Column: Former Super DIRTcar Series Rookie Of The Year Chris Hile Returning To Tour In ’23

Column By: MICHELINA FRISS / DIRTCAR – OSWEGO, NY – If Chris Hile is going to do something, he wants to do it the right way.

After a successful rookie run on the 2021 Super DIRTcar Series tour which concluded in a ninth-place finish in points and Rookie of the Year honors, he decided to regroup the following year. The Oswego, NY resident realized that if he was going to be one of the top contenders on the tour, there were certain elements of his program that needed to be tuned.

“In 2021, we got a real good taste of what it was going to take as far as time away and financials, and things like that,” Hile said. “In 2022, we really just wanted to focus on business and making sure everything was right at home first before we branch out.”

With the support of his family, quality sponsors on board, and an efficient plan for running his business, Hile knew 2023 was the right time to sign on for his sophomore season with the Series.

“I think it’s just been a buildup,” Hile said. “My business has been successful. I’ve linked up with some really good people. The names on the car have been really good to me. I have a lot of support from family as well. I think the clock just kind of lined up and said, if we’re going to do it and try it, we need to do it now before other things happen in life. When the opportunity presents itself, you have to really jump on it because you don’t know how many chances, we’ll have to do it.”

With the proverbial stars in alignment for the seasoned dirt Modified driver, he’ll have another shot at doing what he loves – competing at the highest level of Big Block Modified driving in the Northeast.

“I really enjoy the competition level of [the Super DIRTcar Series],” Hile said. “We’ve always tried to aim to succeed as many other people do, and to do it at the highest level we can on the Super DIRTcar Series. It’s enticing not only for my family and I to do it, but for all our marketing sponsors and partners who help us out, as well.”

In preparation for the high level of competition, Hile has been keeping his driving skills sharp contending weekly at Brewerton Speedway on Friday nights. His competition at the Brewerton, NY track has consisted of many Series stars, creating a perfect training regimen. And he proved to himself he can contend with them, scoring the 2022 Brewerton Speedway track championship.

The track is also one of the sites of his career best finish (second-place) with the Series. Hile finished second with the Series in 2021 at Orange County Fair Speedway, which is the next race on the 2023 Series schedule. He opened the season with a ninth-place run at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.

As far as translating his success last year into his 2023 season with the Super DIRTcar Series, Hile said he isn’t going to do anything complicated with his approach. He wants to do it the right way.

“We’re going to try to cross all our “t’s” and dot all our “i’s” and do the little things right,” Hile said. “That will translate into bigger and better things. You just try to keep things simple, keep it basic, and keep your attention to detail high.”

UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds are back in action Sunday, May 7 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY for a 75-lap, $7,500-to-win spectacular.