From
Motorsport.com
San Antonio: Chuck Aronson preview
Racing series IHRA
Date 2008-04-02
Family Matters
Second generation Aronson begins IHRA Pro Stock competition
This weekend, the IHRA season opener in San Antonio, Tex., will see the return of the Aronson family to its roster of competitors.
Instead of shooting for a World Championship or Rookie of the Year award, Chuck Aronson will be working as Crew Chief for his son, Cale. The father and son team has a long history in the sport. In 1982, Chuck made his way quickly to the number two spot in points in the AHRA Pro Stock category, winning 5 races that season.
The following year, Chuck went a step further when he took home the AHRA Pro Stock World Championship winning 12 out of 14 races and placing in the runner-up spot in the other two events. In that same year he was named the IHRA Rookie of the Year. Chuck was one of the pioneers in the world of Mountain Motor engines, and was one of Jon Kaase's first customers. Chuck worked with many of the other icons of the sport including Bob Glidden, Ricky Smith, Gary Duckworth, Warren Johnson, Don Hardy, Ronnie Sox, Jerry Haas and many more.
From an early age, Cale was spending his days in the race shop, learning how to do what seemed to come natural to his father. Growing up in the sport allowed Cale to develop an extensive knowledge of the sport and build on it in his own endeavors. Cale has been making his way up through the NMRA (National Mustang Racers Association) and Fun Ford Weekend events, running in two different classes. He began in the highly contested, all-motor, small block class, which has been affectionately named the "Mini Pro Stock" class. He placed 4th in points his Rookie season and proceeded to build a new car.
Working with the Ford Racing Performance Parts marketing department, Cale secured and built one of the first 2005 Mustangs to be run in the nationally-crazed class of 10.5W Outlaw. With Jon Kaase supplying the power for both cars, Cale never seemed to be underpowered, and always made each pass down the track.
While working on his 2005 Boss 698 Mustang, he was also crew chiefing for Matt Jones, the man who bought his former 2003 all-motor, small block car. While touring for a full year with Matt Jones, the duo was able to defeat every car they faced, through the season. Together they set the National Elapsed Time Record, and a National MPH Record for an all-motor, small block True 10.5 car.
The weekend forecast for San Antonio calls for clear skies and high-70's on Saturday and partly cloudy, low-80's on Sunday. There's little doubt that the Pro Stock action at the track is going to be hotter than the forecast.
-credit: ar
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