Chad Matteson
by Joe McKay
Chad only had one dream as he honed his craft in motorcycle racing... become a champion! He was practicing at Daytona on Friday October 31st, when he was called to the next level. The Lord felt it was time to bring the young Navy veteran home.
Chad started racing at Moroso Motorsports Park while working at Redline Motorcycle Parts. He had been telling me all winter he was going to finally get into racing. Even before he started he knew he would love the “speed thing” as we know it. Of course everyone who knew him encouraged him to follow his dream. Sure enough his first race weekend he came by me in turn five waving on the warm up lap.
On the cool off lap he came by again, waving his fist. I gave him the thumbs up and smiled
knowing he was enjoying the thrill of his first race.
Much like the rest of us, Chad was hooked! He made it out every weekend after his first
and was really looking forward to the season finale this year at Daytona. He had begun working
for Quantum Motorcycles and was looking forward to a future in our industry and in racing.
Chad was loved by everyone who came into contact with him. His sister Amy, spent many hours with her brother talking about his future and what he hoped to accomplish. She described him as a wonderful person who didn’t say much, but when he did, it was with purpose.
His boss at Quantum also a Navy man, described him as a truly unique young man.
When he was looking for new employees over 200 folks showed interest. He hired Chad...
Chad Matteson was a lot of things to a lot of people. To us, he was a racer, who gave his all.
Now, he is up on the grid with the “best of the best.”
He follows Gordon Lunde Jr., Jamie, Donald and Jeremy
The two youngsters will no doubt compare notes with each other. Our world is a tough one and sometimes none of it makes any sense to those of us who are left to explain “why”? There are no easy answers. Just extra weight on our shoulders.
Chad is “Gone but not forgotten.”
Godspeed Chad....