CONCORD, N.C. – It’s been a busy offseason for multi-time USAC champion Chris Windom.
Windom, the 2016 USAC Silver Crown Series champion and 2017 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series champion, has already announced team switches in two of USAC’s three national divisions.
On Dec. 9 he revealed he’d be departing the Parallax Group/Goacher Racing squad to join Hayward Motorsports in the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series.
Then, on Dec. 13, Windom confirmed he’d left Clauson/Marshall Racing to join Tucker-Boat Motorsports in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series.
“I was actually thinking about that on my drive down here this morning,” Windom said during the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis earlier this month. “As great as everything is coming together for me for next year, it’s still a really stressful time knowing that these deals are signed and inked and now the work begins to put it all together to go and be successful next year.
“I’m really looking forward to it and I think once we get going the stress level will come down a little bit.”
Windom is coming off a strong season in the USAC National Sprint Car rankings, where he earned four victories and a sixth-place championship finish. He said the door was open for him to return to the Parallax/Goacher car, but then an opportunity arose for him to drive the Hayward Motorsports No. 19 next season.
“I had my sprint car deal from this year and we were working on making that work again for next year. All the logistics just weren’t quite lined up yet,” Windom explained. “I got a call from Brodie (Hayward), I think it was just last week (prior to the Dec. 9 announcement) and we talked for probably a good hour on the phone. Basically we came to the conclusion that we wanted to team up together.
“I know how great of an operation they’re putting together and they’re just wanting to build and build on that. I think between bringing my crew chief from this year, Derek Claxton, and having Austin (Wenrich) over there, who is already working with Brodie, all of us together, I don’t see how we won’t have a successful year.”
On the midget side of things, Windom is coming off his most successful season to date. Driving for Clauson/Marshall, Windom earned his first two USAC National Midget victories and finished third in the standings behind Tyler Courtney and Logan Seavey.
Windom believes his move to Tucker-Boat Motorsports could be the move that helps him become the seventh driver in USAC history to win championships in each of the three national divisions.
“No hard feelings with the Clauson/Marshall camp. I think we had a successful year there, I just felt like I needed a transition and a few things changed up at the end of the season. I know Tucker-Boat runs a top-notch operation as well,” Windom said. “I know they’re striving to win a USAC championship and that would put me in the Triple Crown category to be able to win the midget championship.
“That’s what I’m aiming for. I know that’s what everybody that is coming along with me next year is aiming for as well.”
Between the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series and NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series schedules, Windom already has a full plate. However, he said to expect him back in a USAC Silver Crown Series entry next season as well.
Who he will be driving for, however, has yet to be decided upon.
“I’ll be in a Silver Crown car. That’s not completely done with yet, but that’ll be the final piece for next year to go after the Triple Crown all in one year,” said Windom, who drove the Goodnight/Byrd Racing No. 17 Silver Crown entry to a fifth-place championship finish this year.
While his focus will continue to be on USAC competition, Windom also acknowledged he hasn’t given up on his dream of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Windom competed in the Freedom 100 Indy Lights event this past year, but his effort ended early after a massive crash in turn four on the second lap of the 40-lap event.
With that disappointment in the back of his mind, Windom said he is hoping to get another shot at racing on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in the near future.
“I’m definitely not giving up on that. I’m not sure what will happen for this coming year, but we’re still working on getting back there to the speedway,” Windom said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to run the Indy 500, and I don’t think I’m going to give up on that.”