Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – PITTSFIELD, MA – It’s said that sometimes, you just need to do something different.
For car owner and Motorsports sponsor, Dave Prime Jr., that time is now.
Prime, a Mac Tools franchise owner who’s been involved in the sport of auto racing (sponsoring and owning cars) for the last nine years, has decided that 2023 was his last being “all in” to a sport he loves.
It’s just time for a change.
“I’m entering the next chapter in my life and need to focus on my family and my children,” Prime said exclusively to RPW on Monday evening. “My kids are growing up and with them getting into sports and what not, I want to give them my undivided attention.”
Unfortunately, that means Brett Haas, who has been teamed with the Prime family since 2020, is forced to search for a new primary partner to grace the quarter panels of his #55.
“Adam (Haas, Brett’s father) called me the other night and asked if I was on board for this season,” he said. “I told him I actually hadn’t even thought about racing. That’s when I realized that if I was going to spend the money it takes to be part of a winning team like what we have, I had to be all in. I just can’t be 100% vested in racing anymore.”
For Haas, who finished fifth in Big Block Modified points last season at Lebanon Valley Speedway, this was a big shock but he understands where Prime is coming from.
“I completely get it,” Haas said. “Dave and his wife, Britney, are amazing people and have become great friends to us. I will forever be grateful for what they’ve done for my career.”
While Prime will allow Haas to utilize his car and engine as a back-up, if needed, in 2024, his financial involvement with the team will cease. So, if Haas wants to continue chasing that dream, he’ll need to find a new major sponsor.
“I’m extremely grateful for all of the marketing partners who we have on this team,” he said. “However, running Big Block Modified is expensive and, I’m not going to lie, not having Dave and his family will hurt. I believe we have a team that can give any business the greatest exposure possible for their brand and professional representation, both on and off the track.”
Entering his fifth full-time season in the Modified ranks, Haas is coming off his third-straight top five finish in points. The Pittsfield, MA native believes he’s got what it takes to compete with the likes of Andy Bachetti, Marc Johnson and the stout field at the Valley to compete for the Modified title.
“I know in my heart that we can win more races and be in the mix for the championship this season,” he said. “I just know it. I hope that we can find someone that believes in us as much and the Prime’s did. I want to keep this momentum going.”
That’s what Prime is hoping for as well.
“Brett, Adam, Tanya and the entire Haas family will be lifelong friends for us,” Prime said. “I truly believe they have the makings to be a championship Modified team. They’ve proven that in Sportsman. They’ve proven that in 358’s. I don’t see why they can’t do that in Big Block.”
However, that won’t be with the financial support of Prime’s Mac Tools business, which continues to grow. With his kids, Kyler and Bentley, growing up, Prime believes family needs to come first.
“Bentley’s getting older and Kyler’s been playing lacrosse which has us going all over,” he said. “Last week it was Poughkeepsie, NY. Before that, we were up in New Hampshire. Racing has always been a part of my life but it’s time to look to the next chapter and I can’t wait.”
Now, for Haas, however, the hunt is on for a new partner to fill the void left by Prime’s departure.
“Dave and I will always be friends, but if I want to keep racing in Big Block, we need some help,” Haas said. “We’ve proven we can get the job done. We’ve won at Lebanon Valley and at Fonda Speedway. We’ve been in the hunt for the track title for the last several seasons but I know I have more to prove.”
All he needs is a primary sponsor.
“We can give any business a great return on their investment,” he said. “I truly believe that. I just hope that we can find someone that believes in us the way Dave and Britney did. That would mean the world to us.”
No matter what, for both the Prime’s and Haas’, family always comes first..the way it should be! Racing may be fun, but family means everything!