For the seventh season in a row, Chasing the Checkered has the wonderful opportunity to ride onboard with some of the best drivers in Maine during the 2024 race season. We are proud to sponsor the following drivers, but you can catch the Chasing the Checkered logo on various cars throughout Maine, New England and even nationwide!
LOGAN MELCHER
After being crowned Wiscasset Speedway’s Thunder 4 Mini champion and Driver of the Year in 2017, Logan Melcher made the move into to the Late Model Sportsman division in 2018. Logan’s rookie year in the division proved difficult but he was able to learn and grow during the season and carried that into the off-season. The #41 team rebounded with style in 2019, picking up a handful of wins in the division and a runner-up finish in the point standings at the conclusion of the season. Logan and the #41 team continued to grow in 2020, advancing into the Super Late Model division and picking up some strong finishes in the Pro All Star Series.
The 2021 season brought many challenges for Logan and the #41 team but the team persevered through it all and even scored a Late Model Sportsman victory toward the end of the season. He followed this up with 4 podium finishes and a runner-up points finish in the Pro Stocks in 2022.
Chasing the Checkered is proud to be on board with Logan and the #41 team for the fifth consecutive season, cheering on the team as they fight for the championship once again in 2023!
Logan’s Social Media: Instagram Facebook
JAMES & BRETT OSMOND
After scoring a Super Street championship in 2021 at Wiscasset Speedway, longtime competitor James Osmond decided to take a step back in 2022 and hand the reins of the #05 machine over to his son Brett, who previously competed in the Strictly Street division at the speedway.
Brett Osmond exceeded his expectations in the Super Streets and then some in 2022, picking up 3 wins, 8 podium finishes, Rookie of the Year honors and the championship in the division.
Brett is continuing to advance his racing career in 2023, racing in both the Late Model and Super Street divisions at Wiscasset Speedway. James is also returning to the track this season and is excited to make lasting memories racing alongside his son in the Super Streets division.
Ward & Sons Racing and the Osmond family have been big supporters of Chasing the Checkered in recent years and we’re excited to continue our partnership for years to come!
Ward & Sons Racing: Facebook
MATT BEERS
Matt Beers has competed in the Super Street division at Wiscasset Speedway for a handful of years and frequently finds himself on the podium. He is always a fierce but respectful competitor and has finished runner-up in the point standings not once, but twice, in the division.
Beers is no longer looking in the rearview this season as he advances into the Pro Stocks at Wiscasset. This will be his primary focus, but he still plans on racing a couple of times in the Super Streets division over the course of the season.
Matt is a proud Dad and he welcomed his first son, Colton, during the off-season. He also helped build a 4-Cylinder Pro for his daughter Taylor, who will also be competing at Wiscasset Speedway this summer.
Matt is looking forward to this season at Wiscasset Speedway and has been a supporter of Chasing the Checkered for a couple of seasons now. We appreciate his support & wish him luck with his new adventures in 2023!
Find Matt on Social Media here: Facebook
DAN MCKEAGE, JR.
Dan McKeage, Jr. is a third-generation driver who got his start at a very young age, racing in the “Whiz Kids” division at the now-defunct Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Dan eventually graduated into a Street Stock, racing in the Wildcats division at BRMS until its untimely closure at the conclusion of the 2021 race season.
Dan followed in his father’s footsteps as he made the move into a Super Late Model in 2022. He got his feet wet by racing select events across New England that season. Dan decided to make a full-time run at Wiscasset Speedway in 2023, competing in both the Pro Stock and Strictly Street divisions.
Dan captured his first Super Late Model win at Wiscasset on 7/1/23 and has scored multiple podium finishes in both divisions over the course of the season. He always has his twin brother Shawn by his side, as he is his “eyes in the sky” as a spotter. Dan has a bright future ahead of him in racing as he continues to build upon his family’s long-standing legacy in the sport.
Catch the Naughty 40 Racing Team on Social Media: Facebook
GARRETT LAMB
Just a handful of years ago, Garrett began making his mark at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in the Mad Bomber division on Thursday nights. During that period, he collected a handful of wins and even a championship in 2018. Since then, he advanced into the Wildcats division, proving himself amongst seasoned veterans. Garrett and team made their PASS Modified debut at Oxford Plains Speedway in 2020 and continued down that path in 2021 with Garrett tackling first full-time season in the division.
Garrett exceeded his expectations and more in 2021, finishing second in the PASS Modified point standings. Over the course of the season, he scored one win, six top five finishes and twelve top ten finishes. During the off season, Garrett was also chosen as the first recipient of GNG’s gift, receiving a $5009 racing sponsorship in honor of the late Greg Peters. He carried his momentum into the 2022 race season, picking up his first career PASS Modified championship.
Garrett is on the move once again in 2023, advancing into a Super Late Model. He has about 10-12 races planned for the season and will be running both PASS and GSPSS events.
Garrett and the entire Lamb family have supported Chasing the Checkered for years and we can’t wait for this partnership to continue!
Garrett’s Social Media Accounts: Instagram Facebook Twitter
MAX COOKSON
Max Cookson was once a kid with big dreams; a talented Sim racer and IRacing champion from Palmyra, ME with hopes to make the move from the PC to the pavement. Those dreams became a reality in 2021 as Max made his true racing debut, competing full-time in the PASS Modified division. Max exceeded his expectations and then some that season, scoring six wins, ten top five finishes and the championship.
Max upgraded to a Super Late Model last season, racing full-time in the weekly Oxford Championship Series and part-time in the PASS SLM division. His success continued as he was crowned the weekly champion in the Super Late Models.
He is “going the distance” this year with the #39 SLM, going for 2 championships in both the weekly Oxford Championship Series and the touring PASS Super Late Models. He is also a 2023 Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist and currently sits as the points leader (as of 8/28/23) in all 3 divisions.
Max is also passionate about supporting his community, especially in his volunteer work with the Autism Society of Maine. We are very proud to partner with Max in 2023 and beyond!
Catch Max Cookson Racing on Social Media: Facebook
JOSH HODGDON & TYLER LERMAN
Josh Hodgdon and Tyler Lerman are two brothers (and third generation drivers) that got their start at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in the Mad Bomber JV division. Following in their father Matt’s footsteps, both have achieved success on the track.
Josh catapulted himself to the top of the podium in 2020, scoring a career-best four feature victories. He followed this up with five feature victories in 2021 while his brother Tyler picked up his first feature victory. Tyler rounded up the season fourth in points with Josh following closely behind in fifth.
Both drivers continued to carry the torch for Maple Ave Motorsports in 2022, competing in the Slingshots division at Star Speedway and finishing fourth and fifth in the point standings. They are trying something new in 2023 as Josh competes in the Limited Sportsman class and Tyler in the Mad Bombers at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Join the Maple Ave Motorsports Facebook group here: Maple Ave Motorsports
RYAN STUART
Ryan Stuart kicked off his racing career in 2021 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, finishing tenth in points in the Mad Bomber JV division. In 18 races at the track, he had a best finish of 7th place. He mirrored this finish at his debut in the Pre-Howler event at Star Speedway.
With the closure of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Ryan made the move into the Slingshot division at Star Speedway in 2022. He plans on running the full Slingshots schedule again in 2023 with trips to Wiscasset, Oxford and Lee mixed in.
Ryan is a great advocate for his sponsors and is active on Facebook Live, providing live weekly race round-ups on social media for his sponsors, friends and fans alike. If you would like to join his support system, catch him on the following social media pages.
ED & BRANDON JOHNSON
Ed and Brandon Johnson are a highly successful father-son duo. Both are second and third generation drivers that have cemented themselves in the local short track scene.
Ed made his debut at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in the Mad Bomber division, picking up one feature victory over the course of six seasons. He then moved on to the Beetle Bug division, picking up 7 wins over the course of 3 seasons and scoring a season-best points finish of second. In 2022, Ed is returned to his roots, competing in the Mad Bomber division at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Brandon Johnson followed in his father’s footsteps, competing weekly in the Mad Bomber division at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. He made his rookie debut in 2014, consistently making strides with every passing season. In 2020, he scored a victory and finished in the top ten in all seven races. He carried this momentum into the 2021 season and then some, picking up seven wins and achieving top ten finishes in all 18 races yet again. Not only did he win the championship in 2021 but the Johnson family also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Beech Ridge, commemorating their family’s dedication to the track that dates back decades.
Brandon leveled up in 2022, competing in the Street Stock division at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Both drivers plan to continue to run at Oxford Plains Speedway in 2023.
Brandon’s Social Media: Facebook Ed’s Social Media: Facebook
TRAVER MICHAUD
Traver Michaud may be young, but he is already an accomplished racer in his own right. He drives a 2003 Chevy Cavalier, #28. He has a passion for racing and learning all aspects of the sport, not just being behind the wheel. He is already an entrepreneur, stripping and selling parts from scrap cars and renting out enduro cars to fellow drivers.
He is a fourth-generation driver and started out his career at 8 years old in the Star Trooper division. He has multiple wins in the Star Trooper division and has traveled to numerous tracks as well. Traver competed in a demolition derby in New York in 2021, traveling seven hours and ultimately winning the derby after competing against 17 other kid competitors, taking home a grand prize of $1023.
He returned to the Star Troopers in 2022 and continued to compete in demolition derbies as well.
This season, he will be running for points full-time at Star Speedway in the youth division. He has more demolition derbies planned and will be working on giving back to local charities this summer.
Traver has a natural passion for racing & winning and we can’t wait to watch him grow this season!
Check out Michaud’s Law Motorsports here: Facebook
ALLYSON AVERY
Another young driver that started out her racing career at just 8 years old is Allyson Avery. She got her start in the Whiz Kidz division at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and later moved on to the Star Troopers division, competing for 3 seasons. The program helped her develop as a driver and taught her respect and patience behind the wheel.
Allyson worked alongside her father Jay at Riverside Speedway & Adventure Park in 2021, overseeing tech and even driving the pace car. Her parents surprised her with an Acura Integra race car halfway through the 2021 season and she scored a top five finish with it. Unfortunately, the race car was later totaled.
Allyson competed in the Mattix Mad Dogs 6/8 Cylinder division at Riverside in 2022 alongside her older sister, Larissa. She finished 3rd in points and hopes to carry her momentum into 2023 as she continues to compete in the division.
She loves inspiring other children her age to get behind the wheel and experience the joy of racing. Allyson is an inspiration to all young girls out there who are interested in racing. We can’t wait to watch her continue her improvement in 2023!
Check out Avery Family Racing here: Facebook
Good luck to the Chasing the Checkered team in 2024 as they fight to the finish in their respected divisions!
