Press Releases - Wheeler to Miss Road Rage Challenge

Wheeler to Miss Road Rage Challenge

The inaugural Road Rage Challenge will not include one of the more outspoken of the Rage team members, as Nick Wheeler has not signed up. Jason Anderson contacted Wheeler to find out why he'll not be racing with the team.

Wheeler: Well, to be honest this series filled up incredibly fast. The team will attest, I was just as excited as the rest of the team to run this series. I would've loved to drive alongside some of these big names, but I've missed out. I woke up this morning to voicemails from Drummond and Bruce telling me the series was open and the grid was filling fast, but by the time I made the call, the grid was full.

Anderson: So there is nothing more to this than a simple oversight?

Wheeler: Of course not. The team will also attest to my lack of reaction time for openings in races. I've probably only run in Rage races 60% of the time because I'm very picky about where I run and when I run. A lot of the time it's just me having my attention somewhere else - whether it's training or a particularly good opportunity to test a track or run a track that I've enjoyed. This time, I just felt under the weather during the release and missed the phone calls to get on the roster.

Anderson: You've had tremendous success in Custom Series racing. 7 of 7 series you've been in the top 5 overall including last week's podium. will you look for another during the Road Rage challenge?

Wheeler: Well you said it. Custom racing has been very good to me. I've competed way above my pre-series rankings from the very beginning and I intend to continue. We'll see what comes up next for available series. The podium in North America Streets has got me hungry for something more.

Anderson: While I've got you, anything to say about F3 North America?

Wheeler: Well I've adopted the style of my good friend Bruce for this series. Finish races. That's the most important thing I can do with this level of competition. There are really 4-5 of us that could make plays for that 3rd step on the overall podium, Schmidt probably making an argument as the favorite right now. I think it's going to come down to which of the 5 drivers finishes the most races in the points. I enjoyed my podium in the absence of Schmidt, but we're really trying to find a way to compete with Berger Jr., Griboedov, and Schmidt on the track instead of relying on mistakes.

Nilsson is proving to be the Brandon Knight of this series, for me. It's a blast marking each other and competing hard for these points, but ultimately when I see his black and white machine, I either drive perfect or he gets away. I think we're only separated by 8 at the moment. Neither of us can afford a mistake, otherwise Schmidt, Wayne, and Cooper will be there to capitalize.

Anderson: So Wheeler will not compete with his teammates in the team's series, but despite the logistics setback, it seems Wheeler is in unusually calm, positive spirits.