going pro.
However, becoming a driver takes more than simply showing up at the track with a car. There are many business aspects to contend with, as well.
"It's hard. You either have to have a lot of money or a big name already," Friel said. "It's definitely hard trying to become a professional racecar driver when the whole world doesn't know the name Friel. I need to prove who I am and what I can do so I can keep fighting against those guys.
"I feel like I can be right there with them if I have the right team and the right equipment and a good set-up on the car. I just need support from people. I'm never going to win if I don't have good equipment and a good engineer."
He said he has just about closed a deal with a yet unnamed team out of Clearwater and has begun searching for sponsorship. His personal website, www.chrisfrielonline.com, provides information for sponsorship inquires.
Fortunately, Friel has a little more time to devote to these matters than he did while balancing racing with high school class work, plus four years of varsity soccer.
"It's definitely different," Friel said. "In high school, I had to concentrate on passing high school and getting through high school, which I was worried about. I didn't really like school. I was always thinking about racing.
"Now that I'm out of school, that's much more time to concentrate and train for my career and what I want to be, which is to become a professional racecar driver."

Next step

Assuming Friel gets through the testing of his DP-02 Elan/Mazda car, he could take part in the first series race of the season, the Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Speedway on March 15.
And so Friel will set out on the road he has looked forward to driving for a long time.
"It definitely takes a lot of dedication, a lot of focus," Friel said. "Basically I have to be thinking about what I want to do in motor sports and how much I want to push.
"But I think I can do it as long as I have enough support and back-up. I definitely have the desire to become a professional racecar driver and I know what I have to do to do it."