Boat Keeps Eye on Indy while Sailing toward Top of USAC Midget Standings

At about the same time he received his first quarter midget, 5-year-old Chad Boat met and became buddies with a legendary racer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Gasoline Alley.

“I vaguely remember stuff with A.J. Foyt and the Conseco car,” Boat said of hanging around IMS when his father Billy Boat drove in the Indianapolis 500 for four-time winner Foyt. “I remember hanging out with A.J. all the time, always getting his autograph. I had no idea at that time. I’ve probably got more A.J. Foyt autographs than anyone in the entire world.

“As I’ve gotten older, I looked back and said, ‘Wow, that was pretty dang cool to sit on A.J.’s lap at a Pacers game.’”

And as he’s gotten older, now 26, Boat has developed a clear understanding of what his goal should be in pursuing a racing career.

“I just want to drive a car for a living,” he said.

Which car in what series remains to be seen.

Sure, he’d like to race in the “500” someday like his dad. Billy Boat sat on the pole in 1998, and his best finish in seven starts was third in 1999 for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

But Chad sure does enjoy sliding around the dirt in Midgets, especially driving for his father, whom he refers to as his best friend. He’s fourth in the USAC National Midget Series points. It’s been quite the sentimental stop to race Wednesday and Thursday in the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by NOS Energy Drink USAC P1 Insurance National Midget race at The Dirt Track at IMS.

“We always have talks about running in the ‘500,’” Chad said of his father. “Growing up here and watching him run, he knows that feeling of what it’s like to strap in on race day at the end of May on Memorial Day weekend. There’s just nothing like this place. It would be really special to go and do it, but you’ve also got to put yourself in the right position and make sure everything is right, that’s you’re not just forcing things.”

Growing up around racing has taught him the importance of being a part of the best possible situation.

“You don’t want to show up at the track knowing you’re already behind,” he said. “At times, that’s what you have to do. That’s where you’re at and that’s the program you’re in, and you’re gaining experience.

“But at some point, as a race car driver you want to win races. At the end of the day, winning is the most important part of the whole thing. To win, you have to have the right crew, the right sponsors, the right everything coming together. I want to make sure I put myself in a position to be as successful as I can.”

Boat has taken a look at the developmental series in both NASCAR and INDYCAR. He raced a NASCAR Xfinity Series car at IMS in 2014, finishing 27th in the Lilly Diabetes 250. He made his Indy Lights debut last year, finishing 14th at Gateway Motorsports Park. He’s also made four starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with a top finish of ninth at Talladega in 2015.

“I’m very fortunate in the opportunities I’ve had, being able to run an Xfinity car here, getting to make Trucks starts and a little bit of Indy Lights,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities. Ask any race car driver, the big thing is if you want to be successful you need to be doing it every week. At times, I haven’t been able to be in the car as much as I wanted to.

“Right now running the Midget, we have a great program and we run multiple cars during the week. We’ve been really fast all year. We’ve been able to win some races and contend for a lot of races and be on the podiums.”

He’s coming off an Aug. 5 win at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pennsylvania. He also drove the No. 84 Tucker/Boat Motorsports Midget to victory May 31 at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Indiana.

Phoenix native Boat said his family has relocated to Cornelius, North Carolina, as he pursues his racing career. He graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a finance degree.

“Growing up with a father as successful as mine was, you have a good role model to lean on and a good guy in your corner,” Boat said. “Coming up through the ranks, I always had a good ear, or someone in my ear.”

When it came to racing, Billy Boat reiterated the importance of racing others the way he’d want to be raced and treating his crew and everyone off track with respect.

“My love for racing has just continued to grow, especially Midget racing,” Chad said. “There’s probably not a more competitive series top to bottom than Midget racing.

“It’s a love for the competition, when you have that drive to be the best. Once you win, it’s that feeling. That’s what you’re striving to get, that accomplishment.”

He’d love to have that experience at IMS, if not today then maybe someday down the road. For now, it’s about keeping his options open.

“It’s hard not to come here and have a soft spot for this place. There’s so much history,” Boat said. “If I get opportunities to do other things, I’d like to pursue those, too, but I’m also very content with what I’m doing right now.”