Photo credit: Don SimpsonChris Raabe on his way to the 150th
Recently I caught up with Chris Raabe and his girlfriend Émelie Sauvé to find out more about this 26 year old runner. The french version here Chris grew up in the small town of Napanee, Ontario. He is a natural racer and his statistics speak for themselves: 231 Kart races won, 148 Modified Open-wheel victories and countless championships. Yet this reserved driver and mechanical engineer has really only just started his career if you look at the statistics. The will to win began 18 years ago. At the age of 8 when Mike Raabe, Chris's father, put aside his racing ambitions to help his son achieve his dreams. Starting with used equipment and purchased engines, Chris began racing karts at local tracks at Can-Am Motorsport Park and Brighton Speedway. At the start of the 1999 racing season, he got his first karting win at Can-Am Speedway, and the will to win began. As the wins continued to pile up, Mike decided to upgrade Chris to the more competitive World Karting Association (WKA) series. Armed with a new TEO pro chassis and new engines, Chris continued to rack up the wins. Shortly after, Mike Raabe, an ingenious person, started building his own racing engines. As Chris explained, “It was more in hopes of saving money, but in the end we were definitely stronger. We had more reliable engines compared to those in storage.” With this stint on the WKA series, Chris had to travel a bit more to compete on the show. He remembers the race at Can-Am Speedway, when it was over, they would board and travel overnight to race the next day in WKA Series races. To then return home, to do it again the following weekend. For the next six years, Chris maintained this hefty schedule to hone his skills.
During the winter, he competed in the Karting Indoor Race Series across New York and Pennsylvania, winning four US National titles and three Indoor Track Championships. In total, Chris has won twelve Track Championships, 4 US National Indoor Karting titles and 1 Karting Championship in the WKA Northeast, covering many miles. During these years, Chris and Mike became good friends with Garry McColman, whose son also competed in the go-kart circuit. This friendship will become an important part of Chris' progress in Modified.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn late 2005, Garry McColman suggested to Mike and Chris that it was time for Chris to get into a full-size race car. Garry explained to the two that Chris had done everything right for kart racing and it was time for him to graduate. With the Raabes, he could acquire a used Bicknell Sportsman car that Garry knew. The decision was therefore made and the car was acquired. A few weeks later, Chris, 14 at the time, won his first Sportsman race at Brockville Ontario Speedway, setting up the next phase of his career. During the winter of 2006, Bobby Hearn of Teo Pro Chassis offered Mike and Chris a deal for a new race chassis for the upcoming 2006 season. Mike along with Garry purchased the car. This year, Chris became the youngest track champion in DIRTcar history at age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonProgression in Modified 358s came during Super DIRT Week in 2010. Chris was ready to race his #01 Sportsman car, when car owner Perry Francis offered the opportunity to race in the class. Modified 358. Chris jumped at the chance and won his first ever 358 race in the 'Futures' race, which allowed him to qualify 17th for the 'Salute the Troops' 150. Chris also qualified his own Sportsman in 9th position for the start of the Sportsman final. He finished 29th in his first Modified 358 race at Super DIRT Week due to a blown engine and he was 27th in Sunny Canton 30 in Sportsman because he just needed to collect the entry points. These are not the results he was hoping for, 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe 2011 season was a year of smooth transition to the 358 class. Chris continued on the winning streak, earning six wins and the track championship at Mohawk International Speedway. He also had the chance to participate in a limited number of races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for Scott Streckly Racing. In 2012, the team progressed through the Modified Big Block class while maintaining a presence in Modified 358s. Can-Am Speedway. He also had five wins this season in the Modified 358 between the Cornwall and Mohawk tracks. For the following years, the 01 team continued to accumulate victories, achieving two more track championships, one at RPM Speedway in 2013 and one at Cornwall Motor Speedway in 2016. The team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe 2017 season got off to a good start for Chris and Team 01 is dominating at Airborne Park Speedway with three wins in the last four races, pushing his total earnings closer to the magic 150 mark. is achieved this year, total wins would coincide with Canada's 150th anniversary. It would be a memorable moment, and knowing Chris, he will do his best to achieve it. The team plans to race weekly at Airborne Park Speedway with races at Cornwall Motor Speedway and Mohawk International Speedway. To date, there are no signs of slowing down.
During the winter, he competed in the Karting Indoor Race Series across New York and Pennsylvania, winning four US National titles and three Indoor Track Championships. In total, Chris has won twelve Track Championships, 4 US National Indoor Karting titles and 1 Karting Championship in the WKA Northeast, covering many miles. During these years, Chris and Mike became good friends with Garry McColman, whose son also competed in the go-kart circuit. This friendship will become an important part of Chris' progress in Modified.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn late 2005, Garry McColman suggested to Mike and Chris that it was time for Chris to get into a full-size race car. Garry explained to the two that Chris had done everything right for kart racing and it was time for him to graduate. With the Raabes, he could acquire a used Bicknell Sportsman car that Garry knew. The decision was therefore made and the car was acquired. A few weeks later, Chris, 14 at the time, won his first Sportsman race at Brockville Ontario Speedway, setting up the next phase of his career. During the winter of 2006, Bobby Hearn of Teo Pro Chassis offered Mike and Chris a deal for a new race chassis for the upcoming 2006 season. Mike along with Garry purchased the car. This year, Chris became the youngest track champion in DIRTcar history at age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. age 15, winning seven Sportsman races as well as the track championship at Brockville Ontario Speedway. For the next four years Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. Chris raced Sportsman winning two Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series Championships, three Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championships. He also became the youngest ever DIRT series champion at the age of 17. During those four years, he won seven track championships and a total of 92 Sportsman victories. The team's proudest moment was when they won the Mr. DIRT Car Series Championship in 2008. Quite an achievement for this small-town team. Photo credit: Don SimpsonProgression in Modified 358s came during Super DIRT Week in 2010. Chris was ready to race his #01 Sportsman car, when car owner Perry Francis offered the opportunity to race in the class. Modified 358. Chris jumped at the chance and won his first ever 358 race in the 'Futures' race, which allowed him to qualify 17th for the 'Salute the Troops' 150. Chris also qualified his own Sportsman in 9th position for the start of the Sportsman final. He finished 29th in his first Modified 358 race at Super DIRT Week due to a blown engine and he was 27th in Sunny Canton 30 in Sportsman because he just needed to collect the entry points. These are not the results he was hoping for, Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe 2011 season was a year of smooth transition to the 358 class. Chris continued on the winning streak, earning six wins and the track championship at Mohawk International Speedway. He also had the chance to participate in a limited number of races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for Scott Streckly Racing. In 2012, the team progressed through the Modified Big Block class while maintaining a presence in Modified 358s. Can-Am Speedway. He also had five wins this season in the Modified 358 between the Cornwall and Mohawk tracks. For the following years, the 01 team continued to accumulate victories, achieving two more track championships, one at RPM Speedway in 2013 and one at Cornwall Motor Speedway in 2016. The team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. team was also crowned Dorman Cup champions in 2014 and again in 2016 at Cornwall Motor Speedway. It's getting the 2016 Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Championship and the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship (Central Region) that Chris is very proud of, "for all those years of hard work, me and my dad" and these last years, Émélie, Chris' girlfriend. "We've worked so hard that it's finally paid off this year" with the crowning glory of the Mr. DIRTcar Championship, shared with his old friend and sponsor, Garry McColman. Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe 2017 season got off to a good start for Chris and Team 01 is dominating at Airborne Park Speedway with three wins in the last four races, pushing his total earnings closer to the magic 150 mark. is achieved this year, total wins would coincide with Canada's 150th anniversary. It would be a memorable moment, and knowing Chris, he will do his best to achieve it. The team plans to race weekly at Airborne Park Speedway with races at Cornwall Motor Speedway and Mohawk International Speedway. To date, there are no signs of slowing down.
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