Relatively new to Legends racing, Quade Schoonover has wasted no time making a name for himself. This dirt driver has a lot of love for the sport as well as the community of people who make it so great. Although he got his first win just this year, Quade still finished top three in his division, making it obvious that his racing future is bright.
Hometown: Peebles, OH
Division: Semi-Pro
Number: 18
Team: Schoonover Motorsports
1. How did you get into racing?
When I was 13, I started racing RC Cars at a local club track. I started doing that professionally for a couple years and I really enjoyed it. Then, the guy I worked for at the time, was getting rid of all his Legends stuff and he gave me a chassis and some other spare parts. A guy named Rob Puckett helped me put my first car together after that, and the rest is history. That was about two years ago.
2. What has been your favorite racing memory?
I would say my favorite memory is when I got my first win at Florence back in April of this year. I have been in this sport for about three years now. We had been close to winning many times, so to just finally get that first win off our backs was a big deal. We’ve won a bunch since then, but nothing really compares to that first win feeling.
3. Do you have a favorite track?
Probably Atomic Speedway in Waverly, Ohio. It’s a 3/8ths mile track that is high banked. From the time they start qualifying to the end of the night, it’s pretty much wide open around the top. There are multiple lanes you can run and it’s a great racing racetrack.
4. How do you get focused or in the zone before a race?
I’m a big religious guy so for me to get in my zone, I always say a prayer before the night starts. It just helps get my mind in the right place, and then I will also listen to a little bit of music sometimes too.
5. Who is your role model in racing?
My dad is my role model. He raced dirt when I was young, he was a big Late Model driver. He gave it up when I was three or four years old, and I’ve looked up to him since then. He’s always been by my side for my entire life as well as in racing. He has guided me and helped me and taught me so much. I could not be more grateful for him.
6. What are your ultimate racing goals?
I would say my ultimate goal would be to one day drive in the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series. I’d like to do that for a while and maybe own a team that races in it one day as well. But overall, I just really want to be involved with that series.
7. What is it like racing in the Ohio Valley Legend Series?
It’s competitive for sure. You have a handful of guys that could win on any given night. I have enjoyed racing with this series the most out of any that I’ve race though because everyone is so friendly up here. People are always willing to help you and I enjoy that the most about this series, it’s really special.
8. Although you may not have been pleased with your finish this year at Dirt Nationals, how does it motivate you for next year?
It was a tough pill to swallow for sure, but sometimes in life things aren’t meant to be. The best thing I think I can do is just take everything I learned from that weekend and move forward with those lessons. I learned so much, and we tried a lot of new things before the main event as well. It was the toughest race I’ve ever raced in. You have six or seven guys that are pretty much equal in skill, that are all running as hard possible. Taking the learning experiences that I had there and just applying them for next year will hopefully put us in the same position. So maybe next time it will be a better outcome. But honestly, I didn’t even realize I was in the running for it till halfway through the year, but I felt like if I knew back in March what I was getting myself into I could have prepared myself a little better if that makes sense. I learned a bunch of stuff that weekend that I can use going forward, and I am thankful for the experience.
9. If you could travel and race on any dirt track, what would it be?
I would pick Eldora Speedway. That track has so much history on the dirt side of things, and my dad raced there when I was growing up. Every race they have there is a big crown jewel event no matter the model. It’s an awesome place and I’ve never been to a dirt track quite like it. I would absolutely love to race on that surface one day, and I hope I get to race there before I die.
10. Do you have any hobbies outside of racing?
Racing is kind of my thing. If I was to pick something else besides racing, I would say hanging out with my buddies from high school whenever they come home from college.
11. Is there a significance to the number 18?
Growing up I watched a lot of NASCAR, because my dad was really into it. Kyle Busch was always one of my favorite drivers to watch. I know a lot of people hate him, but he was always my guy. I looked up to him a lot, so when I got started racing, I picked my number to be like him. It’s been working pretty well so far.
12. What is the biggest lesson racing has taught you?
Always be humble. That’s a big thing I’ve learned from racing. You can be really good one night and the next night you could be absolute garbage. We’ve been lucky that we have been pretty consistent, but that isn’t a guarantee. Dirt racing is an extremely humbling sport, especially when you have as many competitive guys as you do now. Also, it’s taught me to control my emotions to a certain extent so that I can be focused when I drive.
13. What is the best part about dirt racing?
I would say the relationships you can create. I’ve been on both sides, asphalt and dirt, and it seems like on the dirt side people are a little bit more open and friendly. But the relationships you create and the atmosphere in general is my favorite part. Everyone is there to have a good time, and it seems like and we all love the same things.