Cook Out Summer Shootout brings out the finest grassroots drivers nationwide to compete at America's Home for Racing. For more than three decades, the summer series has been a launching pad for NASCAR stars like Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and countless others. This year, 18-year-old Chase Burgeson looks to add his name to the list of standouts who cut their teeth on the legendary quarter-mile.
A Southern California native, Burgeson is trading the West Coast racing scene for East Coast intensity, hoping to hone his skills against the best talent around. While a rookie to Summer Shootout, Burgeson has already made waves across multiple divisions, climbing ranks in Legend cars while scoring standout finishes in the Limited Pro Late Model division back home, moving across the country to race against the toughest talent, all in pursuit of his NASCAR dreams.
“There’s just no comparison,” said Burgeson. “I saw all the competition last year at Summer Shootout and I knew I had to be out here. You get your name out there way more than you do on the West Coast. You're racing at NASCAR’s most popular sanctuary and facility; it can’t get any better than that.”
Burgerson's love for racing started at just seven years old when he got behind the wheel of a go-kart. Soon after, he jumped into a Bandolero where he began to learn the ins and outs of competitive racing.
After a brief racing hiatus, Chase’s uncle encouraged him to try Legend Car racing. With a fresh start in a new car, Burgeson hopped in, hit the gas, and never looked back, reigniting his passion for racing all over again.
In 2024, Burgeson dominated the competition by earning the title of California State Champion in the Limited Pro Late Model division and earning more than 15 top-three finishes across both Legend and Late Models, including several trips to Victory Lane.
With a renewed love for the sport, Burgeson decided it was time to spread his wings and gain as much experience as possible, which meant heading to America’s Home for Racing for the Cook Out Summer Shootout and the best grassroots racing competition in the country.
“Back home, you’ve got three-tenths (of a second) over the entire field,” said Burgeson. “Here in the (VP Fuels) Semi-Pro division, if you make one mistake, that’s the difference between the Top 3 and a B-main race.”
With the 2025 season underway, Burgerson wasted no time making a good first impression, kicking off Round 1 with a trip to Victory Lane before capturing his second win of the summer just days later at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway.
With his eyes set on the bigger picture, he aims to make it to each part of the country to experience the different opponents they have to offer. The goal remains the same as he chases the NASCAR dream.
“I just wanna make it to one of NASCAR’s top 3 series,” said Burgeson. “I just wanna make it far in my career of racing. Anywhere it takes me, I just wanna be a race car driver, crew chief, something.”
NEXT UP:
Round 4 of the Cook Out Summer Shootout keeps the summer of speed rolling with another action-packed night of action at America’s Home for Racing. Tuesday’s NASCAR Night will be filled with NASCAR-themed games, all while taking in a full slate of fierce competition on the track. Fans who wear their favorite NASCAR driver gear will get $5 off their ticket at the gate.
TICKETS:
Tickets are just $10; kids 12 and under get in FREE. All summer long, fans who bring a canned food donation will receive $2 off as part of Blue Cross NC’s “Drive Out Hunger” campaign. For tickets, schedules, and more details about all the happenings at Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
KEEP TRACK:
Follow all the thrilling Cook Out Summer Shootout action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
