The 2025 season went about as perfectly as it could for Winston-Salem, North Carolina native Chase Robertson.
Not only did Robertson secure his second Bowman Gray Stadium track title in the Sportsman class, but he also earned his maiden NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division II national championship. Robertson’s title campaign saw him tally six victories and 25 top fives in 29 events.
With Bowman Gray’s season ending in August, Robertson partnered with another short-track competitor in Penn Crim to run Limited Late Models at North Carolina's Ace Speedway and keep his national title hopes alive. The decision paid dividends for Robertson, who was elated to see a year of consistency pay off with such a milestone.
“It means a lot to get both of those championships,” Robertson said. “The Bowman Gray championship was something I knew we could get. We won it in 2023 and finished a really close second in points last year. I had a good team behind me, good parents and a good setup guy in Dylan Ward to guide me through all of it.
“It was a great year, and it seemed like everything worked out in our favor.”
[caption id="attachment_491813" align="alignnone" width="1300"]Robertson knows how to persevere under adverse circumstances having competed at Bowman Gray full-time since 2019 and witnessed many wild moments firsthand.
The layout and racing culture of Bowman Gray creates an unpredictable environment that requires Robertson to have a sturdy mental fortitude. One minor mistake around Bowman Gray can result in the loss of vital track position or a torn-up car, which puts heavy emphasis on starting toward the front.
All the on-track action takes place in a stadium environment with a sold-out crowd, another aspect of Bowman Gray that differentiates it from other facilities Robertson has visited during his career.
“There’s really nothing like racing at Bowman Gray,” Robertson said. “In any class you race in at the stadium, it’s unlike any other track. The fans are literally right there in front of you. They can’t touch the car, but they’re close enough that you can hear them under caution. The atmosphere, the energy and the history of the track makes it special to me.”
With many extraneous factors always prevalent at Bowman Gray, Robertson’s strategy toward pursuing another track title and his first national championship was to control his own destiny.
An accident early last year was enough to derail Robertson’s 2024 track championship hopes. Despite the unpredictable nature of Bowman Gray, Robertson in 2025 succeeded in minimizing his mistakes inside the Madhouse, as he only finished outside the top five on three occasions.
Becoming a two-time Bowman Gray track champion, let alone a national champion, still feels surreal to Robertson. Long familiar with Bowman Gray legends like Tim Brown, Burt Myers, Junior Miller, Tommy Neal and others, Robertson never imagined he would join them as a driver with multiple track titles to his name.
“If you were to tell me when I first started in 2019 that I’d have two track championships at [Bowman Gray], I’d probably laugh at you,” Robertson said. “I felt like I’ve come a long way from where I started compared to where I’m at now as a driver. It means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to my dad [Mike] because he’s been over there all his life.”
[caption id="attachment_491815" align="alignnone" width="1300"]One more top five at Ace with Crim’s equipment during the final weekend to collect points provided Robertson enough of a cushion to clinch the Division II national title over Brent Kane. Robertson enjoyed building chemistry with Crim and intends to keep working with his program going forward.
As far as his 2026 plans go, Robertson has cherished his time at Bowman Gray over the past few years but does not envision pursuing another track title. He wants to venture out to other facilities in the southeast and would love to contest an entire season in Pro Late Models if the funding comes together.
Robertson believes Bowman Gray’s Sportsman class has properly battle-tested him. His efforts inside the Madhouse yielded two track championships and contributed to a national title, all while acquiring valuable insight on what is needed to obtain more accolades over the rest of his career.
“Throughout the season, when you lead the points all the way through, you have to be mindful of the things you do and how you do it,” Robertson said. “Going forward, I know how to race people in certain situations and know how to give and take.
“I’d almost call [2025] a breakout year for me. I’m still kind of riding the high right now, and I just need to carry this momentum.”